Show HN: Postmaster - an easy API for shipping on the web • Hacker News Board

Show HN: Postmaster - an easy API for shipping on the web

#1

Post by m3ntat » Mon, Oct 01, 2012, 7:14 PM UTC

Show HN: Postmaster - an easy API for shipping on the web
postmaster.io

Re: Show HN: Postmaster - an easy API for shipping on the web

#2

Post by m3ntat » Mon, Oct 01, 2012, 7:16 PM UTC

Hi all, I’m really excited to start talking about Postmaster. We are a small startup in Austin that is focused on shipping integration. With Postmaster you can be shipping packages in less than 5 minutes (from signup to your first curl against the RESTful API). You can ship/track/validate-addresses through multiple vendors, get callbacks on your shipment events, and we are working on much more. We are letting people into the beta slowly to make sure we keep response times and service levels high. Let us know if you have any shipping feature requests.

Also, yes, we know about these:

  * easypost.co  
  * rocketship.it  
  * postalmethods.com  
  * click2mail.com  
  * sincerely.com  
  * scrubmyaddress.com

Re: Show HN: Postmaster - an easy API for shipping on the web

#3

Post by taskboxandrew » Mon, Oct 01, 2012, 7:55 PM UTC

Can't wait to get into the Beta. Another great technology coming out of Austin.

Re: Show HN: Postmaster - an easy API for shipping on the web

#4

Post by dominastrum » Mon, Oct 01, 2012, 9:45 PM UTC

Q1: Will this allow for tracking and management of shipments not created through Postmaster?

Q2: Will this allow for monitoring of preprinted shipping labels (e.g. RMA labels or https://store.burrellimaging.com/index.php/supplies/mailers-...), with web hooks when they are used for a shipment?

Q3: When creating a shipment, will it be possible to specify rules for the "service"? E.g. "cheapest service with delivery by X date, but no more than Y dollars."

Q4: Can carrier specific account numbers be provided for lower shipping rates (and so shipments will be tied to account for claims, etc.)?

Re: Show HN: Postmaster - an easy API for shipping on the web

#5

Post by m3ntat » Mon, Oct 01, 2012, 10:21 PM UTC

dominastrum wrote: post #4

Q1: Will this allow for tracking and management of shipments not created through Postmaster? Q2: Will this allow for monitoring of preprinted shipping labels (e.g. RMA labels or https://store.burrellimaging.com/index.php/supplies/mailers-... ), with web hooks when they are used for a shipment? Q3: When creating a shipment, will it be possible to specify rules for the "service"? E.g. "cheapest service with delivery by…

A1: Yes, you can reference them by the carrier tracking number (although you could not void/modify a shipment that wasn't created by your carrier account).

A2: Do those have a tracking number pre-printed? If so, yes. It will also work with a UPS InfoNotice or Waybill #.

A3: Yes! We have "best-effort" functionality, it will be expanded to add more complex statements, but we currently have "Send best price from X to Y within N days."

A4: Yes, if you rate is lower than ours and you are over a certain shipping threshold.