PostalForm Machine Order

Use this workflow when an agent needs to send real postal mail (a physical print-and-mail order) reliably on the first attempt.

Workflow

1. Collect inputs and choose address strategy

Require these inputs:

• buyer_name, buyer_email
• sender_name, recipient_name
• PDF source (upload_token, { download_url, file_id }, data URL, or allowed https URL)
• Mailing options (double_sided, color, mail_class, certified)

For each party (sender, recipient), choose exactly one strategy:

• Manual address: *_address_type: "Manual" + *_address_manual
• Loqate address: *_address_type: "Address" + *_address_id + *_address_text

Do not mix manual + Loqate for the same party.

2. Build payload with strict idempotency

Generate a UUID request_id once and keep payload bytes stable across retries.

Set buyer_email every time (required for Stripe receipt routing).

For manual addresses:

• Include line1, city, state, zip
• Include line2 only when it has a non-empty string value
• Omit optional fields instead of sending null

Use the tested template in references/payload_templates.md.

3. Preflight with validate endpoint (recommended)

Call:

• POST https://postalform.com/api/machine/orders/validate

If response is 200, confirm:

• quote.page_count matches expected page count
• quote.price_usd and options are acceptable

If response is 422, fix payload before paying.

4. Create order and settle x402 payment

Endpoint:

• POST https://postalform.com/api/machine/orders

Flow:

1. Send order payload without payment header.
2. Receive 402 with PAYMENT-REQUIRED.
3. Create payment using your wallet stack on the requested network.
4. Retry the exact same request body with PAYMENT-SIGNATURE.
5. Expect 202 and settlement metadata.

Payment client options:

• purl CLI (fastest path when available)
• Any x402-compliant client (@x402/core, @x402/evm, or equivalent custom signer flow)

If using purl:

• Prefer wallet alias/keystore over raw private keys
• Use --password from secure runtime input
• Set a protective --max-amount
• Match --network to PAYMENT-REQUIRED network

5. Poll order status until post-payment completion

Call:

• GET https://postalform.com/api/machine/orders/:request_id

Treat this as complete when:

• is_paid = true
• current_step has advanced through processing (commonly to email_sent)
• order_complete_url is a real URL

Handle transitional state:

• status: "settled_pending_webhook" can persist briefly after on-chain settlement
• Continue polling with backoff; do not resubmit a changed payload under the same request_id

First-Pass Reliability Rules

Required invariants

• Keep request_id constant for retries of the same logical order.
• Keep payload unchanged when retrying after 402.
• Send buyer_email always.
• Match payment network to PAYMENT-REQUIRED; do not hardcode network.
• Use only valid US addresses and one address strategy per party.
• Verify page count and quoted price before payment.

Observed failure modes and prevention

• 422 invalid_type on manual line2:
  • Cause: empty optional fields normalized as null.
  • Prevent: omit line2 unless non-empty string.
• Delay after successful payment (settled_pending_webhook):
  • Cause: settlement acknowledged before webhook reconciliation completes.
  • Prevent: poll for up to several minutes with retry/backoff.
• Occasional non-JSON/transient server response during polling:
  • Cause: temporary upstream/render errors.
  • Prevent: parse defensively; if response is non-JSON or 5xx, retry without changing request_id or payload.
• 409 request_id_mismatch:
  • Cause: same request_id reused with modified payload.
  • Prevent: generate a new UUID for changed orders; reuse ID only for exact retries.

Security Rules

• Avoid printing wallet passwords, private keys, or sensitive env vars in logs.
• Prefer encrypted keystore wallets over raw private keys when tooling supports both.
• Use a payment cap (max amount) to avoid accidental overpayment.

Operator Output

Return these values after execution:

• request_id / order_id
• price/quote summary (including page_count)
• payment settlement details (network, pay_to, settlement_tx, settled_at)
• latest status (is_paid, current_step)
• order_complete_url when available

Reference examples and command snippets:

• references/payload_templates.md