AgoraCart is a FREE shopping cart system. The only time you would need to pay for anything would be if you wanted the Gold version and/or other features that are available to members only. Then, you would have to pay for the appropriate level of membership for the features you want.
There is a real person at AgoraCart, but because this is a free shopping cart system there isn't live chat.
The majority of things are run through the forum and there's a good reason for that. It helps others who follow behind to have a resource in which they can search for the answers to problems and issues, themselves.
I am a volunteer on this forum and the Gold forum. I also, do some tech support for AgoraCart on a contract basis when it is ordered through AgoraCart's Tech Support.
If you want 1-on-1 advice/mentor support, that can be ordered. Then you will have direct communications with a mentor/advisor of your choice that will be able to help you through the process of working with AgoraCart.
There are no fees to connect to UPS or USPS's rate calculator API. In the Gold version, there is capability to use a different UPS API for more accurate UPS rates based on your UPS account. It does require that you have a UPS account and to register to use their "Online Tools". USPS also requires a similar registration to use their API, but they are free.
HTH!
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God Bless!
Bonnie - AgoraCart Moderator
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