I like to look into paying and printing shipping labels from home via an online service, probably for all three carriers: USPS, UPS, and FedEx, depending on the circumstances.

I know this shipping from home stuff has been going on a long time by now, but I never did it. I went to three USPS post offices today to try to ship one item, but all three were backed up with lines going all the way to the entrance, and only one USPS employee working the line. I estimate I could have spent more than one hour in line at any of those three offices.

I also went to a private pack-n-ship place today as well, and that quick and easy, but it was very expensive to ship a small item via UPS.

I'm GUESSING I can ship cheaper by packing items myself, then paying online and printing shipping labels at home, but I've never done it.

So am I supposed to create an account on each Shipper's specific website ? Or are there any online pay-for services where I could log into a single place, choose the carriers they support, then pay and print out the labels ? That way I could skip the travel, traffic, waiting in lines, etc.

Could you guys recommend how I should go about doing this ? I already have a cheap "postal" scale at home, and it works great. Is that basically what I need to get started ?

Create your FedEx and UPS online accounts and they'll always be cheaper than paying at the counter. If you're selling via an online marketplace like eBay or Reverb, they have discounted labels with all the carriers. If it's just your own stuff, you can Google the secret PayPal shipping link and try pirateship. You should never have to pay retail rate at the counter if you have a printer at home. Though USPS won't usually discount for printing your own label.

There are several, you create and account, and do what you stated, choose the shipper, print the label.

Search,"Multi-carrier (FedEx UPS and USPS) online account"

Both of my daughter's have these.

You can choose to drop off, or schedule pick up.

These will have mark up (convenience fees).

Or you can create accounts for each of the three shippers, and save for the "hassle" of managing three accounts. The "drop off" or "schedule pick up", is still the same.

You don't have to have an account to generate labels and ship. For example, for USPS, click on the Click-N-Ship tab on their site and follow instructions. Pay at the end and print out your labels, whether using just plain paper or sticky label paper.

For multiple carriers, maybe these guys?
https://www.shipstation.com/

Pirateship.com for USPS & UPS.

https://ship.pirateship.com/

I have accounts set up at each of the three. It's no big deal to do that.
Then I just use their site.
Most of my stuff goes in a Priority Mal Flat Rate box and you can order the boxes online for free in sizes you normally use.
That way I just walk up the the counter area and drop them off with no wait.

I love having my packages all ready when I go to USPS to drop off, many a time I have gotten a nasty comment or look as I walk by the people in line to the drop off counter. Alot of times they think I am cutting in front of them, also when I get out of the car and head inside with three or four packages you will see people pickup the pace to get ahead of you not knowing your packages are ready to go. I ship alot of packages and I bet over the years I have saved 60-70 hours of waiting in line.


These are the labels I use

labels

quote:

Originally posted by Anush:
Pirateship.com for USPS & UPS.

https://ship.pirateship.com/

+1

I've saved quite a bit in shipping since a Sigforumite shared pirateship in a link a year or two ago. IME, carrier's website is cheaper than counter price, and pirateship is even cheaper than carrier's website price. Also, you can order USPS priority boxes/envelopes/etc. online for FREE and they'll deliver to your house. I always keep a stash of them at home to facilitate Pirateship.

For example, I shipped something this week with USPS and pirateship saved me 20%.

quote:

Originally posted by Anush:

Pirateship.com for USPS & UPS.

https://ship.pirateship.com/

Yes. Lower cost than going to the United Parcel or Postal Service websites, but they don't do FedEx (no great loss, there).

Pirateship for me too. Very easy to use.

Pirate ship for me as well….very easy to use and cheaper than anything else I’ve seen

Another vote for PirateShip…

I think my postmaster told me that we're getting a discount on postage if we DIY and drop it off.

If you think you'll be doing this in the future (and not just my book! ) you may want to check Amazon for a cheap postal scale, we got an electric one years ago and it's still working fine. Otherwise, the PO has one on their website for $35.99, may well be like the one we bought.

And there's no need to rush my book, do it when you get time.

Instead of creating accounts with each carrier, try ShipStation or Shippo.

Panda Post
https://panda23.pandapostage.com

ask for Kelly, mention Crosstown

I use them globally.

Pirateship for me as well. It consistently beats the walk in price for both UPS and USPS and I don't have to wait in line.

get a scale, they can be cheap, and make sure it weighs in ounces, (for ground advantage stuff)

one boxed up, weigh your item and go to your carrier of choice,

I think USPS will not do the new ground advantage (they used to not do first class, not sure now)

I use these guys, USPS actually sent a post master by to set me up with them due to my volume of mail going out

https://xpsshipper.com


if you are not planning on shipping stuff first class (now ground advantage) you will still need a scale,

and a ruler,

UPS, USPS, and Fedex all basically work the same,
input the size and weight, address etc, and print a lable,

with a UPS account, you can order blank labels, in a sheet, roll or flat, depending on your printer(s)
USPS you can order Priority boxes free,

all will do a pickup at your door, UPS/FedEx will charge, or USPS will do freep pickup during your normal delivery,

re the scale, be sure to round up, as in a 1.1 lb package will be 2 pounds, if the package is 2.0,,, count it as 3,


keep in mind, if your post office or one in your area has an APC, you can also print postage there, but it is faster at home,

and you can also use the APC to scan in most items, it will balk and tell you to go to the counter for high insurance items, (I do not know what the treshold is)



I can say, other than picking up some mail, they only reason I go to the counter is to ship Registered Mail, make sure that a high insurance item is scanned in at the branch, esp during the holidays,
sucks to mail a $2500 firearm, and no one scans it for a week, then it shows up somewhere,



also, any UPS items insured over $1000 will need to be given to a driver, or dropped at the hub, and requires a statement paperwork to be signed by whomever you drop it off wiht,

Wow, fantastic advice from everyone.

I went with Pirate Ship, paid excellent rate, printed first label. Now all I need is a 4x6 sticky label printer, so I won't have to print the label on regular paper.

No more lines and getting ripped off at the counter.

Thanks VERY much guys, I appreciate it, a LOT.

Pirate ship looks like it is the way to go. But if someone is paying by PayPal you can use PayPal’s Shipping Center to buy and print a shipping label. I think you can do both USPS and UPS.

The benefit of doing this is that the tracking information is automatically attached to the buyer’s payment and provides proof of shipment and proof of delivery so that you are covered under PaPal’s Sellers Protection.