Get the latest information on the mailing and shipping industry.
The holiday season is once again upon us, which means an increase in orders is right around the corner. The busier you become, the easier it is to make mistakes like taking incorrect measurements or leaving old labels on the packaging. These mistakes can lead to costly adjustments and/or returned packages. With shipping deadlines in place and increased shipping volumes for carriers, you don’t have time to waste reshipping orders. That’s why Stamps.com and UPS are here with some reminders to help you avoid additional fees.
Note: These surcharges can be applied year-round, not just during the holiday season.
If your packaging seems unstable or flimsy, it’s okay to retire and recycle it. USPS and UPS each offer some free shipping supplies on their websites that can be ordered directly to your home or business. You can also order certain USPS shipping supplies directly from your Stamps.com account.
If your packaging is sturdy enough to be reused, look for any old labels and/or other special markings (hazardous material stickers, perishable content warnings, etc…). Remove anything that doesn’t apply to your new shipment to avoid getting any extra fees for incorrect packaging or additional handling your package didn’t actually need. Your orders will get to their destinations without additional delays, and your shipping budget won’t suffer.
During the holiday season, orders range from breakables like coffee mugs to treats like chocolates. One is obviously more fragile than the other, but both items can handle their journey with some extra support. Wrap your items and surround any gaps between your items and the outer packaging with Kraft paper or other recyclable materials. We recommend using pressure-sensitive plastic or nylon-reinforced tape that’s at least 2 inches/5.08 centimeters wide. This way, your package is well-sealed, and there’s less of a chance that someone will open a broken gift on Christmas morning.
Keep your holiday shipping merry and bright with a risk-free trial to Stamps.com.
We can’t stress this enough: double-check all of your shipment’s dimensions before entering them — Santa even checks his list twice. Measure the length, width, and height of your package multiple times, and round up the weight of your shipment to the nearest pound when needed, so you can better avoid charge corrections for your shipments. If/when your shipment isn’t a traditional shape, take a picture of its dimensions, just in case you need them later. We’ve included information about some of the commonly issued additional fees below.
As a reminder, to support SMBs, UPS will not apply Demand Surcharges to merchants on Stamps.com†.
Sometimes, the actual weight of your package may not be the weight your shipment is charged for. Dimensional weight reflects a package’s volume, which is the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its actual weight. This means the weight is based on your package’s dimensions instead of the weight you see when you place your shipment on the scale. You can determine whether the dimensional weight or actual weight will be used to determine your shipping cost in a couple of steps:
Stamps.com customers should already have UPS available as a carrier when they open their account. However, to add UPS as a carrier:
Go to “Settings” > Select “Common” then “Carrier” > Add New Carrier > Click “UPS”
Adding UPS as a carrier gives you even more carrier options to choose from with our Rate Advisor, so you can find the most affordable rate for your mailing and shipping needs. Start taking advantage of all these benefits when you ship with UPS on Stamps.com, including up to 78% off on UPS®Ground shipments, up to 73% for UPS 2nd Day Air® service, and UPS Next Day Air® service, and up to 82% off international services*.
The best gift to receive this holiday season is the gift of no avoidable extra shipping charges. Removing old labels, using durable packaging, and double-checking all shipment measurements are all notable ways to reduce your chances of receiving these charges. Also, adding UPS® Shipping to your Stamps.com account will help you save on your shipping costs through the holiday season and beyond.
Trim your tree and shipping costs this holiday season by signing up for Stamps.com.
*Discounts off UPS® Daily Rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice.
†Demand Surcharges are not applied only to accounts opened on Stamps.com
International shipping should be an option for every business, and our partner GlobalPost is working to simplify the process. GlobalPost partners with over 200 carriers globally to find the best route for your packages and better support the last mile of your package’s journey. GlobalPost Plus is an additional solution aimed at simplifying international shipping to eligible countries, and it is currently accessible to all Stamps.com merchants.
GlobalPost Plus is available for shipping to Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, and the UK. GlobalPost directly coordinates with your destination country’s customs office to pre-clear your shipments. This expedites the process, which helps your shipments be quickly delivered to customers. GlobalPost Plus also enables you to pay the taxes and duties in place of your customers, preventing any surprises for customers and/or returned packages.
When shipping to Canada, Stamps.com customers can use Canada Delivery Duty Paid or DDP. Canada DDP allows you to prepay the taxes and duties on a shipment for a flat fee. This way, your customers don’t have to pay these fees when their packages arrive. Canada DDP can be used for shipments weighing up to four pounds that are shipped using First-Class Mail International®, Priority Mail International®, and Priority Mail International Express®. The flat rate fee for First-Class Mail International®, Priority Mail International®, and Priority Mail International Express® is $9.95.
Considering international shipping for your business is valuable, as it exposes your products to a broader audience. In fact, our recent study with Retail Economics found that 53% of merchants use online marketplaces to reach a broader audience; imagine what could happen if you also offer shipping to international customers. Additionally, international holidays lead to more sales and promotional opportunities to build your audience.
Not only can Stamps.com merchants use GlobalPost Plus, but selecting the service is easy. To select GlobalPost Plus as a carrier service, you’ll
*Note: The Ship-To address will show a domestic address because shipments are sent to the closest GlobalPost Domestic Shipping Center for distribution.
International shipping is only a matter of clicks away. Expanding to a larger market is an option for your business, and services like GlobalPost Plus prove that gaining more customers doesn’t have to mean your business gains more work. GlobalPost supports merchants by adding HS codes to your customs forms based on the information provided, and their support team is available to help with any questions you may have along the way. Start shipping around the globe with the help of GlobalPost and Stamps.com.
Start shipping internationally with the help of Stamps.com and GlobalPost today.
In order to keep your customer satisfaction high during the busiest time of the year, it’s crucial to communicate holiday shipping deadlines to your customers. As a quick reminder, holiday shipping deadlines are the last dates to send a package with your chosen carrier for it to reach its destination by the holidays.
Applying these holiday shipping deadlines to services allows carriers to account for the higher shipping volume, ensuring your customer’s orders are under the tree and into stockings on time. The earlier you let your customers know, the better the customer experience…and the better the chance of getting great customer reviews and engagement during the holiday season.
Shipping deadlines will vary by the carrier and service, but most carrier deadlines range from 6-12 days before December 25th. It’s also important to note that domestic and international services each have their own set of shipping deadlines, so keep this in mind when preparing your holiday shipments. The domestic shipping deadlines for USPS, UPS, and FedEx can all be found below.
As a commitment to Stamps customers, UPS will not apply the recently announced Demand Surcharges†. Take advantage of discounts of up to 78% off on UPS® Ground shipments, up to 73% for UPS Next Day Air® and UPS 2nd Day Air® service, and up to 82% off on international services, with rates that include Fuel Surcharge and Residential Surcharge for all services and Delivery Area Surcharge for domestic services.*
*Discounts off UPS® Daily Rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice. Terms and conditions apply.
†Demand Surcharges are not applied to accounts opened on Stamps.
In addition to these dates, USPS has confirmed that there will be no additional surcharges during the upcoming holiday season. This means that customers can fully enjoy the benefits of USPS services without worrying about unexpected costs.
All of the wonderful individuals who sort, handle, and deliver our mail and packages deserve a break during the busy holiday season too! Shipping holidays are designated days where postal workers, delivery drivers, and other people within this field are given time off and most or all services are suspended for the day. The shipping holidays for USPS, UPS, and FedEx are all outlined in the lists below.
*Note: We’re only including the USPS holidays for the holiday season. A full list of USPS shipping holidays can be found on their website.
*Note: We’re only including the UPS holidays for the holiday season. A full list of UPS shipping holidays can be found on their website.
✝Some of The UPS Store® locations may have modified business hours. Check with your local store for specific hours of operation.
You’ve communicated shipping deadlines to your customers. How else can you continue to improve customer satisfaction during the busiest shipping season of the year? Stamps.com merchants can enable branded ship notifications and branded tracking to give customers a personalized experience.
Branded ship notifications allow your business to customize emails with your logo, preferred color scheme, and more. Additionally, your business can add social media links and promo messages to give customers access to special deals. Similar to branded ship notifications, branded tracking is a more personalized alternative to a traditional carrier tracking page. Our branded options can be enabled and customized throughout the year, so you aren’t limited to one specific message. Create shipping notifications in advance and cross another item off your to-do list, all while keeping the holiday season merry and bright for your customers.
Make the holidays merry and bright with a 30-day trial to Stamps.com.
Getting through all of your tasks can be hectic, but the Stamps.com Mobile app adds flexibility to your day by making it easy to ship packages or mail letters from anywhere at any time. Our mobile app now allows you to conveniently print discounted USPS® stamps and USPS® and UPS® labels, enabling you to send letters and packages of any weight and any size. Learn how to efficiently manage all your shipping and mailing needs directly from your phone with the new and existing features included with the Stamps.com Mobile app.
With the Stamps.com Mobile app, you can now print USPS postage on NetStamps®, print stamps directly onto any envelope, or effortlessly generate shipping labels straight from your phone. This way you don’t have to put off your mailing and shipping tasks until you’re at home or the Post Office™.
Stamps customers are always on the go. Over half of the traffic to Stamps comes from a mobile device, and now these visitors can mail and ship on their preferred device.
The Stamps.com Mobile app offers a wide range of advantages, making it an essential tool for all your mailing and shipping needs. Here’s why you’ll love using it:
Time-Saving Convenience: Say goodbye to the inconvenience of repeated trips to the Post Office™. With the Stamps.com Mobile app, you can handle all your mailing and shipping tasks from the comfort of your home, office, or on the go. No more wasted time or energy on unnecessary errands.
Significant Shipping Discounts: Take advantage of discounts on postage and savings up to 89% on labels. You’ll be able to compare carrier rates, ensuring you always get the best deal on your shipments.
Easy Printing: Printing stamps and labels for any type of mail or package has never been simpler. The app streamlines the process, eliminating the need for manual calculations and handwritten labels.
Flexible Account Management: Managing your account is a breeze. You can easily add funds, keeping your account topped off for uninterrupted service. This is especially useful for business owners and individuals who rely on consistent mailing and shipping.
Mobile Accessibility: The app’s mobile accessibility lets you track and manage your mail and shipments on the go, at any time. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or on the move, you’re always in control of your mailing and shipping activities.
Enhanced Multitasking: We understand that multitasking can be a challenge. You can now focus on your tasks without the constant back-and-forth between your computer and supply area.
In a nutshell, the Stamps.com Mobile app provides time-saving, cost-effective, and user-friendly solutions to streamline your mailing and shipping processes. Say hello to simple and wave goodbye to the hassles of traditional mailing methods.
With the latest enhancements to the Stamps.com Mobile app, the busiest mailers and shippers can take their first printing step while they’re on the move.
How does the Stamps.com Mobile app work?
Stamps.com is the simplest way to mail letters and ship packages from home, work, and now your phone. Download the app today and start sending.
Our recent study with Retail Economics found that 88% of customers plan to make their holiday purchases online globally. With a percentage this high, your business should sell products through at least one online marketplace. The holiday season is quickly approaching, so the sooner you can set up an online marketplace, the better. If you aren’t sure where to begin or are unsure about what an online marketplace is, we’ll get you selling online in no time.
Simply put, an online marketplace is a website where merchants can sell their products to customers. Online marketplaces serve as an organized location for shoppers to search for and compare products. Customers can leave reviews and even create carts or wish lists for future purchases. Online marketplaces are becoming increasingly popular because customers can purchase products within a matter of clicks Additionally, some marketplaces offer refurbishment and/or authenticity guarantees, so customers don’t have to worry about buying imitation or faulty products.
Marketplaces like eBay and Amazon have become two of the most well-known and most-used online marketplaces. In fact, 42% of Gen Z shoppers and 40% of Millennials say that they use marketplaces for convenience globally. Between easy browsing and an increasing customer base, your business can only benefit from selling online.
We’ve discussed the basics of online marketplaces, but what are some of the biggest benefits? You should consider using online marketplaces because:
15% of the customers we surveyed stated that the visibility of delivery was the most important factor when shopping online, and the merchants we surveyed believe that only 9% of customers care. Providing customers with tracking information can help your business stand out from the competition and better align with customer expectations.
Stamps.com merchants can customize branded ship notification emails for customers. These emails can include sales or promotional materials, your business’s logo and social media links, and other personalized details. Customers can not only track their shipments, but you can promote your business and special deals at the same time.
Once you’ve decided which online marketplace(s) are right for your business, you can connect them to your Stamps.com. Stamps.com offers integrations for major marketplaces like:
Stamps.com directly integrates with these marketplaces, meaning orders in an eligible status will be pulled onto the orders page. You can also check for orders by clicking the refresh button on your dashboard. To connect a new marketplace to your Stamps.com account, follow the instructions below:
Online marketplaces don’t have to be complicated or daunting. With direct integrations to Stamps.com and shipping notifications for eligible stores, you can streamline your online selling process. Other tips to keep in mind when selling online are:
Start your 30-day risk-free trial to Stamps.com today.
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