How To Use Mailing Tubes With Stamps.com

September 8th, 2023 Comments off
231701_Blog_MailingTube

Posters can be found anywhere from college dorm rooms to home offices. Whether a poster is autographed and special edition or simply a reprint of someone’s favorite movie, they can easily tear or suffer damage in transit. USPS does offer free small and medium poster tubes, but shipping posters also requires understanding how to package them to avoid ripping. Keep posters and your shipping process intact, all while using Stamps.com to help. 

Free USPS Priority Mail® tubes

USPS currently offers free small and medium poster tubes. Each size can be used with Priority Mail® or Priority Mail Express® services and can be ordered from USPS in packs of 10 or 20. These cardboard tubes can be shipped directly to your home and/or business for free. 

These tubes and other supplies can also be ordered through your Stamps.com account. To order free USPS supplies: 

  • Select Buy Supplies on your Stamps.com Online dashboard 
  • Click on the supplies you need to order 
  • Check out using your Stamps.com account info 

That’s it! Your supplies should arrive within 7-10 days of order. To order larger quantities of items, call USPS directly at 1-800-610-8734.

How to track USPS Priority Mail® tubes

The tracking included with free USPS Priority Mail® tubes is the same tracking included with other Priority Mail® packaging and services. Packages can be tracked door-to-door, meaning your customer can track a package from the time of label creation to delivery. 

Tips for mailing posters 

While posters aren’t necessarily fragile items, they’re still delicate and can be bent, ripped, and damaged. The key to preventing posters from being harmed in transit is all in the packaging and customer communication. 

  • Wrap your poster in brown Kraft paper to avoid damages 
  • Accurately enter dimensions and weights for shipments by measuring and weighting shipments multiple times 
  • Tape each end of the tube with packing tape to keep your poster from falling out
  • Notify your customers if posters will be wrapped in additional packaging to avoid any accidental cutting or tearing 

Selecting USPS Mailing Tubes In Stamps.com

Stamps.com keeps shipping posters simple. You aren’t required to scroll through multiple package types when shipping tubes. Select “packages” as the mailpiece type. Additionally, you can utilize automation rules to automate your shipping workflow. Create a rule to automatically apply Priority Mail®, package dimensions, and “package” as the mailpiece type to orders, so your posters are easier to ship. 

Unroll a 30-day free trial to Stamps.com today.

Categories: Shipping Tags:

What are USPS Postal Zones?

October 25th, 2023 Comments off
Understanding USPS Zones

It’s commonplace to think about a destination in miles. You usually have an idea of how far you’re traveling, even if it’s only by the number of cities and states you’ll pass through. Shipping a package follows the same principle. You are aware of the distance between you and your customer, but you might not be familiar with how shipping carriers, such as USPS, calculate this distance to determine your shipping expenses.

What are shipping zones?

USPS divides the US into shipping regions called zones, and this mileage is used to determine the cost of certain packages. Depending on the carrier service used, the distance your package will travel is then used to help determine your shipping costs. TL;DR: the further your package is traveling, the higher the shipping cost. The USPS services that use zones to determine cost include: 

However, flat-rate package costs are not determined by USPS zones. Instead, flat-rate packages can be used for shipments up to 70 pounds and will be charged the same price per box size, regardless of the destination. 

What are the USPS shipping zones?

USPS has broken down the US into nine zones called Zone 1-9. These zones range from within 50 miles to 1801+ miles. Each zone and the mileage it covers can be found below. 

  • Zone 1: Non-local destinations within 50 miles 
  • Zone 2: Destinations within 51-150 mile radius 
  • Zone 3: Destinations within 151-300 mile radius 
  • Zone 4: Destinations within 301-600 mile radius 
  • Zone 5: Destinations within 601-1000 mile radius 
  • Zone 6: Destinations within 1001-1400 mile radius 
  • Zone 7: Destinations within 1401-1800 mile radius 
  • Zone 8: Destinations within 1801 mile radius or farther 
  • Zone 9: Destinations within Freely Associated States/Zip codes assigned for exceptional network circumstances*

*This doesn’t apply when shipping to between the three-digit zip codes of 962-969.

Tips to avoid shipping adjustments 

Shipping adjustments are additional fees added to your shipping costs. These fees can range from entering incorrect shipping dimensions to using the incorrect packaging for a shipping service. When it comes to zones, adjustments and penalties can be given if a package isn’t shipped through your local post office. There’s also the risk of a package being incorrectly routed if an incorrect address is entered or the address is ineligible, and ultimately, the package can even be returned. Here are a few tips to avoid adjustments: 

  • Weight and measure packages multiple times before inputting them
  • Enter package dimensions for shipments to avoid being charged for the wrong zone 
  • Utilize the free USPS Domestic Zone Chart to confirm the mileage shown is accurate
  • Confirm addresses for all customers and recipients whenever possible and keep addresses legible 

How does Stamps.com help me with USPS zones?

Fortunately, Stamps.com merchants don’t need to memorize and manually enter zones because zones are automatically accounted for when a label is created. However, it’s crucial to find the best shipping rate for your package, especially when packages are traveling long distances. Whenever you create a label on Stamps.com, simply select the Compare Rates and Services option from the Carrier drop-down menu. 

Once selected, you can browse rates through our rate advisor with three different categories: Cheapest, Recommended, and Fastest. The cheapest category filter lists the available rates and services from cheapest to most expensive. The recommended category shows the Stamps.com recommended shipping methods. And finally, the fastest category filters rates by the fastest available carrier rates. You can compare rates in real-time and find the best deal for your business, especially when it comes to long-distance shipping. 

Start your 30-day free trial at Stamps.com today!

Categories: Shipping Tags: , ,

How to Ship Cremated Remains

May 9th, 2023 Comments off

Shipping Cremated Remains

There may be different reasons why you would need to ship cremated remains: you’re a relative entrusted with transporting or distributing the remains of a loved one; you need to ensure that a pet cremation urn is safely sent back home; or you’re in the death care business and your funeral home needs to transport cremated remains frequently. Whatever the reason may be, Stamps.com can help you make the process as painless as possible.

The first thing to know is that you can only use the USPS to ship cremated remains. Courier services like FedEx and UPS do not allow this. Therefore, you can use your powerful Stamps.com platform to ship cremated remains.

Preparing your package

The USPS allows for shipping cremated remains by Priority Mail Express service only.  Keep in mind that there are packaging requirements—USPS requires that the inner container be stable, shock-proof, and sift-proof (i.e. sealed against leakage during transit). Since the USPS requires full return and delivery addresses be included on the outside of the package, we recommend using the Stamps.com Shipping Label feature to meet this guideline and also receive free tracking. Under our “Packages” section, you can select one of our “Shipping Label” options. You can easily print a trackable label on plain paper or on one of our self-adhesive labels, such as the 4 1/4″ x 6 3/4″ shipping labels (SDC-1200).

Identifying your package

Remember also to declare the Special Contents when you print your Shipping Label. After selecting the Priority Mail Express mail class and entering all of the appropriate criteria (addresses, weight, etc.), click on the “Select” button next to “Add’l Options.” Click on “Special Contents” and select “Cremated Remains.”

As of September 2019, the USPS requires using Label 139, a postal label indicating “Cremated Remains,” which can be ordered for free here: https://store.usps.com/store/browse/productDetailSingleSku.jsp?productId=P_LABEL139

Additionally, shippers are required to affix Label 139 to all six sides of their shipping box.

International Mailing

For international mail, you may only use Priority Mail Express International to ship cremated remains.  Cremated remains must also be shipped in a funeral urn. Remember to double-check whether the country to which you are mailing allows this type of shipment. Some countries, such as Belgium, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal and the United Kingdom do not allow entry of cremated remains. Some countries also do not support Priority Mail Express International. We recommend researching this prior to mailing by accessing the Individual Country Listings here: https://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immctry.htm

Remember to fully and clearly identify the contents on your customs form. Stamps.com makes the process easy and efficient by combining postage and the Customs Declaration Forms into the same documentation/international shipping label. In the Customs Information window, under “Type of Contents,” select “Other” and type in a detailed description under “More Info.” In the itemized package content details, please also enter a detailed description to remain compliant with USPS guidelines.

Since you are using Priority Mail Express, you can schedule a free pickup to avoid going to the Post Office.  Learn how to schedule a pickup here: https://blog.stamps.com/2017/04/21/usps-package-pickups-and-drop-offs/

Categories: Shipping Tags:

USPS Rules for Mailing Knives

May 8th, 2023 Comments off

Mailing Knives withs USPSWhether you need a good chef’s knife to carve up large cuts of beef, or a paring knife to core a tomato, knives come in handy for a variety of uses. They represent an important consumer product, but can you mail knives and other sharp instruments through the USPS? The short answer is that it depends on the type of knife.

Switchblade knives

Switchblade knives are severely restricted with the USPS. They are defined by the USPS as knives having “a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle, or by operation of inertia, gravity, or both.” Only supply and procurement officers are allowed to purchase and mail switchblade knives. If you’re a dealer or manufacturer of switchblade knives, you would still only be able to mail switchblade knives to procurement officers representing civic, county, state and federal governments. Mailpieces with switchblade knives should not be identified as such on the outside of the parcel.

Pocket and kitchen knives 

What if you’re sending a pocket knife to a manufacturer for repair? Or mailing a sushi knife to a friend? These knives are mailable. However, keep in mind that mailable knives must be cushioned and secured within the packaging. This would prevent any sharp edges from poking through the packaging. Make sure that there is no content shifting. Inner packaging is recommended, and if possible, sheathing the blade in question. Use plenty of cushioning material. This also goes for sharp-edged implements like ice picks, hatchets, stilettos and saws.

The best rule to go by when mailing knives and sharp instruments is to avoid mailing hazardous items that could cause injury to postal workers: loose knives; badly packaged, sharp objects; and automatic, ballistic, and auto-open blades.

International mail 

When mailing internationally, keep in mind that some countries, such as Denmark, Uganda, Japan and the United Kingdom, explicitly prohibit certain types of knives.  Learn more about USPS international listings.

As always, stay sharp and keep informed! For more information on domestic USPS regulations regarding mailing knives, please see:

https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_013.htm

Categories: Shipping Tags:

How Stamps.com Can Help you Send a Birthday Card, or Even a Birthday Cake

May 8th, 2023 Comments off

Sending your birthday best

Birthdays are cause for celebration, but they can be also stressful if you’re the kind of person who never wants to forget a special event.  How can you make Stamps.com work for you when it comes to celebrating someone’s special day?

Mailing cakes

Mailing a birthday cake sounds risky, but if you really want to make someone’s day, you can follow some guidelines that will help you pull this off.  Most cake-sellers would recommend mailing a cake that contains fondant icing to ensure it keeps its shape during transit. Keeping the cake cool is also important, so some recommended tips include freezing the cake prior to mailing, lining the cake with gel packs, and placing the cake within a Styrofoam cooler with plenty of dry ice. Keep the cake snug and secure by using a box that prevents a lot of movement, and cushioning the cake with packing peanuts.  In your Stamps.com program, we recommend selecting Priority Mail Express as your mail class.

Mailing birthday cards

Don’t want to send a cake? No worries! Sometimes all you need is a birthday card to remind someone that you’re thinking about them. If you want to send a card or letter, you can print postage on various envelope sizes, including sizes #9, #11, and #12, and the NCR Greeting Card Envelope (8 3/4” x 5 3/4”).  Have a funny birthday card with a strange shape? You can also use our Custom Layout Designer to create custom envelopes and postcards of non-standard sizes.  In the Stamps.com software, click on “Envelopes” in the left navigation bar and look for the envelope icon next to the “Printing On” drop-down list. For an extra-special touch, send the card with a Custom NetStamp! This product allows you to put your own image on a sheet of NetStamps labels. Once you design and order your sheet, we’ll send you a sheet with your image. You can then run the sheet through your printer and decide what kind of letter or postcard postage you need with our Stamps.com program.

Mailing gifts

If you want to mail a gift like a shirt, mug or book, you can use Stamps.com’s powerful platform to select the mail class that will fit your needs. Under our “Packages” section, you can easily print a trackable label on plain paper or on one of our self-adhesive labels. You can create a barcoded shipping label for USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes and receive the discounted Commercial Base rate. If you want to use your own box, just select “Package/Thick Envelope” as your mailpiece and print out a barcoded shipping label. Make that birthday special!

Categories: Letter Mailing, Shipping Tags:

Call us toll-free at 1-888-434-0055

Monday–Friday, 6am–6pm Pacific Time