APC

Details about ShipStation's integration with APC. Includes requirements, connection process, features, notes, and troubleshooting tips.

APC is a US Postal Service (USPS) Postal Qualified Wholesaler (PQW) that works closely with the USPS to help e-commerce sellers ship international parcels and mail. ShipStation's integration with APC allows you to create international shipping labels to anywhere in their delivery network of over 200 countries. "Pay on scan" is the default for APC, so you are only charged for labels if they’re used.

Interested in an account? Go to the APC website to sign up!

For more information, contact shipstation@apc-pli.com.

Available on Platinum Plan or Higher

To connect this provider, you must be on a Platinum or higher subscription plan. If you would like to add this provider but do not see the connection tile, you will need to upgrade your subscription to the Platinum plan.

APC Requirements

Connection Requirements:

  • An active account with APC.

  • APC Username

  • APC Password

Connect an APC account to ShipStation

To connect your APC account to ShipStation:

  1. Select the APC tile and click Connect.

    APC logo. Button that reads, Connect
  2. Enter your APC Username and Password, and choose an Account Nickname which you'll use to identify the carrier account in ShipStation.

  3. Click Connect.

Available Features for APC Integration

ShipStation's integration with APC supports the following standard features:

APC Additional Details

The ShipStation integration with APC allows the following additional features:

Feature

Description

Automatic Manifesting

ShipStation will automatically manifest all open shipments for the previous day at 2 AM PST.

A PDF copy of the manifest will be available to download in the End of Day section of the Shipping page.

This setting can be disabled if you contact ShipStation support. If disabled, you will be responsible for manifesting your APC shipments.

The carrier integration can be used to create domestic shipping labels.

The carrier integration can be used to create international shipping labels.

ShipStation will submit international customs information electronically to the carrier.

The carrier integration can be used to create domestic return labels.

ShipStation will display estimated shipping rates for the carrier based on the connected account information and shipment details.

Additional carrier insurance can be purchased through ShipStation.

Shipping labels created for this carrier will include a tracking number that can be used to view the shipment status on the carrier's tracking website. Tracking may not be available for all shipping services.

When tracking is available, ShipStation will automatically track the shipment status and update the tracking status on the Shipments tab. This feature allows for other advanced ShipStation features like delayed notifications and the Branded Tracking Page.

ShipStation can perform an End of Day process for the carrier and submits the shipment information electronically. The End of Day process can be mandatory or optional, based on the carrier and your account with them. A printable file may or may not be available, see the End of Day (PDF).

ShipStation can perform an End of Day process for the carrier and creates an End of Day PDF file that can be printed and provided to the carrier. The End of Day process can be mandatory or optional, based on the carrier and your account with them. The file may or may not be submitted electronically, see End of Day (Electronic).

ShipStation can print the store's logo on shipping labels created for this carrier. Label branding may not be available for all shipping services.

ShipStation can include information that will be displayed on the label as a label message. Label messages may not be available for all shipping services.

The carrier integration can be used to create multi-package shipments, where multiple individual packages are linked together into a single shipment record with a master tracking number.

You can connect this carrier integration to ShipStation multiple times using different account information, and choose which account will be used to create each shipment.

Additional Details about APC Integration

  • APC always prints the order number in their Label Reference 1 field. You cannot override this using the Label Message 1 field in ShipStation. You can enter a custom message or field replacement into the Label Message 2 field in ShipStation and this will print in the Label Reference 2 field on APC labels.

  • To display estimated rates, contact your APC account representative and have them load your rate table into your account. Once your rate table is loaded, contact ShipStation SupportShipEngine Support to enable estimated rates.

  • If no Recipient Company Name is provided, the Recipient Name will appear twice on the label.

  • The Ship From Location's Address Line 2 will not appear in the Return Address on generated labels. Only Address Line 1 will be visible.

Troubleshooting Tips for APC

Here are some common issues, potential causes, and troubleshooting tips.

Issue

How to troubleshoot or resolve

Error: Length exceeds maximum allowed; Name XLI_ItemCode; Length Allowed: 25

When creating APC labels

What it means: This error message occurs if the SKU for any product in the order is greater than 25 characters. For manual orders, you can edit the product in the order so that the SKU is less than 25 characters. If this is a marketplace order, you will need to either:

What to do:

  • Create a manual order and ship the manual order using APC, then use the Mark as Shipped action to update the marketplace order with the tracking information.

  • Use the Rate Calculator to create an APC shipping label, then use the Mark as Shipped action to update the marketplace order with the tracking information.

Whichever option you choose, we also recommend you update your product SKU number to be less than 25 characters and prevent the error from occurring on future shipments.

The carrier integration can be used to create domestic shipping labels.

The carrier integration can be used to create international shipping labels.

ShipStation will submit international customs information electronically to the carrier.

The carrier integration can be used to create domestic return labels.

ShipStation will display estimated shipping rates for the carrier based on the connected account information and shipment details.

Additional carrier insurance can be purchased through ShipStation.

Shipping labels created for this carrier will include a tracking number that can be used to view the shipment status on the carrier's tracking website. Tracking may not be available for all shipping services.

When tracking is available, ShipStation will automatically track the shipment status and update the tracking status on the Shipments tab. This feature allows for other advanced ShipStation features like delayed notifications and the Branded Tracking Page.

ShipStation can perform an End of Day process for the carrier and submits the shipment information electronically. The End of Day process can be mandatory or optional, based on the carrier and your account with them. A printable file may or may not be available, see the End of Day (PDF).

ShipStation can perform an End of Day process for the carrier and creates an End of Day PDF file that can be printed and provided to the carrier. The End of Day process can be mandatory or optional, based on the carrier and your account with them. The file may or may not be submitted electronically, see End of Day (Electronic).

ShipStation can print the store's logo on shipping labels created for this carrier. Label branding may not be available for all shipping services.

ShipStation can include information that will be displayed on the label as a label message. Label messages may not be available for all shipping services.

The carrier integration can be used to create multi-package shipments, where multiple individual packages are linked together into a single shipment record with a master tracking number.

You can connect this carrier integration to ShipStation multiple times using different account information, and choose which account will be used to create each shipment.