Use ShipStation's Rate Browser to view rates for all of your connected carriers, as well as create labels without creating an order.
ShipStation's Rate Browser lets you view estimated rates across multiple services and carriers to determine which service is best for different shipments. Additionally, you can use the Rate Browser to create labels (both outgoing and return labels) without creating an order.
There are two ways to view rates with the Rate Browser:
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Toolbar Rate Browser
Click Rates in the toolbar to compare rates based on Ship From and Ship To postal code, weight, package dimension, and service class.
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Shipment Rate Browser
Use the Rate Browser in the Configure Shipment Widget in the Orders tab or Order Details to view rates for a specific shipment.
The Shipment Rate Browser returns rates from the carrier based on the following shipment details:
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Postal Codes for the Ship From and Ship To Addresses
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Address type: Residential or Commercial
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Shipping Confirmation Type
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Package Type, Weight, and Dimensions
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Service Class (the type or speed of service)
The default view is to browse rates by Carriers. This lets you choose a carrier and see only rates for that carrier’s services, starting with the lowest rate.
The All Rates view lists all the rates for all of your connected carriers. This list starts with a recommended service and then displays rates from least to most expensive.
Recommended Service
The Recommended label is assigned to the carrier and service that will provide a timely delivery at the best price. It takes into consideration price, delivery time, tracking, and overall carrier rating.
Use the Toolbar Rate Browser to view and compare rates based on Ship From and Ship To postal codes, shipment weight, package dimensions, and service class.
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Click Rates in the toolbar.
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Enter the necessary information for the rates you'd like to see.
Minimum required information: Ship-From Location, Ship-To Postal Code, Country, and Weight.
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Click Browse Rates.
ShipStation will display the connected carriers, service types, estimated delivery times (if available), and rates.
From here, you can create a label without creating an order, if desired.
Rate Differences Between Toolbar and Shipment Rate Browser
Because the Toolbar Browser sends fewer details to the carrier rate API, you may sometimes see different rates for the same shipment between the Toolbar Rate Browser and the Shipment Rate Browser.
The Toolbar Rate Browser does not consider the address type (residential, commercial), package, or confirmation type. The Shipment Rate Browser will provide more accurate rates when such details affect the rate returned from the carrier's rate API.
The Rate Browser allows you to create both outgoing and return labels without creating an order first.
To create a label using the toolbar Rate Browser:
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Select the Carrier and Service you want to use.
The Configure Label option becomes active after you select a service.
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Click Configure Label.
The Rate Browser will then ask you to fill in the remaining Ship To Address information. The Postal Code will carry over from your initial entry.
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Complete the Ship To Address in one of the following ways:
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Manually enter the address information in each field.
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Use the Paste Entire US Address function to copy/paste the Ship To information. ShipStation will attempt to parse the information into the correct fields.
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(Optional) Click Validate Address if you are not confident the address is exactly correct. ShipStation will validate and standardize the address for you.
If you want to use the correction, click Use this Address.
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Make any other adjustments you need to the shipment (weight, dimensions, insurance, customs declarations, etc.).
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Click the Create + Print Label button (or use the drop-down to only Create Label without printing).
ShipStation will create the label at this point and, depending on your printing setup, will either send it to your default printer or ask you to print the label.
If ShipStation is not able to create the label, we'll display any relevant errors so you can correct the shipping details and attempt to create the label again.
You can print the label immediately or print it later from the Shipments tab. Review the Print Labels article in this help guide for more details on available print options.
To create a return label from the Rate Browser, follow the same steps to create an outbound label but select the Create a Return Label option above the address fields.
Then choose to either Email or Download the label.
Labels created through the Rate Browser in ShipStation's toolbar will not have orders associated with them. You should be aware of the following when creating labels this way:
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Creating a label through the Rate Browser will not generate an order or customer record. A shipment record will be created in the Shipments tab.
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You cannot create international labels or any labels requiring customs information from the rate browser.
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Shipments created through the Rate Browser do not allow you to define the shipment's line items. Packing Slips and Pick Lists printed from the shipment will not contain any product information.
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Notification emails are not available for shipments created through the Rate Browser.
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You cannot create USPS test labels.
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All labels count against your subscription plan's shipment limit.
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You cannot specify a custom RMA number for return labels created with the Rate Browser. ShipStation will auto-generate the RMA.
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Since each of these labels is a standalone label, a return label cannot be made from the shipment record for an outbound label that doesn't have an order. See Return Labels for steps to create standalone return labels.
The Shipment Rate Browser will take the details configured for that shipment and display the rates for all carriers and services available.
To see the rates for a specific shipment:
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Select an order.
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Set the Weight for the shipment.
For the most accurate rates, we recommend you set the Size as well.
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Click the Rate Calculator icon in the Configure Shipment Widget.
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Select a carrier to view the available services and rates.
Package Types
By default, the Rate Calculator will assume you are using the standard Package package type. If a different package type is selected in the Configure Shipment Widget, the Rate Calculator will retrieve rates for that package type instead.
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Click Configure Label to apply a carrier and service to the shipment.
Rate Browser Configure Shipments
If you adjust the fields in the Rate Browser and click Configure Label, the order's fields will update to the new shipping configuration.
The carrier and service you selected will be set in the Configure Shipment Widget so you can proceed to create the label.
ShipStation's Rate Calculator lets you view rates across multiple services and carriers to determine which service is best for different shipments. Additionally, you can use the Rate Calculator to create labels (both outgoing and return labels) without creating an order.
Open the Rate Calculator by clicking the calculator icon on the toolbar or in the side panel of an order in the Shipping Info section.
To view rates, enter the following details about the shipment:
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Postal Codes for the Ship From and Ship To Addresses
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Address type: Residential or Commercial
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Shipping Confirmation Type
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Package Type, Weight, and Dimensions
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Service Class (the type or speed of service)
When using the Rate Calculator on an order, these details will auto-populate.
Click Get Rates and a list of services and the associated rates will appear. Switch between the different providers to compare rates and delivery times to find the best option.
The Rate Calculator's two locations follow slightly different processes to create labels.
The Toolbar Rate Calculator
Enter the necessary details into the form and adjust as necessary. Click Get Rates to populate a list of rates. Click Create Label in the column next to the rate you want. You can then enter the full Ship To address and create the label.
The Order Rate Calculator
ShipStation will auto-populate the shipment details from the order into the Rate Calculator. Click on the rate for the service you'd like to use.
Note
If you make any changes to weight or the Service type, you will need to update the rate by clicking Get Rate after you have made the change.
Click Create Label to finish.
Return Labels
Tick the check box Create a Return Label to make it a return label.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) allows you to copy and paste a customer's shipping details in a single chunk of text. ShipStation will then automatically parse the address into the correct fields.
NLP uses machine learning to know what information should go where. The more addresses it searches, the more efficient it gets at quickly mapping information to the appropriate field!
Limited Capability
Currently, this process only works in the Rate Calculator.
To use NLP to create a label:
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Click the Calculator icon
in the toolbar to open the Rate Calculator.
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Enter the information needed to get a rate, then click Create Label.
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Type in or paste the text into the header bar.
ShipStation will interpret it and add the information into the appropriate fields.
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Click Get Rate to verify the address and continue to the next step.
NLP (Natural Language Processing) parses the following information into the appropriate fields:
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Recipient Name
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Address
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City
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State
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Postal Code/Zip Code
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Carrier Service
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Carrier Package Type
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Shipping Weight
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Dimensions
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Insurance/Insured Amount
For example, you could copy and paste the following text into the NLP header and ShipStation will parse it correctly:
4oz 5x10x10in 3800 North Lamar, suite 200 austin, tx 78652 Margie McMiller FedEx ground $201 value shipsurance