Details about creating USPS labels with ShipStation Carrier Services: How to set up, features, GlobalPost services, notes, and troubleshooting.
USPS from ShipStation option provides access to discounted rates, including ShipStation-specific cubic rates. In addition to standard USPS services, this option also grants access to Stamps.com's GlobalPost program for international shipments.
Important
As of September 3rd, 2021, the USPS has suspended the following international services from the United States to Australia due to recent outbreaks of COVID-19:
First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®)
Commercial ePacket (CeP)
International Priority Airmail® (IPA®) packets
International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®) packets
To avoid a disruption in service, you can ship packages to Australia via USPS Priority Mail International, Priority Mail Express International, or Stamps' Global Advantage Program.
For already shipped items, other than Global Express Guarantee® (GXG®), USPS employees will endorse the items as “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender” and then place them in the mail stream for return.
Unless otherwise noted, service suspensions to a particular country do not affect delivery of military and diplomatic mail.
If you haven't done so already, you'll be prompted to add your billing information the first time you attempt to create a label. Or, you can follow the steps below to add your billing information in advance:
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Click the Setup Carrier Services button.
Enter your billing information for the account and agree to terms and conditions.
This billing information will apply to all services using ShipStation Carrier Services. Charges from ShipStation Carrier Services will appear on your credit card reports with the description “STAMPS."
USPS from ShipStation supports for the following standard features:
USPS from ShipStation allows for the following additional features:
Feature |
Description |
|---|---|
Discounted Rates |
USPS from ShipStation gives you access to discounted USPS rates using USPS's Commercial Base Pricing tier. It also includes access to ShipStation-specific cubic pricing for USPS Priority Mail shipments. |
Access to GlobalPost |
USPS from ShipStation automatically includes access to Stamps.com's GlobalPost international consolidation shipping options. Review the GlobalPost section below for more details on available services and restrictions. |
Prepaid postage |
All USPS shipments are prepaid, and use a shared pool of funds with other carriers linked to ShipStation Carrier Services. |
Scheduled Pickups |
After creating USPS from ShipStation labels, you can schedule a pickup for the next day directly in ShipStation. |
ShipStation Carrier Services settings include the options to update your payment methods and view transactions.
To access the settings, go to ShipStation Settings > Shipping > Carriers & Fulfillments, then click the settings icon to open the Settings pop-up.
The Settings pop-up gives you the list of available actions.
Account Setting Actions |
Description |
|---|---|
Update Payment Method |
Enter new credit card details for purchasing labels with ShipStation Carrier Services. |
View Reports |
View your USPS transactions. This option will open a new window to view the account balance, credits, deductions, and expenses. You can filter by date and create a printable report, if needed. |
Refresh Available Services |
Refreshes the list of available services for each carrier that is included in ShipStation Carrier Services. |
Update Password |
If you have changed your Stamps.com account password, use this option to enter the new password into ShipStation so ShipStation can continue to access the Stamps.com account to purchase labels. |
Update Account Nickname |
Change the name that displays for the account in the Services drop-down on your orders. |
Account Settings |
Opens the expanded settings page for the account on the Stamps.com website. |
You can request a free USPS pickup for the next shipping day (Monday through Saturday) directly in ShipStation for any USPS shipment you've created.
Saturday Pickup
Certain USPS Post Office locations do not support Saturday pickup, so a pickup request placed on Friday would be scheduled for Monday with these locations. Please contact your local Post Office to confirm their pickup schedule.
To schedule a pickup in ShipStation:
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Select USPS, FedEx, DHL Express or UPS from the Schedule a Pickup drop-down menu.
Each option will only be available if the carrier is set up in your ShipStation account.
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Fill in the required information: Ship From location, the Pickup Contact for this shipment, date of pickup, and time frame.
When scheduling a pickup for the first time, you must create a Pickup Contact. For DHL Express pickups, it must include Location Notes, even if it is simply "no notes".
Add More Contacts
After you create a contact, you can create additional contacts by clicking the Pickup Contact drop-down menu and selecting Add new Shipment Contact. This will create a list of contacts within the Pickup Contact drop-down.
Click the Schedule Pickup button to submit the pickup.
Keep the following in mind about USPS from ShipStation:
You will not have direct access to a Stamps.com account when using USPS from ShipStation. If you have questions about your account, or encounter any billing issues, please contact the ShipStation User Success team.
USPS does not support Signature or Adult Signature confirmation for shipments to international addresses.
USPS SCAN forms must be created before 9 PM local time.
Label Messages are not available for international shipments, or domestic First Class Mail shipments using the Letter package type.
Labels created through ShipStation Carrier Service will not show postage amounts.
To receive a refund for unused postage you must void the label electronically within 28 days.
All USPS shipments are subject to the USPS Automatic Package Verification System (APV). Any adjustment applied through APV will be either added or deducted automatically to/from your ShipStation Carrier Services balance. USPS reserves the right to apply APV adjustments at any time.
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To report a USPS from ShipStation lost shipment, please contact Stamps.com Shipper Support directly:
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Stamps.com Shipper Support Contact Information:
Phone: (877) 782-6739 (option 1)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 6 AM to 6 PM, Pacific Time Zone ( PT)
Email: ShipperSupport@Stamps.com
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Here are some common issues, potential causes, and troubleshooting tips.
Issue |
How to troubleshoot or resolve |
|---|---|
First Class Mail International (FCMI) shipments' tracking numbers not sent to marketplaces or customers. |
The tracking number provided for FCMI shipments is not always fully trackable and will often not provide any additional tracking details beyond the shipment leaving the country. Since these tracking numbers do not always provide full delivery information, ShipStation considers them to be "non-trackable" and will not include them in notifications by default. If you want ShipStation to include FCMI tracking numbers in notifications, go to Despite the wording of the setting, it applies to both marketplace and customer notifications. |
My Priority Mail Express shipment arrived late, how do I get a refund for the late delivery? |
Contact the ShipStation User Success team with the tracking number(s) and created date(s) for the shipment(s). The ShipStation User Success team will evaluate the claim and respond within 24 hours. |
I created a shipment using the First Class Mail International (FCMI) service and the Large Envelope or Flat package type but got a domestic shipping label. |
Starting in early 2018, USPS requires all "Merchandise" shipped using FCMI to use the Package package type. The Large Envelope or Flat package type is only valid if the content type for the shipment is "Documents." However, Stamps.com allows you to use the Large Envelope or Flat package type for any kind of FCMI shipment. The domestic shipping label you received uses the Stamps.com Global Advantage program. Once received, Stamps will relabel the shipment with a new label and any necessary customs information, and send the package on to its final destination. See the Global Advantage Program section in the Stamps.com article for more details. |