ShipStation Carrier Service's USPS 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.
Note
If you started your ShipStation account through BigCommerce, ShipStation Carrier Services will show USPS instead of Stamps.com alongside FedEx from Parcelcast. However, all funds are still managed via Stamps.com.
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 link for ShipStation Carrier Services.
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."
ShipStation Carrier Service's USPS shipping carrier option supports for the following standard features:
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Common ShipStation Features |
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Additional Features
ShipStation Carrier Service's USPS shipping carrier option allows for the following additional features:
Feature |
Description |
|---|---|
Discounted Rates |
ShipStation Carrier Service's 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 |
ShipStation Carrier Service's USPS option 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 labels using ShipStation Carrier Services, you can schedule a pickup for the next day directly in ShipStation. |
Stamps.com's GlobalPost services offer you an economical way to ship international packages that weigh less than 4.4 pounds. Through simplified service options, the shipping costs are greatly-lowered. For more information, read the Stamps.com page about the benefits of using GlobalPost.
The free Stamps.com account provided to all ShipStation users is eligible for GlobalPost. Contact Stamps.com at ShipperSupport@Stamps.com to enroll in the GlobalPost program. If you expect to ship more than 10 GlobalPost shipments per day, inquire about GlobalPost SmartSaver shipping options.
After you've been approved for GlobalPost services, you can enable them for use in ShipStation by doing the following:
Select or create an international order.
Choose an existing Stamps.com international service.
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Click Create Label to bring up the cost summary screen.
Note
If you use QuickShip, disable it for this step. You must see the Cost Summary screen to add the GlobalPost services.
Once the above steps have been completed, the GlobalPost services will be available alongside your other Stamps.com international shipping services.
Review the GlobalPost services listed below for details such as the available package types and maximum weights.
Table 2. GlobalPost Economy Int'l
Available Package Types |
Max Weight |
Min Dimensions |
Max Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
Large Envelope or Flat |
13 oz |
11.5" x 6.125"x 0.25" |
15" x 12" x 0.75" |
Package, Thick Envelope |
16 oz |
5" x 3.5" x 0.75" |
Max length (the longest side): 24" Length + Width + Height cannot exceed 36" |
Rolls |
16 oz |
Min length (the longest side) is 4". Minimum length + 2x Diameter is 6 - 3/4" |
Max Length (i.e. the longest side) is 36" Max Length + 2x Diameter cannot exceed 42" |
Table 3. GlobalPost Standard Int'l
Available Package Types |
Max Weight |
Min Dimension |
Max Dimension |
|---|---|---|---|
Large Envelope or Flat |
17.6 oz |
11.5" x 6.125" x 0.25" |
15" x 12" 0.75" |
Package, Thick Envelope |
70 oz |
5" x 3.5" x 0.75" |
Max Length (i.e. the longest side) is 24" Length + Width + Height cannot exceed 36" |
Flat Rate Envelope, Flat Rate Padded Envelope, Flat Rate Legal Envelope, Small Flat Rate Box |
64 oz |
Based on Flat Rate package type |
Based on Flat Rate package type |
Rolls |
70 oz |
Min Length (i.e. the longest side) is 4" Minimum Length + 2x Diameter is 6-3/4" |
Max Length (i.e. the longest side) is 36" Max Length + 2x Diameter cannot exceed 42" |
Table 4. GlobalPost Smartsaver Economy Intl, GlobalPost Smartsaver Standard Intl
Available Package Types |
Max Weight |
Min Dimension |
Max Dimension |
|---|---|---|---|
Large Envelope or Flat |
17.6 oz |
11.5" x 6.125" x 0.25" |
15" x 12" x 0.75" |
Package, Thick Envelope |
70 oz |
6" x 4" x 0.75" |
Max Length (i.e. the longest side) is 24" Length + Width + Height cannot exceed 36" Max Length (i.e. the longest side) is 24" Length + Width + Height cannot exceed 36" |
Rolls |
70 oz |
Min Length (i.e. the longest side) is 4" Minimum Length + 2x Diameter is 6-3/4" |
Max Length (i.e. the longest side) is 36" Max Length + 2x Diameter cannot exceed 42" |
Remember these points when using Stamps.com GlobalPost services in ShipStation:
To use the 'Rolls' package type in ShipStation: Select the standard 'Package' option. Do not include dimensions for Rolls package type, use the weight only.
GlobalPost shipments are prepaid, and GlobalPost shares funds with your Stamps.com account.
All GlobalPost shipments include $100 of standard coverage. Additional Carrier Insurance is not available for GlobalPost shipments. Shipsurance is available, with a maximum declared value of $400.
GlobalPost Economy International and GlobalPost Standard International shipments can be included on USPS SCAN forms. GlobalPost SmartSaver shipments should not be included in USPS SCAN forms.
The label that you'll print from ShipStation will be a domestic USPS shipping label. This label is used to ship your package to a GlobalPost sorting facility, where GlobalPost will relabel the package with any necessary documents for international shipping.
No customs forms will be printed from ShipStation. Instead, ShipStation will submit the customs information electronically and GlobalPost will include any necessary customs documents when the package is relabeled at their sorting facility.
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There are two tracking numbers associated with a GlobalPost shipment:
The GlobalPost tracking number. This tracking number is sent to your customer or selling channel during ShipStation's notification processes. For Economy shipments, packages are tracked only to the GlobalPost sorting facility. For Standard and Smartsaver shipments, packages are tracked to the destination address.
The tracking number on the actual label generated in ShipStation. This tracking number can only be used to track the movement from your Ship From Location to the GlobalPost sorting facility. It is not shared with your customer or selling channel.
GlobalPost SmartSaver
GlobalPost SmartSaver services are available for accounts that ship more than 10 packages per day with GlobalPost.
GlobalPost SmartSaver works much like other GlobalPost services, but instead of sending each package individually, you bundle all the shipments into a larger package and ship the larger package to the GlobalPost sorting facility via UPS or FedEx.
Here is the SmartSaver process:
Create GlobalPost SmartSaver shipping labels for all the shipments and package them as you would any other shipment.
Instead of shipping the packages individually, put all the SmartSaver shipments into a single larger package.
Create a manual order in ShipStation destined for the GlobalPost sorting facility, using the weight and dimensions for the larger package containing the SmartSaver shipments.
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Select UPS Ground or FedEx Ground as the shipping services (based on your agreement with GlobalPost) and assign Third-Party-Billing information to the shipment. GlobalPost will provide you with the required Third-Party-Billing information.
Tip
Automate this step with Automation Rules. The easiest way to do that is to create a manual store specifically for the consolidation orders, then use the manual store as criteria for an automation rule that assigns the service and Third-Party-Billing information.
Create the label and apply to the larger package and hand over to the carrier (either UPS or Fedex).
When the GlobalPost sorting facility receives the shipment, they'll remove the individual packages and relabel them as needed, then send them on their way to the final destination.
Here are some things you should keep in mind about USPS through ShipStation Carrier Services:
You will not have direct access to a Stamps.com account when using USPS through ShipStation Carrier Services. 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.
In order to receive a refund for unused postage, you must void the shipping label electronically within 28 days.
Here are some common issues, potential causes, and troubleshooting tips.
Issue |
How to troubleshoot or resolve |
|---|---|
Why aren't my First Class Mail International (FCMI) shipments' tracking numbers being sent to my customers or selling channel? |
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 tracking numbers and will not include them in notifications by default. If you want ShipStation to include FCMI tracking numbers in notifications, go to |
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. What should I do? |
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." Stamps.com allows their users to use the Large Envelope or Flat package type for any kind of FCMI shipment, but in order to do so the shipment must go through GlobalPost, an international consolidation service. The domestic shipping label you received is used to ship your package to the GlobalPost sorting facility. Once received, GlobalPost will relabel the shipment with a new label and any necessary customs information, and send the package on it's way to it's final destination. See our section on GlobalPost for more details. |