Is it possible to purchase a prepaid return lable from USPS withOUT using shippo?

[lud-4367]

I'm looking for other options to create a prepaid return label from USPS (a parcel is coming back from US to Canada), and send it through email. Is there any way I can accomplish it without using shippo?

[ypdc_dennis]

I have seen some posts that have suggested pirateship.com for getting USPS labels.  Should be able to send label as a PDF.

[teenytrinkets]

I can confirm Pirate Ship works! I've created both US to US and US to CAD USPS labels using my Canadian credit card! No sign up fees or account fees - it's even discounted!!! It appears to be completely international. 

Finally! Game changer!

[byto253]

With Pirate Ship are you buying the postage and label online, then emailing the pdf to the person doing the return?    

[hlmacdon]

Yes. You can add a specific amount of credit to your account to cover the transaction (under reports --> Account balance --> add credit), then you generate a label which which will default to pdf. You can download and email a pdf or share the link to the return label with the buyer so they can download it themselves.  If you do use the service you can ask them to activate simple export rate on your account. That will allow you to send by Asendia which can be cheaper depending on the package if you want to keep your costs down.

For more on return labels see here on their website. 

[teenytrinkets]

I didn't have to "add credit" - I just paid for my $3 label using my credit card in a single transaction.

The Acendia option may come in handy, but I honestly can't see it saving enough to justify the hassle. Especially since buying a cheap USPS label, uploading a .jpg and recording the tracking number is all it will take to make most of these scam buyers just go away... as it has appeared to have done with mine!!! 🙂

I'll repeat: game changer!

[hlmacdon]

Good to know it will just bill the postage amount. There is another setting under payment method that controls the top up amount that gets billed when you have no funds. If you have that set to no default it it should bill the amount for each individual transaction. I usually have it set to a set amount so I don't get a ton of bank debits.

Asendia is the same process for printing labels, it gets treated like a domsetic USPS shipment on your side and then they relabel when forwarding on to the destination. For a heavier package the savings can be quite a bit. You can see those rates here.

[teenytrinkets]

What is unclear to me about Asendia, is how does the buyer get the package to the post office? I think most Americans have USPS pick up at their home, and don't like the prospect of having to go to the counter. So if it's a USPS label, and doesn't confuse them or require them to leave their home, everything's peachy keen - and they can't refuse it or complain. I've seen stories of US buyers having a problem with a FedEx label... sigh....

[lud-4367]

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@teenytrinkets wrote:
I didn't have to "add credit" - I just paid for my $3 label using my credit card in a single transaction.

The Acendia option may come in handy, but I honestly can't see it saving enough to justify the hassle. Especially since buying a cheap USPS label, uploading a .jpg and recording the tracking number is all it will take to make most of these scam buyers just go away... as it has appeared to have done with mine!!! 🙂

I'll repeat: game changer!

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I really like that option. Some canadian reshippers use token system and that's a real deal breaker for me.

[hlmacdon]

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@teenytrinkets wrote:
What is unclear to me about Asendia, is how does the buyer get the package to the post office?

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The same way they deal with any other USPS package since it is a USPS label. It only becomes an "Asendia" label when it hits their warehouse and they label over top with their label.

[teenytrinkets]

That's awesome! I may buy my own Asendia labels for some other things I order from American friends and sellers outside of eBay!