Simple....you probably have a Paypal account right? If so you've probably used their shipping when you sell stuff. But what about those outside-of-eBay-or-paypal purchases?? (Like ones on half.com or Amazon.com?).
Its quite simple. Using your Paypal Account all you have to do is log in, and use this link: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now (linky)
If you aren't particularly computer-saavy, you are probably wonder why this allows you to ship stuff without having received a payment. Simple...if you click the "ship" button in your account, you'll notice this exact link, but with a &info=somecrazymessofletters&numbers. That &info is the pre-filled out form information that allows it to fill out the address for you. By removing it, it simply doesn't fill it out and allows you to fill it out manually.
It works perfectly and bills through your paypal account. You can select it to take the payment from your paypal balance, a credit card or a bank account (if you are trustworthy enough to add one).
Pro's & Con's to this "Free" way of shipping
PRO: 1: Now you can ship all of your First-Class and Media-Mail stuff WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY SOME NONSENSE MONTHLY FEE! 2: You don't have to use USPS.com's confusing & chaotic website to ship Priority Mail & Express Mail 3: Easy-to-use Paypal interface doesn't require special software or sticker-labels. Just shove a peice of paper in your printer and it prints fine, no issues!
NEUTRAL (could be a pro or con, depends on you): 1: You HAVE to pay a $.13 delivery confirmation fee for First-class & Media-Mail, its required. In my eyes, this is a benefit since I would purchase it anyways from the post office. You never know what kind of people try to BS you and say they never received the item you shipped them. Thus using delivery confirmation can prevent someone from defrauding you. At the US Post Office it costs 55 cents to buy delivery confirmation for media mail or first-class mail, so 13 cents is a real savings!
CON: 1: You can't ship to Canada, UK, etc, only within the United States unless you ship WITH UPS SHIPPING This means you'll still have to wait in line at the post office when you have to ship outside of the US.
But wait... It seems your can now ship international!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also note that first class itmes must be in rigid packaging or at least .75" thick or USPS will charge the recipient for the balance to make it a priority mail shipment. This has been noted in the Online Auctions forum...
Don't forget free pickup, just call the post office 800 number to schedule.
I'm an eBay store owner and use this all the time. Not sure if it's hot or totally free but it is convenient. 13 cents for delivery confirmation is a mandatory fee, tho providing a nice feature, you may not want to pay it. There is no fee for delivery confirmation on priority mail however.
I find the supply store nice cause I can order free priority boxes shipped free in 25 count boxes.
AUTigersGrad said:So How do I ship using Pitney Bowes for FREE????
Pro's & Con's to this "Free" way of shipping
PRO: 1: Now you can ship all of your First-Class and Media-Mail stuff WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY SOME NONSENSE MONTHLY FEE! 2: You don't have to use USPS.com's confusing & chaotic website to ship Priority Mail & Express Mail 3: Easy-to-use Paypal interface doesn't require special software or sticker-labels. Just shove a peice of paper in your printer and it prints fine, no issues!
Thanx SD!
Let me add a few more CONs:
2. PayPal shipping works only on IE. Enough said. With all the money they're making I'm sure then can hire a competent programmer to make this part of PayPal standards-complient.
3. Their labels are UGLY. Why can't they generate nice, sharp labels like the USPS site does?
Overall, I agree that having the ability to print 1st class amd Media labels is nice. I'm sure that in the near future USPS will do that too.
And a question to the OP: why do you find the USPS site confusing and ugly? It's a very well laid out, very fast, and prints highest-quality labels. For example, on PayPal you can't go back, or cancel a label once you've printed it. Just for that I never use PayPal to ship Priority, the USPS site is much nicer. PayPal's looks like it designed by a retard and their lables look they were drawn in crayons.
iwearnosox were you hired by PayPal to design their shipping site?
ArgoNavis said:AUTigersGrad said:So How do I ship using Pitney Bowes for FREE????
Pro's & Con's to this "Free" way of shipping
PRO: 1: Now you can ship all of your First-Class and Media-Mail stuff WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY SOME NONSENSE MONTHLY FEE! 2: You don't have to use USPS.com's confusing & chaotic website to ship Priority Mail & Express Mail 3: Easy-to-use Paypal interface doesn't require special software or sticker-labels. Just shove a peice of paper in your printer and it prints fine, no issues!
Thanx SD!
Let me add a few more CONs:
2. PayPal shipping works only on IE. Enough said. With all the money they're making I'm sure then can hire a competent programmer to make this part of PayPal standards-complient.
3. Their labels are UGLY. Why can't they generate nice, sharp labels like the USPS site does?
Overall, I agree that having the ability to print 1st class amd Media labels is nice. I'm sure that in the near future USPS will do that too.That's the stupidest thing I've heard all day. It's a mailing label, who cares what it looks like? IE is a tool, I'm sure you have more than one screwdriver in your house.
iwearnosox said:ArgoNavis said: 3. Their labels are UGLY. Why can't they generate nice, sharp labels like the USPS site does?
Overall, I agree that having the ability to print 1st class amd Media labels is nice. I'm sure that in the near future USPS will do that too.That's the stupidest thing I've heard all day. It's a mailing label, who cares what it looks like? IE is a tool, I'm sure you have more than one screwdriver in your house.
Some people may be collecting printed labels... Ya never know. HEH
Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.