Need help with package labels

[Jello78]

hey guys,
looking to update my buying and selling by doing Click-N-Ship labels. I've been doing the old fashion way of writing pen and paper for labels for packages. Can someone help me out? what is the best way to print out labels to put on packages? Is USPS the only way to do it or is there other sites that are better? This is all new to me, even though Ive been buying and selling pb stuff for 20 years. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Agglet]

I've just typed the info out in MS Word and then printed it out and taped it on the box.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Also what I usually do.

[Hellion360]

Assuming you have paypal: go to paypal.com/shipnow to ship individual packages.
Good shipping rates too.

[BLachance75]

I create the labels through USPS and print them on half sheet sticker paper like this. https://www.amazon.com/MFLABEL-Adhes...ps%2C77&sr=8-4

you have to remember to click on print labels without receipt. If you don’t it will print the receipt on 1 side and the label on the other.

[euangelion]

I used to also print, cut, and tape but if you're doing a bunch it can get tedious.

Like Blachance mentioned you can get the sticker paper and print them out, then if you're really cranking out shipments eventually get a dedicated label printer as well.

Paypal supports most types so it can be set as a default to avoid switching back and forth with a normal printer.

I use one from Rollo. It is small, fast, and quick to setup. I grab the least expensive stack of labels from amazon every now and again its been a huge time saver.

[Jello78]

is there a way i can just print out the label without using stick paper or certain printers for this? I dont ship that much but I wasnt sure if there was a way to eliminate the pencil and paper of the label part and just click and print out the label and then stick clear tape over it on the box with maybe a tracking number/ bar code.

[BLachance75]

You can print the label from USPS on any paper. I used to print them on regular printer paper then tape them to the box. Now I ship enough that using the half sheet label paper makes it a lot easier.

[Toestr]

I go into a word processing document I have formatted for addresses in the exact specifications requested by the postal carrier and print out the address. Then I cut it the paper so that the address is vertically centered on the piece (I can get 3+ labels off a normal sheet, so put the cutoff piece aside for next time). Then I put the piece of paper on the box and cover it entirely with clear packing tape so it won't get caught or ripped off.

For my return address I have a sheet of self adhesive labels that work in a regular printer. MS word has a format for that specific size of label from that company. If you type out your address it will space it out perfectly to fit on each label (there's 360 labels in a pack with 30 per page so one pack should last you several years if you ship a normal hobbyist volume. I bought it at the dollar store for less than $2). These look very professional. I also laminate these with a strip of packing tape too because the adhesive isn't very good.

Then just take the package to the post office and have them print out their required labels and it's off.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[nobbie333]

Take a look at some of his videos https://youtu.be/P9yFGUBFMvE

[Jello78]

thanks man

[rawbutter]

The USPS site works great for printing labels. You have to make a free account, but after that you can enter shipping info, select the services you want, and then pay and print a label. Or you can save the label as a PDF to print later. By default, the USPS site renders the shipping labels in half-sheets, so if you buy the right kind of labels, you can print directly onto them. You can even print just one label, peel that sticker off the sheet, and then flip the sheet around and print another label on the other sticker at some other time.

The USPS website is kind of clunky to navigate, but for me, it's still way faster than going to the post office and waiting in line. If you print your postage from the website, you can go to the post office and just drop off your package without the waiting part. Some post offices even have a drop box for packages that's outside of the main lobby near the P.O. boxes, so you don't even need to go during office hours.

The only real downsides to printing labels for yourself online is that (A) you're mostly limited to flat-rate options, and (B) you usually need to enter a package weight. So, if you don't own a kitchen scale that's accurate down to ounces, you either need to buy one, or you need to always overestimate your package weight so it doesn't get returned to you for insufficient postage. When I got started doing my own labels, I went to the post office and just grabbed a bunch of the flat-rate boxes to make life easy. Now whenever I mail something of a certain size, I pick up a new flat rate box of that same size when I go to drop off that package, so I've always got a little stash at home.

Overall, like anything, it takes a while to get used to the system. But once you do, I think you'll find it easier and more convenient than the alternative.