Customer address invalid when I try to print the label

[moonbound50]

The customer has a feedback rating of 16, so this shouldn't be an issue, but when I try to print the label, it says that the address is invalid. I've sent him a message, but if I don't upload the tracking today, I will receive a late shipment ding. How do I fix this?

[mooncat_watches]

Cancel with reason, problem with address. Buyer needs to fix their address and re buy.

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[moonbound50]

Thank you. 

[sreu3058]

Sometimes this happens at the post office:  I take all my packages in, stand in line, hand them to a clerk, they look up the address, sometimes it doesn’t come up in their system.  I double check to make sure what buyer gave me is what I addressed package, it matches, I say:  okay, let it roll/ send it.

It goes through.

[a_c_green]

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@sreu3058 wrote:

Sometimes this happens at the post office:  I take all my packages in, stand in line, hand them to a clerk, they look up the address, sometimes it doesn’t come up in their system.

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You can check that yourself at home by going to USPS.com and plugging in their address on the ZIP+4 lookup page: https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm 

But since you're at home on the computer already, you could just buy and print your label there (and at a  significant savings over the retail price they charge at the counter). One of the behind-the-scenes steps that occurs when you buy the label through eBay is that it does the same address verification against their database automatically that you see the clerk doing on their terminal at the PO. If the address has problems, it will tell you up front, before the label purchase can occur.

[sreu3058]

Thank you- I am guessing the shipping discount on purchasing shipping labels thru EBay and Etsy is 10%-15%?  
My belief system is:  once I sell off my current inventory, I will close up shop.  This belief battles me still obtaining new inventory, which I actually do rather sparingly these days, so I don’t think I am long for it (keeping open my Etsy and EBay stores indefinitely)

And, my current system works, hesitant to change.

ETA:  furthermore I have various sizes and weights on my shipments- I would have to invest in shipping scales, etc.  

[sreu3058]

Ooh la la, here is what AI says the savings is:

‘eBay offers discounted shipping rates which can be up to 33% off retail rates. Specifically, eBay provides a discount on USPS First Class package shipping, with a price of $3.50 for a 10-ounce package, compared to a retail price of $4.45. eBay also offers discounted rates for Priority Mail and some international mail classes.’

[sextons-sweet-deals]

What does Google map / satellite show for the address?

[mooncat_watches]

Do a mock label on Pirateship or Shipstation and see if it throws the same error. Both offer comparable discounts btw, iirc.

[sreu3058]

To OP, I hope your shipping is settled.  My experience was even if the address is not in the postal system, it still got delivered.

Topic of using discounted shipping:  I forced myself to look at my 2024 tax return, and I spent $3,000. on shipping between my stores.  If I had a 30% discount, I could have saved $900.

Ugh.

[movieman630]

I've had two orders from people in Thailand that I was unable to print a label for on ebay.  Had to use Stamps.com.