eBay

epicure1 · ‎01-31-2021

I've used Stamps com for over 10 years, the last 2 years have had too many problems. Pirateship was mentioned on Stamps com Facebook. It seems too good to be true, it's free no monthly fees. Has hidden postage, carrier pick up, scan sheets, same discount pricing, transaction history with balances, you can download labels. They only do USPS and affiliated with them. Stamps com does UPS also, but I found that if I ship from UPS and use a coupon code it's cheaper in price.

I have used eBay, but you have to batch labels to be able to create a scan sheet and I like to print throughout the day.

I've used Pirateship for a couple of days, so far great. And customer service is fast and super friendly.

Has anyone used them and if so any problems? Checking before I cut Stamps com off.

lightlily_arts · ‎01-31-2021

I've been using Pirateship for quite some time as I get the same commercial discounts. I use them also for Facebook and Craigslist purchases that I need to ship. I use PayPal to fund my labels. My only complaint is my browser Mozilla Firefox forces me to download to Adobe Acrobat to print my labels.

no_zero369 · ‎01-31-2021

Yes! I love PirateShip! I think it has a fun & Quirky interface. Same commercial rates, but they also teach you how to use Cubic Shipping and SoftPack Cubic shipping to save money over "normal" commercial rates. I like that, set up properly, eBay sale info populates and your purchased tracking number automagically gets uploaded to your eBay sales record! The info on the website and help pages is so good I haven't had a problem or a need for CS.

No, none of these third party label sellers are TGTBT. They negotiate low rates due to volume and then sell you labels at the commercial rate, which is a bit higher that their negotiated rate. So what is the problem with a little bit of profits? You don't think eBay is doing it for free and out of the kindness of their heart do you? Nope, eBay is following the same business plan.

Nice thing about PS is that you can use it for non-eBay shipping. So when I send a sweater to my Aunt Millie is Seattle, I just use PS. Can't do that with eBay labels. Plus why pay for the privilege of getting the Commercial rates?

So yeah, Ship with PirateShip.

wastingtime101 · ‎01-31-2021

PirateShip is great for single labels, but it's not great for volume.

GLORIOUS!

epicure1 · ‎01-31-2021

"I like that, set up properly, eBay sale info populates and your purchased tracking number automagically gets uploaded to your eBay sales record!"

Thanks for this info, I didn't know I could do that. I will be checking it out. TYTY

bigdeals.etc · ‎01-31-2021

@wastingtime101 wrote:
PirateShip is great for single labels, but it's not great for volume.

I’ve been wondering this too as I’ve been with Stamps.com for over a decade. And yes, I notice a lot of issues with the software and interface... primarily importing orders.

But I think I used PS one time when it first came out. And as you mentioned, I notice I make labels a hell of a lot faster with Stamps (with their presets and shortcuts) than with PS. Speed is a top priority issue as I ship about 100-200 packages a day. Those precious 30 or so seconds I save from less clicking and less steps really add up at the end of the day.

I’ve been considering revisiting PS again soon during my slow season just to see if they’ve changed and if I can streamline it to be quicker or as quick as Stamps.com.

wastingtime101 · ‎01-31-2021

@bigdeals.etc wrote:
I’ve been considering revisiting PS again soon during my slow season just to see if they’ve changed and if I can streamline it to be quicker or as quick as Stamps.com.

They haven't made that kind of change yet, unfortunately. I have a lot of technical issues with stamps.com, too. And with eBay labels, for that matter.

GLORIOUS!

bigdeals.etc · ‎02-01-2021

@wastingtime101 wrote:
@bigdeals.etc wrote:
I’ve been considering revisiting PS again soon during my slow season just to see if they’ve changed and if I can streamline it to be quicker or as quick as Stamps.com.
They haven't made that kind of change yet, unfortunately. I have a lot of technical issues with stamps.com, too. And with eBay labels, for that matter.

Yea, I'm sure you know ebay labels is too slow. I only use them for ebay international shipping.

I've been meaning to look around for a solutions for postage that caters to high volume sellers. Have you thought of that and seen what's out there? If only Stamps.com made a few tweaks it would highly benefit bulk sellers (such as real-time updating of pending shipments in multiple simultaneous logins, so I can have teams of people creating postage at the same time from the same selling account without overlappage), but I doubt they'd run with my suggestions. I haven't begun to look yet for any other vendors out there.

bimm_corp · ‎02-01-2021

@lightlily_arts

>Firefox forces me to download to Adobe Acrobat to print my labels.

Try this,

https://sumatra-pdf.en.softonic.com/

Works with all versions of FireFox, WaterFox, etc. 64-bit version is really fast and it does lots of other formats besides PDF. And no Adobe calling home to record every PDF you read/write.

monster-deals · ‎02-01-2021

I have yet to experience a scenario where I saved more money in postage or time with PirateShip.

ame4548 · ‎02-01-2021

I use pirate ship for international first class shipments and the rare case where a cubic rate is cheaper than a regional rate A for my shipping location in the middle of the country.

Pirate Ship does allow you to save package profiles - dimensions, weight, service, even customs form information - and you can start from a saved profile and tweak it from there if necessary. You can also batch labels for identical shipments. That is the only way I could see it as being useful for bulk shippers : if a majority of your shipments all use the same packaging and service. Otherwise it is clunky, since each different package has to be processed individually. And there is currently no way to combine separate packages or edit an address for imported eBay orders.

But I agree that the customer service and information available on-site is outstanding.

tristartreasures · ‎02-01-2021

Interested in hearing from some of you who have been using pirateship for a bit. As with many i am seeking a way to negate the issues with USPS not scanning my packages at bulk drop off facilities. I drop off about 30 packages of varying sizes every other day sometimes a bit more. Bulk shipping on eBay has cost me countless wasted hours as the dreaded error message appears when i attempt to print the labels. I will never try it again. I created a pirate ship account last week & looked at the interface. i dont mind dealing with each label individually as thats where i am at with eBay currently due to the issues mentioned above. Does the end of day scan form work well for you all? I have a postmaster who is telling me she will have somebody available for bulk drop offs if i can bring a scan form from here on out.

Thanks in advance!

no_zero369 · ‎02-01-2021

@tristartreasures

Non scans at the PO are not an eBay issue, but not getting those scans then eBay will make it an issue.

We see many complaints here that scan forms do not work. Yeah, the form gets scanned but the package needs to be scanned individually and often, because they are over worked, these individual scans do not get done. Initially eBay won't count a scan sheet entry as "received" for you metrics, so you'll get later shipments if the "first" scan is outside of your handling time. Then perhaps you could go around with CS, using the scan sheet as proof, and perhaps restore your metrics? But what set ones self up for that kind of headache?

So yeah if you can get the PM to do the individual scans for your that is best!

You have two options:

1. Stand in line and get your pile of packages scanned and leave with a receipt, or

2. Work with your PostMaster to get them to get his employees to do their job and scan each package as received into the system. Sounds like they are willing to work with you - Great!