Long time Stamps.com user looking for other options (i.e. no monthly fee). Paypal shipping?

[floodzone]

So I have been using Stamps.com for all of my postage needs for years, but now that I use it very rarely for personal mail services, I'd like to find a cheaper option with no monthly subscription fee.  I have never used Paypal shipping, but am considering it.

Can it do just about everything that Stamps.com can do?

It can be used for personal mail too, correct?   Not just Ebay shipments?

Any other drawbacks I may be missing?

Thank you in advance!!

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@floodzone wrote: ....  I have never used Paypal shipping, but am considering it.

Can it do just about everything that Stamps.com can do?...

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Which features are you especially interested in? Paypal's shipping label setup is pretty basic.

Yes, you can use it for personal shipments; in fact,   sellers who use eBay's shipping labels will usually switch over to PayPal to print their personal package postage at www.PayPal.com/shipnow .  It doesn't offer postage for Priority Mail's legal size flat rate envelopes or for Regional boxes.

[gwens*4saleitems*]

You can print shipping labels on the USPS website and I'm pretty sure that you don't need a subscription to use it.

[floodzone]

Thanks, sorry should have been more specific.

All I need is to be able to send packages first class, media mail and priority mail with tracking.  And insure them when necessary.

It can do those things, correct?

[nj18roo]

I have used Paypal shipping for personal items. 

I also recently started using Pirate Ship for heavy items that are under a cubic foot--cheaper if the items size is right.  Though you can use for larger package --same prices as for ebay.

Here's a link

https://www.pirateship.com/usps/priority-mail-cubic

Another plus is that $100 insurance on priority mail is included.  I also like that they have a way to ask questions and someone answers --a chat---you write and then the person writes.

I have the postage charged to my cc but I think you can use paypal or have a balance with them.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Yes, you can (with the Priority exceptions noted above).  

All USPS package postage automatically includes tracking (formerly known as Delivery Confirmation) at no additional cost.

If you print postage though usps.com, you can only print Priority Mail, not other services such as First Class or Media Mail, and you'll be charged the retail rate not the online rate.

[nj18roo]

I don't think you get the discounted postage printing labels on the usps website, Though.

But I thought I've been able to print media mail and regional boxes,etc. , though I haven't used usps website in quite a while.

[nobody*s_perfect]

You can't print MM through usps.com.  As noted, they charge the retail price for Priority Mail, EXCEPT that they charge the regular online rate for the Regional boxes, without the "retail surcharge," which makes them a nice complement to using PayPal.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@floodzone wrote:

So I have been using Stamps.com for all of my postage needs for years, but now that I use it very rarely for personal mail services, I'd like to find a cheaper option with no monthly subscription fee.  I have never used Paypal shipping, but am considering it.

Can it do just about everything that Stamps.com can do?

It can be used for personal mail too, correct?   Not just Ebay shipments?

Any other drawbacks I may be missing?

Thank you in advance!!

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Stamps.com has a free membership for Ebay sellers. I have had one for years.  Call them and see if they can convert your plan to a free one since you already have a membership. The signup link won't work for you.

[nobody*s_perfect]

But if you have the free eBay type of account at stamps.com can you use it for personal mail, or only for eBay transactions?

[sassykzt]

Have you looked at Pirateship?  I've been using it for the 18 months.  It has the same discounts as on eBay with the exception of having slightly higher prices on international shipping.  It is much cheaper than USPS and also includes first class mail ( Why USPS doesn't sell first class mail online is baffling! ).  With  one key stroke you can import sales from various platforms including eBay. Can choose shipping dates and print SCAN forms.  I use it for all personal shipping.  I can schedule daily pick ups from my front door  -- saves lots of money and no waiting in line at the post office! Very dependable site -- haven't experienced any technical glitches

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@sassykzt wrote: ...  I can schedule daily pick ups from my front door  -- saves lots of money and no waiting in line at the post office! ...

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You can schedule carrier pickup through any online postage seller or directly at usps.com.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

But if you have the free eBay type of account at stamps.com can you use it for personal mail, or only for eBay transactions?

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I've used it for personal package mail, Ebay packages,  Mercari packages and Etsy packages. It has the ability to download your Ebay sales and populate the shipping labels, but I've never done that, so it would be impossible for them to determine what is Ebay mail or any other mail. If I had tons of sales I probably would have linked accounts just to save time. They get the same percentage of revenue that any other venue gets when they offer postage since they use the ComBase price I am assuming, so they get their pennies no matter where the package is going or what venue it comes from.   It cannot be used to print actual stamps for letter rate postage or certified mail forms - you do have to have an upgraded account to do that.  You can only print package rate mail. You also don't get the free scale.

That said, I haven't used it much over the past couple of years since I dropped all other venues, so I am **assuming** that things still work the same way. I mainly used it so I could get a single SCAN form for multiple venue packages. I don't have that issue now so I just use Ebay labels.

[johnrj1226]

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@gwens*4saleitems* wrote:

You can print shipping labels on the USPS website and I'm pretty sure that you don't need a subscription to use it.

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But you will pay full Retail USPS prices.

When you buy thru  PayPal you will receive the  USPS commercial rate discounted rate.

[aramintaca]

I use PP all the time for both personal and business. It costs nothing to try it. You test it and see if it works for you. There is no penalty if you stop using it.