Shipping label printing problem

[wizcamera]

Has anyone been able to print a shipping label from 2/4/2019 12am to now about 10am PST? Tried all "fixes", different browsers, different computers, clearing cookies, but kept getting the dreaded "System unavailable. Please try again later!"

[bkb1942]

Better than what I got. Had first class weighed 4.6 Oz and said postage was $22.68.I opted to go to P.O.

[a_c_green · Accepted solution]

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@wizcamera wrote:

Has anyone been able to print a shipping label from 2/4/2019 12am to now about 10am PST?

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Yes; no problems seen.

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Tried all "fixes", different browsers, different computers, clearing cookies, but kept getting the dreaded "System unavailable. Please try again later!"

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Take a close look at the buyer's address. The "System Unavailable" message can appear when the actual problem is that the buyer's address won't validate with USPS, which happens behind the scenes when you click to purchase the label. If USPS rejects the address (i.e. it's so bad that it can't correct it automatically), then that's the failure you can get. (It's probably returned for other reasons as well, but this is the most common occurrence.)

Try plugging in the buyer's address at the USPS ZIP code validation page (here) exactly as the buyer has provided it, click the Find button, and study what comes back. Make whatever changes you see there in the Shipping form and try again. (Note that you are not changing the address; you're just correcting it.) Let us know if that helps.

[wizcamera]

This makes sense (ebay error message doesn't).

It is an FPO address. Unlike the usually address it has Unit xxxxx Box yy, FPO, AP zzzzz-wwww.

I don't  how to enter it and validate it

[a_c_green]

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@wizcamera wrote:

It is an FPO address. Unlike the usual address it has Unit xxxxx Box yy, FPO, AP zzzzz-wwww.

I don't  how to enter it and validate it

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Okay, in the example you gave, "FPO" would be the City name and "AP" would be the State. Plug in the ZIP code as usual. The text preceding the FPO would go in the street address field(s). 

Here is a USPS info page with help on FPO address formatting (scroll about halfway down the page to find it): 

https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm

[wizcamera]

Thanks. Now I know why ebay won't print. A customs form is required and ebay doesn't seem to provide the mechanism to create the customs form (why don't they tell us upfront?).

Now I have printed at paypal. There are still potential issues.

1. The label (with the customs info) is bigger than the usual one. I don't know I need to re-box it so the label can fit on one side. This will screw up the weight with the large box.

2. I entered AP 96385-5607 (it is a confirmed address) but paypal changed it to FPO, AP 96385-0700. Don't know if this is going to be an issue.

[a_c_green]

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@wizcamera wrote:

Thanks. Now I know why ebay won't print. A customs form is required and ebay doesn't seem to provide the mechanism to create the customs form

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Are you sure? Some military addresses do require a Customs form on a domestic shipment; others do not. Seeing as the shipping form even brings up a Customs form for shipments to Puerto Rico (then, after you've filled it out, doesn't print it anyway), I would think if your specific ZIP code required one, it would have brought one up.

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@wizcamera wrote:

Now I have printed at paypal. There are still potential issues.

1. The label (with the customs info) is bigger than the usual one. I don't know I need to re-box it so the label can fit on one side. This will screw up the weight with the large box.

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As long as the barcode(s) are flat on one side, I think you could let the left end of the label slop slightly over the left end of the box. My international shipments in 6"x4"x4" boxes need to do that. 

Another option is to scale down the label slightly to fit your box. See if it's any better when printed at 90%, if your mailing address doesn't go illegible. I print mine at 95% with good results.

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2. I entered AP 96385-5607 (it is a confirmed address) but PayPal changed it to FPO, AP 96385-0700. Don't know if this is going to be an issue.

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No. Delivery Confirmation looks only at the 5-digit ZIP. PayPal didn't change that +4 extension; USPS did when validating the address. (Also, "confirmed address" is not a relevant term here; we're just talking about the buyer's Ship To: address, which may or may not be his home address. That doesn't matter.)

[wizcamera]

I don't know if all overseas military addresses require customs form but this one does. Both USPS and paypal sites say so. You were right that USPS at the back end validated the address and changed the +4 code.