Using USPS Adhesive Postage Stamps to Ship Orders

[farnorthsid]

I acquired several rolls and sheets of stamps, quite a few hundred dollars worth and I'd like to use them. If I use these, how do I get an address, not shipping, label from Ebay, or do I even need one, just print my own, and how would I get a tracking number? I suspect most will be ground advantage, some will be priority. I have some priority stickers but in the case of GA, should I write ground advantage on the package?

Thanks in advance.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

If you choose to scrawl the address in crayon, that is fine with Ebay and the shipping company.

Just remember it must be legible, and some buyers might think less of you if you use a crayon.

[biggymoe]

You can use them.  Buyer's address will be in your Payments Received.  You will not be able to get a tracking number.

[ryry-jj]

You need to print/write up your own label.  Take it to the post office and add tracking, then  peel and stamp away!  Might have to pay for tracking separately, I don't think they take stamps for that, but not 100% sure 

[ebooksdiva]

You can no longer purchase just tracking at the PO any more. 

[ebooksdiva]

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@farnorthsid wrote:

I acquired several rolls and sheets of stamps, quite a few hundred dollars worth and I'd like to use them. If I use these, how do I get an address, not shipping, label from Ebay, or do I even need one, just print my own, and how would I get a tracking number? I suspect most will be ground advantage, some will be priority. I have some priority stickers but in the case of GA, should I write ground advantage on the package?

Thanks in advance.

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You would get the buyer’s  address from the order details and hand write it on an envelope or package. There are no tracking numbers if you ship orders with postage stamps. 

If you plan on using postage stamps for ground advantage or priority you will need to ensure the correct amount of stamps is applied to them,  again you won’t have tracking for those packages.

Drawback …..you will have no proof that you mailed out orders with postage stamps causing possible item not received cases you would lose for not having tracking.  Defects for not having acceptance scans because postage stamps don’t have tracking. 

[ryry-jj]

That sucks, good to know.  Then I'd just use the stamps for regular envelope stuff...holiday cards, maybe 🙂

[babyers88]

you can use postage stamps, but there going to be counted at retail shipping cost, so at the counter if a package cost's $7.50 to ship you can stick $7.50 worth of stamps on it, you can also split the cost put $4.00 worth of stamps on it and pay the rest with money, in which case you might get a tracking number, not sure have not used stamps in 3 decades or longer. other than to mail off letters. i would just go to the post office and give it a try or ask if you can use some stamps and then pay the remainder and get a tracking number?.

as for labels, you can print a address on a label or even a sheet of paper, then attach it to the package, that's a given.

[wastingtime101]

Hi @farnorthsid : to print an address label without a shipping label:

- Next to the order on your orders page, select the option to print a packing slip.

- On the pop up uncheck packing slip and check address label.

If you ship with postage stamps you will not have tracking. You will not have proof of shipping or delivery. If the buyer files a claim, you will be forced to refund.

[wastingtime101]

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@tobaccocardyahoo wrote:

If you choose to scrawl the address in crayon, that is fine with Ebay and the shipping company.

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It's probably not fine with the shipping company. Their sorting machines will have trouble reading crayon.

(Yes I realize your comment was probably tongue-in-cheek, just don't want anybody to take it seriously then have problems with shipping.)

[hotwheelsbum]

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@wastingtime101 wrote: It's probably not fine with the shipping company. Their sorting machines will have trouble reading crayon.

(Yes I realize your comment was probably tongue-in-cheek, just don't want anybody to take it seriously then have problems with shipping.)

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I remember back in the day using black or blue markers on UPS Labels, hand written. Also, you could never use RED ink on the labels. UPS had the old style laser scanners where RED made the writing invisible when scanned. It's unfathomable how much has changed over the last 25 years when it comes to shipping items sold on ebay. 👍 

[12345jamesstamps]

'crayon'?...✍️ I use a black ink pen to write.

And buyers love that personal touch and not just a junk mail looking address label.

[bonanza125]

Printing out an Ebay shipping label saves you money on shipping cost so really there is no need for those stamps unless you are shipping out something in an envelope. Sometimes I have to use a stamp to ship out a manual in a card. If you are thinking about shipping out a package and placing a bunch of stamps on it in replace of a ebay label I would say reconsider doing that especially with the tracking situation. 

[12345jamesstamps]

You put the correct amount of stamps needed on package for item to have tracking with the stamps you have. 

Clerk will let you put stamps on package...and you do get tracking with the correct postage as sending something whether certified, registered, priority mail or however you desire you want item sent.

You can put a hundred stamps on package if needed...

Post offices still sell 10+ dollar stamps and 30+ dollar stamps and one cent stamps so any stamps are OK.

I use my own stamps for tracking...I usually do certified and priority mail.

Plus, and this is a big plus...clerk will tell you correct amount of stamps to use with no added mistakes that later haunt sellers who put their own eBay postage labels on packages and get those darn 'insufficient postage bills' later.

Didn't mean to thread on your response...ebooksdive...this is just a general response.

[wastingtime101]

One more thing @farnorthsid :

If you use postage stamps, you have to apply enough to cover the full retail rate, not the discounted online/eBay rate.

Should you choose to take the risk and ship without tracking and having to refund INR claims, which you certainly can do if you want, be aware of how much postage you need to apply.

You should also write the $ amount of postage applied on the package below the stamps. It'll help USPS process when you're adding large amounts of postage in stamps.