How Shipping Automation Can Prevent Mistakes

Shipping is a major expense for any eCommerce business. It’s an important part of your business. Having fast, reliable, and accurate shipping is important to keep customers happy and for keeping your business successful. 

 Avoiding shipping errors and mistakes is important. This prevents unnecessary additional expenses for your business. Preventing shipping mistakes is better and more cost-effective than correcting errors in shipping. There are some common shipping mistakes you will want to avoid. One easy way to avoid shipping mistakes is to use shipping automation software.

Tan boxes secured with blue tape sit on a conveyor belt waiting for shipping. Other similar oxes are stacked on industrial shelving behind the conveyor belt.

Common Shipping Mistakes

Common shipping mistakes include:

  • Incorrect Shipping Address
  • Wrong Package Weight
  • Only Using One Shipping Carrier
  • Not Packaging Orders Correctly

Another common mistake for new eCommerce store owners is not having a clear and visible return policy. Streamlining your shipping process is important to avoid shipping mistakes. However, sometimes an item is damaged during shipping or the customer ordered the wrong item. Having a transparent and visible return policy helps you and the customer. Make sure your return policy is easy to understand and detailed. This gives customers more confidence when placing an order and can increase sales while saving you issues in the future. 

Incorrect Shipping Address

An incorrect shipping address means an order will not reach the correct customer. The package may be returned to you. This means you will have to re-ship the package and pay postage again. If the package is not returned to you, you will have to refund the customer unless you have the inventory to ship the same product twice. 

Manually shipping packages increases the risk of making a mistake in the shipping address. Shipping automation software like ActionShip by Teapplix helps prevent address errors with features like Address Validation. Shipping packages to the correct address saves you time and hassle. Keep your customers happy by avoiding this mistake.

Wrong Package Weight

Some business owners don’t have the right tools to weigh products and so they estimate the weight. Estimating weights can create more issues for your business. Shipping carriers weigh packages before shipment. If there is a difference between the package’s actual weight and the weight listed on the label, there will be extra charges. It’s important to get an accurate weight when shipping any packages.

ActionShip by Teapplix can remember weights and shipping methods. This saves eCommerce business owners time. With ActionShip, you can print labels that have the accurate weight and shipping method. Letting you ship packages accurately without having to weigh items constantly. 

Only Using One Shipping Carrier

As your business grows, it’s important to have multiple shipping options. Often, businesses find a shipping carrier they like and rely on that carrier. It’s especially important for eCommerce business owners to have a variety of shipping carriers. This allows business owners to ship to more countries and to find cheaper shipping rates. 

Shipping automation software can help you find the best shipping rates by comparing several carriers. eCommerce business owners can save on shipping and offer faster delivery dates for their customers by using different shipping carriers. ActionShip by Teapplix offers Automatic Rate Shop to find you the best price. Shipping internationally can be intimidating. This is why shipping automation software is so helpful. Shipping automation software can help you find the right customs information and remember custom declarations for specific orders. This saves you time and lets you ship international orders accurately.

Not Packaging Orders Correctly

Manually packaging multiple orders that have multiple parts can result in mistakes being made and parts being left out of the order. Shipping an order that is missing a product or has the wrong quantity of products will annoy your customers. It’s important to make sure each order has the right products and the right quantity of products. 

Software automation can help you package orders correctly. ActionShip by Teapplix has a Scan and Print feature to help you package orders correctly. With Scan and Print, you can generate a pick list and the UI will guide you through all the steps to package that order. 

Conclusion

Shipping automation software can help you avoid common shipping mistakes. This saves you time and money. Shipping mistakes can anger and frustrate your customers. Avoiding these shipping errors is important for the success of your eCommerce business. 

Try ActionShip free for 30 days and see how shipping automation can help your business.

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USPS Shipping Changes Effective January 22

The USPS has announced the 2023 price change and several other changes which will go into effect on January 22, 2023. USPS shipping changes are outlined below.

Discontinued Services

The USPS is discontinuing the following services beginning January 22, 2023:

  • Regional Rate Boxes A and B
  • Balloon Pricing- A special rate is charged for large packages that are relatively light.
  • Certificate of Mailing and Signature Confirmation Services for Returns this affects the following services:
    • Priority Mail Returns
    • First Class Package Returns
    • Parcel Return

Nonstandard Package Fees for Expedited and Ground

The USPS has introduced nonstandard package fees on April 3, 2022. The nonstandard fees for USPS Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail are:

  • $4 fee for packages greater than 22" up to 30" in length
  • $15 fee for packages greater than 30" in length
  • $25 fee for packages greater than 2 cubic feet in volume

The nonstandard fees for USPS Parcel Select Ground, and First Class Package Service Retail are:

  • $4 fee for packages greater than 22" up to 30" in length
  • $7 fee for packages greater than 30" in length
  • $15 fee for packages greater than 2 cubic feet in volume

Shippers should be aware that fees are additive and multiple fees can be applied to a package. Please note if you exceed the dimensions for First Class Package Service, you will be charged the retail rate. The retail rate for First Class Package Service can be found here.

2023 Price Increases

Shippers can expect to see price increases in First Class Package, Priority Mail Commercials, and Priority Mail Express. Parcel Select Ground rates will not increase.

Teapplix has been approved as a Commerce Platform which means Teapplix customers enjoy discounts on many USPS shipping options. Teapplix discounted prices will remain unchanged and are shown in bold. Pricing has changed for USPS general shipping charges and is listed in the tables below.

Please note that Zone 1 and Zone 2 are now separate and may have different prices. Local or Zone L has the same pricing as Zone 1.

USPS 2023 Pricing

Teapplix users continue to receive discounts on all Flat Rate options, except for Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Box

ZoneL/1 23456789
Flat Rate Envs 12-1/2" x 9-1/2" or smaller$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60
Legal Flat Rate Envelope$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90
Padded Flat Rate Envelope$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30
Small Flat Rate Box$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10
Medium Flat Rate Boxes$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00
Large Flat Rate Box$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95
APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Box$18.35$18.35$18.35$18.35$18.35$18.35$18.35$18.35$18.35

As mentioned, the USPS has discontinued the Regional Rate Boxes and recommends that shippers use Priority Mail Cubic which has the following pricing:

ZoneL/123456789
Cubic Ft. Range Up To:
0.1$7.11$7.11$7.41$7.60$8.18$8.79$10.07$10.85$20.42
0.2$7.39$7.39$7.67$7.90$8.82$9.94$11.97$13.17$27.59
0.3$7.59$7.59$7.89$8.18$9.59$13.74$15.48$18.45$37.43
0.4$7.67$7.67$8.09$8.58$12.38$16.41$19.31$22.48$46.99
0.5$7.97$7.97$8.51$9.23$13.89$18.32$22.97$26.76$56.29

Commercial pricing for USPS Priority Mail is shown in the table below. Teapplix customers continue to enjoy discounts on shipping rates in Zones 1-6 up to 10 lbs. Discounted prices are shown in bold.

Weight Not Over (Lbs)Zone L/1Zone 2Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
17.097.097.397.587.968.419.4310.0718.03
27.537.537.808.05 8.829.9411.9713.1727.59
37.647.647.978.319.5913.7415.4818.4537.43
47.697.698.188.7812.0116.0118.5721.6045.07
57.837.838.389.1513.4217.54 21.4324.9752.45
68.268.268.769.6114.3519.0924.4928.5360.10
78.508.509.619.90    15.3420.6226.5731.0167.49
88.578.5710.0911.4016.3922.1828.6433.5075.76
99.219.2110.4711.8717.4923.7230.7235.9784.25
109.589.5810.9011.9818.5725.2632.8038.2491.62
1111.4911.7812.9614.4119.6526.8034.8140.49100.10
1211.9912.2913.6115.1620.8028.3436.7042.74107.31
1312.5312.8414.2615.9021.9329.8638.5845.00111.14
1413.1113.4414.9016.6423.0531.2740.4747.26116.64
1513.5313.8715.5417.3724.1732.6642.3649.52119.74
1614.2214.5716.1818.1025.2934.0744.2551.77126.31
1714.7215.0916.8118.8326.3935.4646.1454.03132.97
1815.3115.6917.4419.5527.5036.8648.0256.28139.67
1915.8216.2218.0720.2828.6238.2749.9158.53146.30
2016.2716.6818.7021.0029.7239.6751.8060.80153.04
2116.7517.1719.3622.1330.9741.8053.7062.72156.30
2217.7518.2020.7323.8832.6844.0455.6864.70158.13
2318.8119.2822.2125.7834.4846.4157.7266.74159.06
2419.9520.4523.7927.8536.4048.9059.8468.84162.94
2521.1621.6925.5030.1038.4251.5362.0571.01165.75
2623.6626.1630.3439.1050.9064.8376.8589.34174.05
2725.1527.6231.7341.5255.5465.7278.8192.66180.63
2826.0228.3232.1742.7157.0166.6480.6996.37187.41
2926.9029.0132.5143.8957.7867.7882.6099.09192.42
3027.7929.7332.9844.9258.5869.7384.47101.21196.58
3128.6730.4133.3145.6459.3470.7686.38103.57202.22
3228.9630.8634.0346.4160.0471.7188.29105.46206.34
3329.3631.4734.9947.5860.8473.1390.17107.64210.15
3429.5631.9435.9248.8062.1774.9292.07109.76214.13
3529.8432.4436.7749.5063.5176.9693.96111.46217.77
3630.1333.0337.8650.1764.9078.9595.26113.45221.48
3730.4133.4738.5750.8966.0681.0696.52115.40225.14
3830.6333.9739.5251.5467.4083.3697.64117.33228.74
3930.8734.4740.4752.1468.8185.37100.29119.15232.28
4031.1334.9541.3252.8370.2686.77102.58120.86235.42
4131.4535.4142.0253.4070.8888.25104.82122.79240.71
4231.6935.6842.3553.8772.0989.84106.29124.36244.00
4332.0936.0542.6654.3573.2992.03107.64125.70247.12
4432.3136.3142.9754.8374.4993.52108.95127.51249.97
4532.5236.5643.2955.3275.6994.57110.15129.10253.13
4632.8236.8743.6155.8176.9095.66111.36130.61256.13
4733.0637.1343.9256.2878.1096.67112.66132.18259.00
4833.3537.4344.2456.7779.2997.92113.76133.52261.82
4933.6237.7244.5457.2680.5099.29114.98134.85264.38
5033.7537.9144.8557.7581.72100.70116.47136.30267.21
5134.3038.3745.1758.2083.12102.11118.17137.64271.85
5234.8638.8445.4858.6983.71103.11119.98139.20275.03
5335.5939.4245.7959.1784.40104.00121.99141.03278.54
5436.1739.9046.1159.6585.13104.75123.76143.08282.44
5536.7940.4046.4160.1385.68105.64125.77144.97286.25
5637.3540.8746.7460.6286.33106.34127.53146.48289.21
5738.0141.4047.0561.1086.85107.17128.37147.52291.79
5838.6541.9147.3661.5787.41107.81129.56148.79294.16
5939.2642.4247.6862.0587.93108.43130.39149.87296.35
6039.7942.8647.9962.5288.44108.98131.22150.84298.44
6140.5143.4248.2963.0188.87109.60132.77152.97302.49
6241.0643.8948.6163.4889.27110.12134.38155.52307.25
6341.8844.5248.9363.9789.74110.76135.04158.06312.19
6442.2744.8849.2364.4690.15111.26135.66160.54316.99
6542.9445.4149.5464.9690.42111.59136.36162.97321.94
6643.5645.9349.8765.4390.84112.16136.77165.58326.63
6744.2846.4950.1866.5591.17112.52137.33167.70330.93
6844.8346.9550.4867.3891.41113.96138.06169.51334.43
6945.5047.4950.8168.2691.69115.35138.71171.34338.00
7046.0147.9251.1269.3491.99116.76139.23173.27341.63

Teapplix has introduced support for USPS Parcel Select Ground Cubic. The pricing for USPS Parcel Select Ground Cubic is listed in this table.

Cubic Ft. Range
Up To
Zone L/1Zone 2Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
0.106.756.957.217.407.527.748.198.568.56
0.207.077.397.607.878.088.989.5710.1210.12
0.307.167.537.708.068.5510.4811.0111.6411.64
0.407.257.627.878.429.5311.4712.1412.7612.76
0.507.367.738.088.8110.2312.1612.9313.6613.66
0.607.537.868.409.2611.7212.6813.4514.2214.22
0.707.918.239.099.7312.5613.0113.9114.8614.86
0.808.138.469.7310.9312.9113.4814.4015.5015.50
0.908.789.1410.2111.6813.1413.9015.0916.4216.42
1.009.309.6610.7411.9213.5414.3316.1017.6817.68

Commercial pricing for USPS Parcel Select Ground is listed in this table:

Weight
Not Over (Lbs)
Zone L/1Zone 2Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
16.997.227.537.757.878.098.619.039.03
27.137.507.647.958.229.5810.2110.8510.85
37.197.567.748.148.8011.1911.6312.2512.25
47.297.667.988.6510.1111.7012.5413.1713.17
57.407.788.148.9110.3112.4613.1913.9813.98
67.587.898.509.4012.2712.7713.5514.3214.32
78.028.349.279.8412.6513.0914.0215.0315.03
88.168.499.8411.2012.9713.5814.5015.6215.62
98.909.2610.2811.7713.1713.9615.2016.5716.57
109.359.7210.8011.9413.5914.3816.2217.8317.83
1111.0211.5311.7912.9714.0515.0617.8619.2719.27
1211.5511.9512.3913.2114.3315.7018.6620.2620.26
1311.8612.2312.8113.5514.8216.2620.0521.6921.69
1412.2412.5413.1013.6215.0817.2921.4123.2123.21
1512.4312.6213.5814.0615.8518.3322.1924.7524.75
1612.7412.8813.9114.2016.0319.0123.1925.5025.50
1713.0413.9014.4114.6416.7419.9124.6826.3426.34
1813.1113.9714.5214.8017.4620.8425.2527.9727.97
1913.4614.3415.2215.4518.6521.5226.1929.1729.17
2013.6914.5915.5415.8519.1622.3327.2330.5830.58
2114.8015.9116.8617.6721.5625.7931.3135.1735.17
2215.9017.0918.2919.7024.2629.7936.0140.4440.44
2317.1018.3819.8521.9727.2934.4141.4146.5146.51
2418.3819.7621.5324.4930.7039.7447.6253.4853.48
2519.7621.2423.3627.3134.5445.9054.7661.5161.51
2622.5924.2827.7935.4845.7657.7467.8377.3977.39
2723.9625.7629.0737.6749.9358.5469.5580.2780.27
2824.7126.5629.4638.7651.2559.3671.2283.4883.48
2925.4827.3929.7739.8251.9460.3872.9085.8485.84
3026.2528.2230.2140.7652.6662.1174.5587.6887.68
3127.0129.0430.5141.4153.3463.0376.2489.7289.72
3227.3229.3731.1742.1153.9763.8777.9391.3591.35
3327.7529.8332.0543.1754.6965.1479.5893.2493.24
3428.0130.1132.9044.2855.8966.7381.2695.0895.08
3528.3330.4533.6844.9257.0968.5582.9396.5596.55
3628.6930.8434.6845.5258.3470.3284.0898.2898.28
3728.9931.1635.3346.1859.3972.2085.1999.9699.96
3829.2831.4836.2046.7760.5974.2586.18101.64101.64
3929.5731.7937.0747.3161.8676.0488.52103.22103.22
4029.8832.1237.8547.9363.1677.2890.54104.69104.69
4130.2132.4838.4948.4563.7278.6192.52106.37106.37
4230.4432.7238.7948.8864.8180.0293.81107.73107.73
4330.8033.1139.0849.3265.8981.9795.00108.89108.89
4431.0233.3539.3649.7566.9683.3096.16110.46110.46
4531.2233.5639.6550.2068.0584.2497.22111.83111.83
4631.5033.8639.9450.6469.1385.2098.29113.14113.14
4731.7334.1140.2351.0770.2186.1099.44114.50114.50
4832.0034.4040.5251.5171.2887.22100.41115.66115.66
4932.2634.6840.7951.9572.3788.44101.48116.81116.81
5032.3934.8241.0852.4073.4689.70102.80118.07118.07
5132.8835.3541.3752.8074.7290.95104.30119.23119.23
5233.3735.8741.6653.2575.2591.84105.90120.59120.59
5334.0036.5541.9453.6975.8792.63107.67122.17122.17
5434.5037.0942.2454.1276.5393.30109.24123.95123.95
5535.0537.6842.5154.5677.0294.09111.01125.58125.58
5635.5438.2142.8155.0077.6194.72112.56126.89126.89
5736.1138.8243.0955.4478.0795.46113.30127.79127.79
5836.6739.4243.3855.8778.5796.03114.35128.89128.89
5937.2039.9943.6756.3079.0596.58115.08129.83129.83
6037.6740.5043.9556.7379.5097.07115.82130.67130.67
6138.2941.1644.2357.1779.8997.62117.18132.51132.51
6238.7741.6844.5257.6080.2598.08118.61134.72134.72
6339.4842.4444.8158.0580.6898.65119.19136.92136.92
6439.8342.8245.0958.4981.0499.10119.74139.07139.07
6540.4143.4445.3858.9481.2999.39120.35141.17141.17
6640.9544.0245.6859.3681.6699.90120.72143.43143.43
6741.5744.6945.9660.3881.95100.22121.21145.27145.27
6842.0645.2146.2461.1482.18101.50121.85146.84146.84
6942.6445.8446.5461.9382.43102.74122.43148.42148.42
7043.0946.3246.8262.9282.69104.00122.88150.10150.10
Oversized84.0090.30106.79129.62152.15174.93197.66220.50220.50

Commercial pricing for USPS First Class Package Service is as follows:

Weight Not Over (ounces)Zone L/1Zone 2Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
13.593.643.663.753.813.903.974.134.13
23.593.643.663.753.813.903.974.134.13
33.593.643.663.753.813.903.974.134.13
43.593.643.663.753.813.903.974.134.13
53.994.064.094.154.204.244.314.444.44
63.994.064.094.154.204.244.314.444.44
73.994.064.094.154.204.244.314.444.44
83.994.064.094.154.204.244.314.444.44
94.624.694.744.814.885.045.175.335.33
104.624.694.744.814.885.045.175.335.33
114.624.694.744.814.885.045.175.335.33
124.624.694.744.814.885.045.175.335.33
135.855.936.006.076.226.446.606.786.78
145.855.936.006.076.226.446.606.786.78
155.855.936.006.076.226.446.606.786.78
15.9995.855.936.006.076.226.446.606.786.78

Pricing for Priority Mail Express is as follows:

  • Flat Rate Envelope 24.90
  • Legal Flat Rate Envelope 25.15
  • Padded Flat Rate Envelope 25.35
Weight Not Over (Lbs)Zone 1Zone 2Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
0.524.9024.9025.5027.3530.5532.8035.1538.1048.90
125.2525.7527.5531.2536.1039.0041.6544.6057.30
225.6526.6029.6535.1541.6545.2548.1051.1565.70
326.0027.4031.7039.0547.1551.4554.6057.6574.10
426.4028.2533.8042.9552.7057.7061.0564.2082.50
526.7529.1035.8546.8558.2563.9067.5570.7090.90
629.3531.8539.4052.0064.0569.9074.0577.4599.65
731.9034.6542.9557.2069.8575.8580.5084.25108.35
834.5037.4046.4562.3575.6081.8587.0091.00117.10
937.0540.2050.0067.5581.4087.8093.4597.80125.80
1039.6542.9553.5572.7087.2093.8099.95104.55134.55
1141.7545.5557.8077.1091.7098.10104.50109.40140.85
1243.8048.2062.0581.5096.20102.45109.10114.25147.15
1345.9050.8066.3085.90100.65106.75113.65119.10153.45
1448.0053.4070.5590.30105.15111.10118.20123.95159.75
1550.1056.0574.8094.65109.65115.40122.75128.80166.10
1652.1558.6579.0599.05114.15119.70127.35133.65172.40
1754.2561.2583.30103.45118.65124.05131.90138.50178.70
1856.3563.8587.55107.85123.10128.35136.45143.35185.00
1958.4066.5091.80112.25127.60132.70141.05148.20191.30
2060.5069.1096.05116.65132.10137.00145.60153.05197.60
2162.9072.05100.75121.50137.35142.30151.10158.85205.10
2265.2575.05105.45126.40142.60147.60156.65164.65212.60
2367.6578.00110.15131.25147.85152.95162.15170.50220.15
2470.0080.95114.85136.10153.10158.25167.70176.30227.65
2572.4083.90119.55140.95158.35163.55173.20182.10235.15
2674.7586.90124.25145.85163.60168.85178.70187.90242.65
2777.1589.85128.95150.70168.85174.15184.25193.70250.15
2879.5092.80133.70155.55174.10179.50189.75199.55257.70
2981.9095.75138.40160.40179.35184.80195.30205.35265.20
3084.2598.75143.10165.30184.60190.10200.80211.15272.70
3186.65101.70147.80170.15189.85195.40206.30216.95280.20
3289.00104.65152.50175.00195.10200.70211.85222.75287.70
3391.40107.60157.20179.85200.35206.05217.35228.60295.25
3493.75110.60161.90184.75205.60211.35222.90234.40302.75
3596.15113.55166.60189.60210.85216.65228.40240.20310.25
3698.65116.55171.00194.80216.50222.65234.55246.60318.60
37100.75119.15175.25199.70221.90228.55240.70253.05326.95
38103.10122.10179.70204.80227.55234.15246.60259.35335.05
39105.65125.05184.10209.95233.00239.60252.30265.85343.45
40107.95127.80188.20215.10238.60245.50258.35272.25351.80
41110.95131.60194.20221.80245.90253.40266.60280.75362.75
42112.90134.10198.65226.85251.40259.30272.75287.10371.00
43115.50137.15202.90231.90256.95265.05278.65293.70379.35
44117.55139.80207.40237.05262.45270.80284.60300.05387.65
45119.80142.55211.75241.90267.80276.60290.65306.60396.15
46122.15145.40216.05247.30273.60282.35296.55313.00404.40
47124.75148.40220.40252.30279.05288.15302.60319.45412.75
48126.95151.15224.90257.30284.35294.00308.60325.90421.05
49129.10153.90229.10262.45289.90300.00314.80332.45429.50
50131.90157.10233.70267.60295.60305.60320.50338.85437.70
51134.20159.90238.15272.65300.95311.35326.50344.35444.90
52136.55162.75242.30277.60306.35317.40332.65351.80454.55
53138.70165.45246.80282.80311.90323.20338.65358.20462.80
54141.25168.45251.20287.80317.20328.95344.65364.65471.15
55144.00171.95257.00293.10322.80334.75350.50371.00479.40
56148.25176.80263.70300.65331.05343.40359.50380.85492.00
57150.85179.90268.15305.80336.60349.25365.50387.30500.30
58153.45182.90272.35310.85341.95355.25371.65393.80508.70
59155.55185.55276.80315.95347.45361.20377.70400.25517.10
60157.65188.25281.25321.15352.90367.05383.65406.75525.50
61159.85191.05285.75326.50358.65372.85389.65413.30533.90
62162.40193.95290.05331.50363.90378.70395.50419.90542.45
63165.05197.05294.45336.65369.40384.55401.70426.45550.90
64167.25199.85298.85341.65374.75390.50407.65432.95559.30
65170.10203.05303.30346.75380.20396.30413.50439.35567.60
66173.25206.50307.80352.05385.80402.15419.65445.85575.85
67175.25209.15312.15357.20391.35407.80425.35452.40584.40
68177.55211.95316.60362.30396.65413.95431.65459.00593.05
69180.40215.15321.10367.40402.05419.70437.50465.25601.10
70183.70218.80325.45372.60407.50425.55443.40471.80609.55
Posted in Site Updates | Comments Off on USPS Shipping Changes Effective January 22

USPS Discontinues Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes in 2023

The USPS has announced that they are discontinuing Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes A and B effective January 22, 2023. These boxes will no longer be produced by the USPS and the current Priority Mail Regional Rate pricing will no longer apply. The discontinued boxes include:

  • Priority Mail Regional Rate Box A1 – 10-1/8” x 7-1/8” x 5”
  • Priority Mail Regional Rate Box A2 – 13-1/16” x 11-1/16” x 2-1/2”
  • Priority Mail Regional Rate Box B1 – 12-1/4” x 10-1/2” x 5-1/2”
  • Priority Mail Regional Rate Box B2 – 15” x 12” x 3”

The maximum weight for Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes A1 and A2 is 15 pounds for domestic shipping and 10 pounds for international shipping. The maximum weight for Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes B1 and B2 is 20 pounds for both domestic and international shipping.

This change is part of the USPS effort to simplify the Priority Mail products it offers. The USPS recommends the Priority Mail Cubic as an alternative. Priority Mail Cubic offers similar cost savings as Regional Rate boxes. Priority Mail Cubic has zone pricing with five price tiers up to 0.5 cubic feet.

When shipping Priority Mail Cubic, the commercial customer uses their own packaging. Priority Mail Cubic packages must measure 0.5 cubic feet or less, weigh 20 pounds or less, and the longest dimension may not exceed 18 inches. The pricing for Priority Mail Cubic is based on the outer dimensions of the package rather than weight.

Customers with these Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes in their inventory may still use them to ship, but they will be treated as weight and rate packages.

Also, during the holiday season, commercial shippers should be aware that the USPS has announced an adjustment to the postage refund policy for Priority Mail Express™ sent from December 22 until December 25. Postage will be refunded if the first delivery attempt or delivery occurs more than two delivery days after the Acceptance scan event.

Posted in Site Updates | Comments Off on USPS Discontinues Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes in 2023

Choxi Inventory Management and Shipping Software

 

Manage Choxi Inventory and Ship Automatically with Teapplix

The integration with Choxi and Teapplix allows e-commerce businesses to ship Choxi orders, upload tracking numbers, and manage inventory and quantity automatically, creating a stress-free business experience.

Improve Choxi sales

At Choxi, their philosophy is simple: everything your customers love, for less. They’re passionate about finding the best products, the best deals, and making sure your customers find everything they need at a price that fits their budget.  Everything Choxi sells is straight from the manufacturer or a licensed agent, so buyers know that it’s 100% authentic. They guarantee it!

With Choxi’s integration with Teapplix shipping software, sellers can automate their order fulfillment process and send Choxi orders as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.  The Teapplix integration offers a wide range of features that can make the entire order fulfillment process easier and more cost effective than manual processing.

Simplify Choxi Order Processing

Teapplix saves Choxi sellers time by downloading orders and uploading tracking numbers using the Choxi web service API. Order payment and cancellation status are tracked and reflected in Teapplix. Orders marked as shipped in Choxi are also automatically marked as shipped in Teapplix.

Order synchronization happens with the click of a button, or it can be set up to occur periodically every 15 minutes.

Automate Choxi Inventory Management

Choxi inventory management is a breeze with Teapplix software that helps sellers manage their inventory across multiple channels. Teapplix downloads product and listing information from Choxi, including pictures, SKU, UPC, etc. Teapplix can synchronize quantity back to Choxi every 15 minutes to eliminate over-sells. In addition, Teapplix can be used to update prices for listings in bulk.

Improve the Efficiency of your Choxi Business with Teapplix

With Teapplix, you can get the benefits of selling on Choxi without the headache of having to handle each order manually. Teapplix can improve the efficiency of your Choxi business, lower your shipping costs using the most efficient shipping methods, and make sure that your orders go out on time, which also helps to ensure that you maintain a high Choxi seller rating.

Sign-up for a Free Trial

Start a free 30-day trial of Teapplix Shipping Automation Software today and see how it can speed up your Choxi business and make order fulfillment a breeze!

Posted in Site Updates | Comments Off on Choxi Inventory Management and Shipping Software

New USPS Pricing For Teapplix Customers

The new USPS pricing, which takes effect December 11, 2023, is listed in the tables below.

ZoneL, 1 & 23456789
Weight
Not Over
(Pounds)
1/2$7.09$7.39$7.58$7.96$8.41$9.96$10.48
1$7.09$7.39$7.58$7.96$8.41$9.96$10.48
2$7.53$7.80$8.05$8.82$9.94$12.42$13.46
3$7.64$7.97$8.31$9.59$14.14$15.83$18.54
4$7.69$8.18$8.78$12.34$16.34$18.83$21.57
5$7.83$8.38$9.15$13.51$17.83$21.61$24.81
6$8.26$8.76$9.61$14.43$19.33$24.58$28.23
7$8.50$9.61$9.90$15.30$20.82$26.60$30.62
8$8.57$10.09$11.40$16.18$22.33$28.61$33.01
9$9.21$10.47$11.87$17.44$23.83$30.63$35.39
10$9.58$10.90$11.98$18.54$25.32$32.64$37.57
ZoneL, 1 & 23456789
Flat Rate Envs 12-1/2" x 9-1/2" or smaller$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60$7.60
Legal Flat Rate Envelope$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90$7.90
Padded Flat Rate Envelope$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30$8.30
Small Flat Rate Box$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10$8.10
Medium Flat Rate Boxes$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00$14.00
Large Flat Rate Box$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95$18.95
ZoneL, 1 & 23456789
Regional Rate Box A$8.11$8.34$8.64$9.25$10.63$13.12$14.34
Regional Rate Box B$8.42$8.93$9.61$13.27$17.41$20.39$23.31
ZoneL, 1 & 23456789
Cubic Ft. Range Up To:
0.1$7.11$7.41$7.60$8.18$8.79$10.57$11.23
0.2$7.39$7.67$7.90$8.82$9.94$12.42$13.47
0.3$7.59$7.89$8.18$9.59$14.28$16.02$18.73
0.4$7.67$8.09$8.58$12.63$16.72$19.53$22.39
0.5$7.97$8.51$9.23$13.98$18.59$23.11$26.54
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on New USPS Pricing For Teapplix Customers

USPS New Pricing Promotion For Teapplix Customers

USPS announced a new pricing promotion for Teapplix Customers effective December 11, 2022. This promotion is a further reduction from the October 2022 Commerce Platform Pricing.

This new pricing is effective until further notice. Please note that the 2023 USPS pricing change will occur on January 22, 2023, and that may affect these prices.

The pricing reductions are for Priority Mail, Zones 1-4

Weight Not Over
(Pounds)
Zone L, 1 & 2Zone 3Zone 4
1-0.16-0.16-0.20
2-0.24-0.18-0.22
3-0.14-0.18-0.21
4-0.18-0.19-0.21
5-0.14-0.14-0.14

And Cubic Pricing, Zones 1-4

Cubic Ft.
Range Up To
Zone L, 1 & 2Zone 3Zone 4
0.1-0.14-0.14-0.18
0.2-0.25-0.20-0.25
0.3-0.18-0.17-0.20
0.4-0.16-0.18-0.23
0.5*0.040.050.04
* There is a small increase in price for packages in the 0.5 Cubic Ft. Range.

The full USPS including the new promotional pricing is listed here.

Posted in shipping, Site Updates | Comments Off on USPS New Pricing Promotion For Teapplix Customers

USPS Commerce Platform Discounts Active Now

Update 10/5/2022 at: 2pm - we finally activated our platform discount rates. You should see the new rates if you print on or after 2pm or so.

USPS has gracefully approved Teapplix as a Commerce Platform. As a result, we are now able to offer all our customers discounted USPS rates that are below CPP. For more details about USPS pricing rules, please visit this help page.

For this holiday period, Teapplix USPS rate will have no 'holiday increase' for the following shipping classes:

  • Priority Mail, 0.5-2 lbs, Zones 1-6
  • Priority Mail, 3 lbs, Zones 1-5
  • Priority Mail, 4-10 lbs, Zones 1-4
  • All Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes or Boxes, All Zones
  • Flat Rate Regional Box A, Zones 1-6
  • Flat Rate Regional Box B, Zones 1-4
  • Cubic: 0.1 & 0.2, Zones 1-6
  • Cubis 0.3, Zones 1-5
  • Cubic 0.4 & 0.5, Zones 1-4

The following zip codes (3-digit prefixes) are excluded from our discounted USPS rate.

  • 006
  • 007
  • 008
  • 009
  • 090
  • 091
  • 092
  • 093
  • 094
  • 095
  • 096
  • 097
  • 098
  • 099
  • 340
  • 962
  • 963
  • 964
  • 965
  • 966
  • 967
  • 968
  • 969
  • 995
  • 996
  • 997
  • 998
  • 999

These zip codes are special and discounts do not apply. They are all priced at CPP.

Additional discounts may be offered from time to time and we will announce them as they come.

Notice that for other mail classes, there will be a normal holiday increase as announced by USPS.

Our eCommerce platform rates start on Oct 4th, 2022. Starting this Sunday, Oct 2nd, your Teapplix USPS rate will have a holiday increase, this will last until October 3rd, 11:59 pm central time.

So please plan your shipping accordingly for the next few days. You may be able to save money by delaying USPS shipment next Monday to Tuesday.

Also as part of this change that Teapplix is approved as a USPS Commerce Platform, we will not be able to support Endicia as a PC postage provider. We allowed printing labels using Endicia account from our old user interface currently. Starting Nov 1st, 2022 you will not be able to do so anymore because we cannot build commerce platform support into Endicia.

Posted in shipping | Comments Off on USPS Commerce Platform Discounts Active Now

5 Tips to Ready Your ECommerce Store for Black Friday

Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. You can also expect an increase in sales starting on the Monday before Black Friday and extending to Cyber Monday. This is known as Black Week or Cyber Week. Online shopping has been consistently increasing in the past few years. Over 100 million consumers do their holiday shopping online during Black Week. Is your eCommerce store ready to handle this increase in sales?  

Here are 3 areas you will want to make sure are ready for the holiday shopping season.

  • Payment Options
  • Shipping Methods
  • Inventory Management

Payment Options

Offering multiple payment options is a great way to boost sales. Buyers may cancel their purchase if they can’t pay in the way they want to. If you sell internationally, you will want to consider what payment methods are popular in other countries. PayPal is one of the most popular mobile payment platforms with 429 million users. Teapplix ActionShip integrates with PayPal giving you Instant Payment Notifications. Be sure to check that your payment platform is running smoothly. With so many stores offering sales, buyers will leave if your checkout process has any issues.

Shipping Methods

It’s important to meet customer expectations with shipping and delivery. With so many stores offering two-day or next-day shipping, buyers won’t tolerate any delays. Teapplix ActionShip can help you speed up your shipping. Avoid costly shipping errors with Address Validation and Print & Scan. Teapplix integrates with multiple domestic and international carriers. Ensure fast delivery by automating your shipping with Teapplix ActionShip.    

Teapplix customers can save even more money this year! This holiday season, there will be no holiday price increase on the most popular weight and zone ranges for Teapplix USPS Priority Mail shipping. 

Inventory Management 

Inventory management is especially important during the busy sales season. Knowing how much product you have available lets you be strategic when ordering more products. It’s also a good idea to track what your most popular items and top sellers are. That way you can stock up before the increase in sales. This helps you maximize profit. Teapplix ActionShip lets you manage multiple internal and external warehouses. With QuickBooks integration, you can easily track your inventory and get the latest quantity data.

Summary

Now is the time to prepare for Black Friday and all of Cyber Week Each year, millions of consumers turn to online shopping for their holiday shopping needs. Is your eCommerce store ready to handle this increase in business? Take a look at your payment options and checkout process. Make sure you can meet customer delivery expectations. Automating your shipping with Teapplix ActionShip can help you ship faster and more accurately. Carefully track and monitor your inventory. Don’t run out of popular products and lose out on sales. By preparing for Black Friday now, you can maximize profits this holiday season.

Posted in E-Commerce | Comments Off on 5 Tips to Ready Your ECommerce Store for Black Friday

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Amazon Sellers

International Amazon Sellers need to meet Extended Producer Responsibility requirements by January 1, 2023.

Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR is an environmental policy that sellers in France and Germany must comply with. Under this policy, sellers are responsible for the entire lifecycle of a product and need to meet specific packaging and waste management requirements.

Products Under the EPR Regulations in Germany:

  • Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE)
  • Batteries and Accumulators
  • Packaging

Timeline

If you are an Amazon seller and sell to Germany or import products from Germany, you must be compliant by January 1, 2023. If you are not compliant by January 1, 2023, Amazon will be legally obligated to terminate your seller account.

Process

You must provide your registration number(s) to Amazon or any marketplace you sell on.

If you are a producer, you must work with a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) to receive your EPR Registration Number(s). You can visit WEEEFull Service (Which stands for Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment) to find Producer Responsibility Organisations. Visit them here! Registration is a one-time process and you will receive one or more registration numbers per product category. 

If you are not a producer but you sell products that are subject to EPR requirements, you must still provide Amazon or any marketplace you sell on with EPR Registration Numbers. You need to obtain the registration number(s) from your supplier. If you cannot obtain the registration number(s) from your supplier, you will have to register and provide Amazon with your own EPR registration numbers.

EPR Info has more information and answers to frequently asked questions about EPR compliance. You can visit EPR Info to find more information about EPR Requirements here.

Posted in shipping, Site Updates | Comments Off on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Amazon Sellers

4 ECommerce Expenses You Should Track

Starting your own eCommerce business can seem daunting, especially when it comes to accounting and expense tracking. Many eCommerce business owners overlook some important eCommerce expenses. Business owners need to prepare for any possibility. Don’t neglect these expenses when managing your own eCommerce business.

Why Should You Track eCommerce Expenses?

Tracking eCommerce expenses lets you manage your cash flow better and prepare for unexpected expenses. Carefully tracking your business expenses can help you identify areas where you can save money and cut costs. This could mean the difference between success and failure for your business. 

Many business expenses are tax-deductible. Tax deductions are applied to your taxable income and can potentially lower the amount you have to pay in taxes. Tracking business expenses can result in significant cost savings during tax season. 

How Can You Track Business Expenses?

Tracking business expenses doesn’t have to be painful or time-consuming. The first step is to separate personal expenses from business expenses. It’s important to set up a dedicated business bank account. After that, it’s just a matter of finding the right tool for financial tracking.

The right tools can make tracking expenses quick and easy. ActionShip by Teapplix integrates with QuickBooks and can help you track your business expenses. When tracking business expenses, opt for cloud-based software rather than spreadsheets or paper receipts. This makes it easy to find and manage your business records.

What eCommerce Expenses should you track?

  • Customer Acquisition Cost
  • Shipping and Returns
  • Storage and Inventory Management
  • Platform Payments and Marketplace Fees

Customer Acquisition Cost

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is the cost of marketing divided by the total number of new purchases. This is an important key performance indicator to track. This includes any money spent on marketing, advertising, sales, marketing staff, and technology. Remember that it costs more to get new customers than it does to retain existing customers. One of the best ways to keep existing customers happy is by limiting mistakes and ensuring fast delivery. 

Shipping and Returns

Tracking your shipping expenses is important for eCommerce store owners. Shipping costs are likely to be one of your biggest expenses. It’s important to know how much shipping costs are for your business so you can create an accurate idea of your profits and losses.

The best way to save money on shipping is through automation. Teapplix ActionShip uses Automatic Rate Shop to help sellers compare multiple carriers for the best shipping price. Sellers can Batch Ship and Bulk Print Labels with ActionShip. This offers significant time and cost savings to eCommerce business owners. Teapplix ActionShip can also help you manage returns and replacements.

Storage and Inventory Management

Storage costs include rent and product insurance. Inventory costs can include lost products due to damage, misplacement, or theft. One way to avoid losing products is to invest in inventory management software. Moving product quickly from storage to buyers is the best way to reduce inventory costs due to lost products. 

Platform Fees

Platform fees are the expenses you pay to list your products on a third-party eCommerce site. This expense varies based on which platform you chose to sell on. Some charge a flat monthly subscription and others charge a percentage of each sale. 

Marketplace Fees

Most marketplaces charge selling fees. These fees be a flat monthly rate, or they can be based on a percentage of the shipment. All marketplaces have their own fees and fee system so it’s important to do some research on what marketplace best matches your budget.

ActionShip by Teapplix integrates with over 50 eCommerce platforms. Easily track orders and sales from marketplaces including Walmart, WayFair, eBay, BigCommerce, PayPal, Amazon, and more! 

Amazon Tracking

For sellers on Amazon, ActionShip by Teapplix can automatically track fees, profit, and loss. 

ActionShip by Teapplix can support multiple warehouses and FBA allowing you to easily manage your inventory. 

Paypal Debit Card

Paypal offers a business credit or debit card and automatically tracks all expenses using your Paypal account. This makes it easy to track and manage business expenses. 

Summary

Tracking expenses is important for the success of your eCommerce business. The first step is to create a business bank account and the next step is to find the best software to track your expenses. Remember to keep your business and personal bank accounts separate. 

Posted in E-Commerce | Comments Off on 4 ECommerce Expenses You Should Track