USPS Click N Ship Review

Whether your own your own business, or are just shipping packages for the holidays, this service will make your life a lot easier.  Gone are the days of having to manually prepare shipping labels and then driving to the post office to stand in line for half an hour in order to get your packages mailed.

 All you need to do is go to the USPS website and click on the link to print a shipping label.  Once you are there, you can save that link in your favorites.  Then, you must set up an account -- thereafter, whenever you visit, all you have to do is to log in to your account.  Once you have logged in, you enter the address to which you are sending the letter or package.  Your return address automatically is shown and you can change it if you want to.  Any address you send to can be saved to your Address Book which is stored on the site forever.  So, if you send to a particular address more than once, you never have to re-enter the information.  It is already there for you.  Next, you enter the weight of the envelope or package.  You can buy a postal scale very inexpensively for this purpose.  You enter the ship date and the zip code from which you are shipping.  You then have the option to purchase insurance if you would like to.  Next, you select the type of servide you require -- options are either express mail or priority mail and you have the option of selecting flat rate envelope or flat rate box.  Next you are given a screen with all the information so that you can verify the info prior to purchasing the label.  Finally, you pay with your credit card, which again is automatically stored safely on site.  Then you print the label and receive a confirmation receipt.  Put the label on the envelope or package and call the post office for pick up or alternatively, just hand the shipments to your mailman.

 You purchase the labels from a place called Label Universe.  They are very inexpensive and the link to Label Universe is on the USPS site, so it is easy to get to.  You can also purchase your postal scale online.

 I ship over 100 flat rate priority boxes each year, and this service has saved me so much time and energy.  It is convenient.  You get FREE delivery confirmation for your shipment.  This is only free when you use Click N Ship online.  You have to pay extra for it at the post offce.  The labels are easy to use.  And, this service provides an easy way to track your postage costs.  For each label you buy, you will receive an email confirmation.  I just save those in a folder in my email account and I know exactly what my shipping costs were and I have receipts all in one place.  Also, if you print a label and realize you have made a mistake or for some reason cannot use the label, you can request that the label be cancelled and you will receive a credit for the unused label.

 I love this service.  After using it for two years, I can honestly say that no shipments were ever lost.  The only complaint I have is that once in a great while, the site is down termporarily and you may have to wait half an hour or so to do your label.