Buying labels through EasyPost

EasyPost is a multi-carrier shipping platform with USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and more than 100 other carriers. Connect it to Scanpacker and you can fetch rates and buy labels from any carrier on your EasyPost account, right on the ship page.

This guide covers what’s specific to EasyPost. For the shipping workflow itself, see Shipping label purchase.

Setting up

1. In EasyPost, add the carrier accounts you want to use. You can use EasyPost’s own discounted accounts, or connect your own contract with a carrier.
2. In EasyPost, copy an API key from your account’s API Keys page. There are two kinds: a test key and a production key (see Test labels below).
3. In Scanpacker, go to Settings → Shipping Labels, choose EasyPost, paste the key, and click Save Changes.

Carriers and services aren’t loaded when you save. They appear in Settings → Carriers and Settings → Carrier Services the first time you fetch rates. So fetch rates for one domestic order and one international order, then choose your default services.

Test labels

An EasyPost test key makes test labels. They cost nothing and can’t be posted, so they’re a safe way to try the workflow and your printer setup. Scanpacker marks them as test labels in the order’s purchased labels. When you’re ready, replace the test key with your production key and click Save Changes.

Labels and printing

EasyPost labels are 4x6 inch PDFs. They print with the 4x6 Shipping Label (PDF) print type, so make sure that print type has a label printer on each station.

International shipments

Scanpacker sends a customs declaration with every international label. As well as the item details from your products, it includes two settings on the Settings → Shipping Labels page, under International Shipping:

• Default customs signer: the name of the person who certifies that the customs information is accurate.
• Default EEL/PFC: the export code for US shipments. Most shipments worth under $2,500 use NOEEI 30.37(a).

EasyPost makes the customs form and commercial invoice. Scanpacker keeps them with the label and prints them with the Carrier Generated Forms print type, so assign a document printer to that print type too.

Things to watch out for

A new carrier account may not quote straight away. When you connect your own account with a carrier, the carrier sometimes takes a few days to set up your rates. Until then, fetching rates shows a message like No rates are configured for this account for that carrier, even though your other carriers quote normally. Fetching again won’t help. Contact the carrier or EasyPost.

Carrier messages. When some carriers can’t quote, the rates window shows a link to their messages. Open it to see why, for example a service that doesn’t go to that destination.

Voiding a label. Scanpacker doesn’t void labels. To get a refund for a label you won’t use, void it in your EasyPost dashboard.

Your EasyPost balance. Labels are paid from your EasyPost account. If a purchase fails with a payment message, add funds or update your card in EasyPost.

Troubleshooting