ShipEngine, Author at Shipstation API Shipping API & Multi Carrier Shipping System Tue, 01 Oct 2024 21:35:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://www.shipengine.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-cropped-favicon-32x32.png ShipEngine, Author at Shipstation API 32 32 USPS Holiday Surcharge for 2024 https://www.shipengine.com/blog/usps-holiday-surcharge/ https://www.shipengine.com/blog/usps-holiday-surcharge/#respond Tue, 01 Oct 2024 21:35:09 +0000 https://www.shipengine.com/?p=3032 The USPS is temporarily increasing rates for some package services from October 6th to January 19th. Holiday shipping rates tend to go up for all major carriers like USPS, FedEx, and UPS. These temporary rate increases are normal to help carriers handle the increased package volume during the busy holiday season. This ensures they can […]

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The USPS is temporarily increasing rates for some package services from October 6th to January 19th. Holiday shipping rates tend to go up for all major carriers like USPS, FedEx, and UPS. These temporary rate increases are normal to help carriers handle the increased package volume during the busy holiday season. This ensures they can maintain their service standards.

USPS pricing overview:

As a reminder Commercial Pricing is a discounted rate offered to businesses who print USPS shipping labels and meet certain volume requirements. Commercial Pricing is always cheaper than the Retail Pricing given at the Post Office.

ShipEngine offers discounted USPS shipping rates that are below Commercial Pricing for shipments within the continental U.S. when you print labels through our platform. Customers can access these discounts when printing USPS labels using ShipEngine’s wallet.

Here’s what you need to know:

Affected Services: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail®, and USPS Ground Advantage™ both Commercial and Retail rates.

Commercial pricing adjustments

Priority Mail® and USPS Ground Advantage™ (Zones 1-4):

  • $0.30 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
  • $0.45 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
  • $0.75 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
  • $3.00 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail® and USPS Ground Advantage™ (Zones 5-9):

  • $0.70 increase for Priority Mail® and $0.35 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
  • $1.25 increase for Priority Mail® and $0.75 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
  • $2.75 increase for Priority Mail® and $1.25 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
  • $7.00 increase for Priority Mail™ and $5.50 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express (Zones 1-4):

  • $1.00 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
  • $1.50 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
  • $3.50 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
  • $8.95 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express (Zones 5-9):

  • $1.75 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
  • $3.95 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
  • $7.50 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
  • $13.00 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Retail pricing adjustments

Priority Mail® and USPS Ground Advantage™ (Zones 1-4):

  • $0.40 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
  • $0.55 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
  • $0.95 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
  • $4.00 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail® and USPS Ground Advantage™ (Zones 5-9):

  • $0.90 increase for Priority Mail® and $0.50 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
  • $1.45 increase for Priority Mail® and $1.00 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
  • $3.25 increase for Priority Mail® and $2.00 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
  • $8.50 increase for Priority Mail® and $5.85 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express (Zones 1-4):

  • $1.10 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
  • $2.00 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
  • $3.90 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
  • $9.75 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express (Zones 5-9):

  • $2.00 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
  • $4.85 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
  • $9.00 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
  • $16.00 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

For complete details on the new pricing, please visit the Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.

How to save on shipping costs during the holidays

If you’re using ShipEngine, you may be able to offset these temporary rate increases. ShipEngine often offers discounted shipping rates for major shipping carriers, including USPS. By using ShipEngine, you can potentially access rates that are lower than those offered to the general public, helping you mitigate the impact of holiday rate increases.

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Futureproofing Your Ecommerce Business for Growth with Scalable Solutions https://www.shipengine.com/blog/futureproofing-your-ecommerce-business/ https://www.shipengine.com/blog/futureproofing-your-ecommerce-business/#respond Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:29:01 +0000 https://www.shipengine.com/?p=31358 This guest post was written by Extensiv. Let’s start with a simple question: what inspired you to start your ecommerce business? Likely, you weren’t driven by the desire to learn the ins and outs of order fulfillment and shipping logistics but rather by your passions. However, there are a lot of hoops to jump through […]

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This guest post was written by Extensiv.

Let’s start with a simple question: what inspired you to start your ecommerce business?

Likely, you weren’t driven by the desire to learn the ins and outs of order fulfillment and shipping logistics but rather by your passions. However, there are a lot of hoops to jump through on your journey to turn your unique ideas into a robust, thriving business. 

Ecommerce businesses are often overwhelmed by the challenges of managing multiple sales channels, distributed inventory systems, and the high expectations of modern consumers. What you need to overcome these obstacles are not just tools but simple, scalable solutions that streamline complexity and grow with your ambitions.

Success demands more than just hard work. It requires strategic integrations and systems that can effortlessly scale and adapt to changing market dynamics and consumer behaviors—so you can focus on innovation and growth with the peace of mind that your logistics processes are running smoothly in the background.

Simplifying Complexity with a Single Source of Truth

The key to streamlining your operations is establishing a single source of truth that unifies all components of your business. How many software systems do you need to run your ecommerce business day in, day out? A handful? A dozen? More? As your business grows, your ecommerce tech stack is likely to follow, making daily operations that much more complicated. 

Unified systems provide a single source of truth by transforming this complex mix of technology with many moving pieces into a fine-tuned machine through integrations. But that’s not all; this platform should provide real-time insights that help in making informed decisions quickly without needing frequent system maintenance. Just set it and forget it.

Case in point: ShipEngine’s application programming interface (API) integration with Extensiv’s solutions for brands. This enhancement to Extensiv’s small parcel shipping feature centralizes brands’ fulfillment and shipping technologies for increased efficiency, expanded carrier options, and a more well-rounded and adaptable logistics solution. The integration of these systems serves as the mission control of ecommerce operations, uniting—and simplifying—everything from inventory management to order fulfillment and shipping under one roof.

Ensuring Profitability While Reducing Costs

Building the Right Carrier Mix

Building the right carrier mix is essential for maintaining profitability as it directly influences both shipping costs and customer satisfaction. There’s no “one size fits all” shipping carrier; every shipping situation is unique, so individual orders that may seem the same might need different carriers based on geographic reach, cost efficiency, and delivery speed for each shipment. Extensiv’s small parcel shipping solution for brands powered by ShipEngine accommodates diverse shipping options like international, national, and regional carriers, allowing you to optimize your shipping processes and meet customer expectations reliably and affordably.

Scaling Fulfillment to Grow with Your Brand

As brands expand, their fulfillment strategies must evolve not just to handle increased demands—without compromising service quality—but also to enhance profitability. Efficient scaling involves leveraging advanced logistics and warehouse automation to reduce manual processes and errors, leading to lower operational costs. Extensiv’s platform plays a crucial role here, enabling businesses to automate and optimize their inventory management and order processing. Elevating your fulfillment capabilities isn’t about going high-tech to be trendy; this strategic upgrade in fulfillment capabilities allows you to handle larger volumes and more complex orders with greater precision. The result: greater cost-effectiveness of the entire supply chain and less waste. By streamlining these operations, you can maintain competitive pricing and improve profit margins, all while enhancing service quality and customer satisfaction.

Optimizing Your Last Mile

Optimizing last-mile delivery is crucial for ecommerce businesses looking to enhance profitability and stay competitive in the market. This final segment of the delivery process often incurs the highest costs due to the complexity of reaching individual customers efficiently and promptly. By strategically positioning fulfillment centers closer to customer concentrations and optimizing the carrier mix to include local delivery options, businesses can significantly reduce shipping distances and associated costs. Not sure where to start in finding new fulfillment partners in different regions? Online directories like Extensiv’s Fulfillment Marketplace can help you find a partner from a network of warehousing and logistics pros that fits your unique business needs. Fine-tuning your last-mile logistics will not only reduce your operational costs but also bolster profitability by increasing customer satisfaction through faster delivery times and reduced shipping fees.

Extensiv’s Solution: Dynamic Scalability and Robust Integrations

Extensiv’s warehouse management system (WMS) and order management system (OMS) offer a scalable, flexible backbone for ecommerce businesses, integrated with ShipEngine’s platform to provide a seamless flow of information across the supply chain. The synergy between Extensiv’s fulfillment software and ShipEngine’s shipping capabilities empowers you to adapt to new challenges as you scale with flexibility, organizing every operational detail for your entire product lifecycle, from initial order receipt to final delivery. The flexibility offered by these integrated systems means businesses can quickly adjust their operations to take advantage of emerging market opportunities or respond to sudden shifts in consumer demand.

Together, Extensiv and ShipEngine are at the forefront of providing integrated shipping and fulfillment solutions so you can scale efficiently and meet the demands of an increasingly complex marketplace. By leveraging our comprehensive, connected ecosystem, your business can focus on what’s important to you, leaving the complexities of logistics and fulfillment to us. 

To get started building out your ecommerce tech stack and learn more about the integration of our software platforms, request a demo from Extensiv and sign up for ShipEngine today!

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How a Shipping API Helps Automate Fulfillment and Save Money https://www.shipengine.com/blog/how-a-shipping-api-helps-automate-fulfillment-and-save-money/ https://www.shipengine.com/blog/how-a-shipping-api-helps-automate-fulfillment-and-save-money/#respond Fri, 24 Mar 2023 18:22:13 +0000 https://www.shipengine.com/?p=3233 Shipping and fulfillment logistics can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. With each hurdle a business faces as it grows, shipping can become a much more involved and complex process. Determining shipping roles and how different platforms fit into your tech stack takes a lot of planning and, if you’re considering building an […]

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Shipping and fulfillment logistics can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. With each hurdle a business faces as it grows, shipping can become a much more involved and complex process. Determining shipping roles and how different platforms fit into your tech stack takes a lot of planning and, if you’re considering building an in-house solution, cost can be a huge factor. 

Shipping APIs like ShipEngine are a great solution for ecommerce platforms, third-party fulfillment providers, and mid to high-volume brands looking for a customizable and cost-efficient solution.

Shipping API Initial Cost and Implementation

A deterrent against implementing a new platform or process into your business’s tech stack or workflow is a sensible one, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” Finding a solution that works — and integrates with all of your existing systems and platforms — takes a lot of research, time, and can be a strain on resources. 

This reservation is reasonable considering the initial cost of incorporating a new  shipping platform into your fulfillment workflow. Typically, a shipping platform has a learning curve and may require some dev work to integrate platforms particularly if you have in-house systems that are built to cater to your specific workflows. 

ShipEngine gives us one API that allows us to connect to the carriers we need rather than building and maintaining our own integrations.” 

Stanley Baker
Lead Developer, RentMy 

Advantages of Connecting to a Shipping API Solution

If you need to add shipping functionality to an existing platform, a shipping API like ShipEngine is a great tool. Our shipping APIs allow you to bypass the tedious process of integrating directly with carrier APIs. Carrier integrations can be outdated in older, legacy languages that can be more cumbersome to integrate with. 

Additionally, shipping API solutions have a team of developers that work with carrier partners to update any changes and troubleshoot errors. This not only reduces work for implementation, but it also prevents you from dedicating engineering resources to maintaining the functionality of these connections. . This can become particularly important when you expand operations to different countries and regions and therefore need to add international carriers to your fulfillment workflow. 

Without a shipping API solution, once you integrate directly with a carrier you have to worry about updating integrations for each carrier yourself. A shipping API allows your IT team or contracted developers to focus less time on upkeep and more time on building the best brand experience for your customers.. 

up arrow showing increased return on investment, down arrow signifying reduction in fulfillment operatons

How to Automate Rate Shopping With a Shipping API

Shipping platforms help with fulfillment, but ultimately they simplify multicarrier shipping. This makes the task of choosing the right carrier and shipping service simpler. For instance, comparing rates lets you find and apply the cheapest shipping option from multiple carriers. Rate shopping with a shipping API not only allows you to find the lowest shipping option, but it also allows for greater control over automatically applying that service based on a series of rules built into the backend. Many standalone shipping platforms don’t offer this functionality. 

Long-Term Cost Savings of a Shipping API

ShipEngine has saved us at least two full-time positions.”

Kirk Kessler,
Executive vice president at Snap Tax & Lien Search

Shipping APIs are efficiency tools that help drive down costs by helping with label generation, address validation, and rate shopping. This is great for large companies or high-volume shippers that need a robust shipping solution that works with an existing WMS or ERP solution. Some standalone shipping platforms can become too separate from the greater warehouse picking and packing strategy. This can cause your team to become siloed into different functions and ultimately cause bottlenecks on the floor. 

The long-term cost savings of a shipping API can vary, but the case for increased efficiency is clear. Some companies save tens of thousands of dollars annually in label and labor costs. Shipping APIs can also lead to a reduced need for more headcount — allowing your existing team to ship more quickly without needing to onboard and train new full-time or temporary employees.

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FedEx Price Increase for Peak Season Shipping https://www.shipengine.com/blog/fedex-peask-season-price-increase/ https://www.shipengine.com/blog/fedex-peask-season-price-increase/#respond Tue, 23 Aug 2022 20:41:00 +0000 https://www.shipengine.com/?p=3452 Similar to seasonal price adjustments announced by the USPS, FedEx has unveiled peak season surcharges and fees for its Express Ground services. These new surcharges and fees will generally go into effect on Sept. 5, 2022, and run through January 2023. Like all parcel carriers, FedEx has been overwhelmed by demand in recent years. These […]

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Similar to seasonal price adjustments announced by the USPS, FedEx has unveiled peak season surcharges and fees for its Express Ground services. These new surcharges and fees will generally go into effect on Sept. 5, 2022, and run through January 2023.

Like all parcel carriers, FedEx has been overwhelmed by demand in recent years. These additional surcharges and fees are designed to help FedEx align its pricing with its operational costs during the highest-volume months for shipping. 

See below for more details on the FedEx price increase for late 2022 and early 2023, as well as how to get in touch with us to talk about your carrier strategy and overall shipping needs.

Specific FedEx Price Increases & When They Apply

While the FedEx price increase will generally start Sept. 5, 2022, and then early next year, there are important details for ecommerce companies to be aware of. Here’s a rundown of FedEx’s specific surcharges and fees, plus when they begin and expire:

  • Peak Additional Handling Surcharge: A charge of $6.55 per package will apply to US Express Package Services, US Ground Services, and International Ground Service between Oct. 3, 2022 and Jan. 12, 2023.
  • Peak Oversize Charge: A charge of $68.75 per package will apply to US Express Package Services, US Ground Services and International Ground Service between Oct. 3, 2022 and Jan. 12, 2023.
  • Peak Ground Unauthorized Package Charge: A charge of $380 per package will apply to US Ground Services and International Ground Service between Oct. 3, 2022 and Jan. 15, 2023.
  • Peak Surcharge: A charge of $1.50 per package will apply to FedEx Ground Economy Package Services from Oct. 31 to Nov. 27, 2022. A charge of $2.50 per package will apply from Nov. 28 to Dec. 11, 2022. And a charge of $1.50 per package will apply from Dec. 12, 2022 through Jan. 15, 2023.
  • Peak Residential Delivery Charge: A charge based on FedEx’s Peaking Factor Chart will apply to FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipments in the US (excluding FedEx Ground Economy and FedEx One Rate packages) starting Oct. 31, 2022, and ending Jan. 15, 2022.

For more information on FedEx’s additional surcharges and fees for the 2022 peak season, visit the carrier’s Peak Surcharges and Fees page.

Take Advantage of Your Carrier Options

While many carriers are adjusting prices for the busiest shipping months of the year, using multiple carriers and giving yourself options can deliver real savings this peak season. At ShipEngine, we offer users 70-plus pre-built carrier integrations, including parcel carriers, LTL carriers, domestic carriers, regional carriers, international carriers plus more.

Get in touch with us to talk about your carrier strategy and how you can save this peak season with ShipEngine. You can also get a free API key and start building for yourself.

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The USPS Introduces New Surcharges https://www.shipengine.com/blog/the-usps-introduces-new-surcharges/ https://www.shipengine.com/blog/the-usps-introduces-new-surcharges/#respond Thu, 07 Apr 2022 15:09:04 +0000 https://www.shipengine.com/?p=4117 As of July 9, 2023, Retail Ground, Parcel Select, and domestic First-Class Package Service will be combined into USPS Ground Advantage™. Visit our blog for more information. Beginning April 3, the United States Postal Service added new surcharges to large packages with sides of more than 22 inches or 30 inches. The surcharges are not […]

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As of July 9, 2023, Retail Ground, Parcel Select, and domestic First-Class Package Service will be combined into USPS Ground Advantage™. Visit our blog for more information.

Beginning April 3, the United States Postal Service added new surcharges to large packages with sides of more than 22 inches or 30 inches. The surcharges are not a surprise. They were introduced as part of the USPS’s rate increase for 2022. But these specific surcharges were delayed until April, though they are now in place.

The surcharges come in response to the significantly increased shipping volume that the USPS has experienced in recent years. Continue reading to learn more about these new surcharges and how they may affect ecommerce businesses.

The Cost of the New Surcharges

Most ecommerce brands that use the USPS want to know exactly how much these new surcharges are going to cost. The answer is: It depends on how large your package is.

If any side of your shipment exceeds 22 inches, it will receive a $4 surcharge. If any side of your shipment exceeds 30 inches, or if the package is larger than 2 cubic feet, it will receive a $15 surcharge. Also, entering incorrect dimensions that lead to an oversized surcharge will receive an additional $1.50 surcharge.

The USPS Services Affected

The surcharges listed above apply to four USPS services, both domestic and commercial. Anything sent via the USPS as Media Mail will not receive a surcharge. The four services impacted by the surcharges are: 

  • Priority Mail
  • Priority Mail Express
  • USPS Retail Ground
  • Parcel Select

If you feel that you have received a surcharge in error, you can get in touch with the USPS’s Automated Package Verification Department. You can reach them either by phone at 1-844-819-5187 or by email at VerifyPostageHelp@usps.gov. When you reach out to them, make sure that you have the adjustment ID from your USPS postage account, your tracking number (at least the last four digits), and a detailed explanation of why you feel surcharges were applied mistakenly. 

Let ShipEngine Help

When you choose ShipEngine as your platform for ecommerce shipping, you immediately gain access to pre-negotiated discounts through several carriers — the USPS included. You also enjoy access to more than 100 carriers, including parcel carriers, international carriers, regional carriers, LTL carriers, and more.

Access to these discounts and the ability to shop rates across dozens of carriers help your business optimize its shipping costs for long-term savings.

Are you interested in saving on shipping? Get in touch with us to talk more about your business and its shipping needs, or start a free trial to explore what ShipEngine can do for you.

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Looking Back at Ecommerce in 2021 https://www.shipengine.com/blog/looking-back-at-ecommerce-in-2021/ https://www.shipengine.com/blog/looking-back-at-ecommerce-in-2021/#respond Mon, 21 Mar 2022 20:56:57 +0000 https://www.shipengine.com/?p=4105 We all know that the ecommerce industry boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic as consumers avoided crowded retail stores and made purchases from the comforts of their own homes. If you and your ecommerce business haven’t experienced the boom firsthand, you’ve likely heard about the spike in online sales. Throughout 2022’s first quarter, new reports and […]

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We all know that the ecommerce industry boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic as consumers avoided crowded retail stores and made purchases from the comforts of their own homes. If you and your ecommerce business haven’t experienced the boom firsthand, you’ve likely heard about the spike in online sales.

Throughout 2022’s first quarter, new reports and statistics have emerged that put real numbers behind what ecommerce companies experienced throughout 2021. We’ve aggregated those reports and statistics to bring you 8 takeaways from the year as they relate to ecommerce.

1. Brands Did Big Ecommerce Business

Ecommerce spending with U.S. brands totaled $871 million, which was a 14% increase from the prior year. Of course, ecommerce spending with U.S. retail brands grew at a 32% rate in 2020 during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. While that level of growth was and is unsustainable, 14% growth in 2021 indicates continued online success for American brands.

2. D2C and B2B Grew Even Faster

The 14% ecommerce growth that U.S. brands experienced is impressive, but B2B ecommerce grew at 17.8% (from $1.39 trillion to $1.63 trillion) and direct-to-consumer ecommerce grew 17% in 2021. The growth of D2C ecommerce was largely driven by millennials.

3. The Growth of Ecommerce Hiring Surpassed Growth in Sales

After the incredible growth of ecommerce in 2020 that was driven by the pandemic, ecommerce businesses staffed up in 2021 to bring more capacity to their teams. Ecommerce hiring grew 21% in 2021 after growing at only 8% in 2020.

4. Out-of-Stock Messages Didn’t Stop Holiday Shoppers

As ecommerce businesses experienced late in November and December, Americans spent a record $204.5 billion in online purchases during the holiday season. Online shoppers received 6 billion out-of-stock messages during the holiday season due to inventory and supply chain issues, which makes the overall ecommerce spending numbers all the more impressive.

5. Carriers Came Through in the Clutch

There were worrisome headlines about carriers’ collective ability to deliver during the holiday season in 2021. The carriers came through in the clutch, though, with the United States Postal Service announcing a holiday delivery success rate of 96.9%.

6. Spending Increased Globally

Total ecommerce transactions around the world reached $4.9 trillion in 2021. They are expected to reach $7.5 trillion by 2026, largely driven by investments in omnichannel fulfillment.

7. Returns Spiked, Too

Ecommerce customers bought more in 2021 — and they returned more as well. Consumers returned 20.8% of all that they purchased via ecommerce last year, which represented $218 billion in initial spending. In 2020, consumers returned 18.1% of all they bought via ecommerce.

8. Expect Growth to Continue

According to the latest reports and studies, there’s no ecommerce slowdown in sight. Online sales grew 10.4% year-over-year in January 2022, and ecommerce sales in the U.S. are expected to surpass $1 trillion for the first time this year. That $1 trillion will make up an estimated 15.9% of retail sales overall.

How Will You Solve Shipping?

As your ecommerce business plans for more online sales, how it will it solve shipping? The right technology partner can help you import orders from different selling channels, shop for the best rates, print shipping labels in real-time, track shipments to their final destinations, and even manage returns. At ShipEngine, we provide those services — plus more.

Contact us to learn more about what ShipEngine can do for your ecommerce business, or sign up for a free ShipEngine account to start exploring.

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Listen: ShipEngine’s Jeff Ross Joins Flxpoint’s ‘The Modern Merchant’ Podcast https://www.shipengine.com/blog/listen-shipengines-jeff-ross-joins-flxpoints-the-modern-merchant-podcast/ https://www.shipengine.com/blog/listen-shipengines-jeff-ross-joins-flxpoints-the-modern-merchant-podcast/#respond Fri, 11 Feb 2022 21:32:47 +0000 https://www.shipengine.com/?p=4079 ShipEngine’s Jeff Ross joined Austin Rose of Flxpoint for a recent episode of “The Modern Merchant” podcast. Jeff and Austin discussed a number of different topics, including: Listen to Jeff’s appearance on the podcast using the video player below, or you can find a full transcript here. You can also listen to an appearance by […]

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ShipEngine’s Jeff Ross joined Austin Rose of Flxpoint for a recent episode of “The Modern Merchant” podcast. Jeff and Austin discussed a number of different topics, including:

Listen to Jeff’s appearance on the podcast using the video player below, or you can find a full transcript here.

You can also listen to an appearance by ShipEngine General Manager Jim Gagliardi on an episode of “The Modern Merchant” podcast from last year.

Jeff and others from the ShipEngine team are always available to talk about your business and discuss possible shipping solutions. Get in touch with us to learn more about what ShipEngine can do for you.

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Updated: The USPS Suspends Priority Mail International to China https://www.shipengine.com/blog/the-usps-suspends-priority-mail-international-to-china/ https://www.shipengine.com/blog/the-usps-suspends-priority-mail-international-to-china/#respond Tue, 08 Feb 2022 22:58:40 +0000 https://www.shipengine.com/?p=4071 Update: The USPS has announced it is restarting Priority Mail International service to China on Feb. 11, 2022. While the alternatives mentioned below are still available to you, Priority Mail International is back as an option for ecommerce brands and merchants. Ecommerce merchants shipping to destinations in China lost one of their service options in […]

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Update: The USPS has announced it is restarting Priority Mail International service to China on Feb. 11, 2022. While the alternatives mentioned below are still available to you, Priority Mail International is back as an option for ecommerce brands and merchants.

Ecommerce merchants shipping to destinations in China lost one of their service options in late January. As of Jan. 28, the United States Postal Service has suspended Priority Mail International service to Chinese destinations. If a Priority Mail International shipment entered the mailstream prior to Jan. 28, the USPS will deliver it. But, if a shipment entered the mailstream on or after Jan. 28, it will be returned to its sender.

While this is unwelcome news for ecommerce brands shipping to China, options remain. See below for several shipping options you can consider for Chinese customers, and contact us to discuss how ShipEngine can help you access different carrier and service options for all your ecommerce shipping.

4 Options for Shipping to China

The USPS and other carriers can still help you fulfill ecommerce orders going to China. Try these 4 options when shipping to China is a key part of your business:

  • GlobalPost: Take advantage of GlobalPost through ShipEngine. GlobalPost, an Auctane product, facilitates fast and affordable shipping to international destinations. Get in touch with us to learn more about using GlobalPost for shipping to China.
  • USPS: The USPS has suspended Priority Mail International shipments to China, but you can still ship to China via First Class Mail International. Yes, First Class Mail is more affordable than Priority Mail, but it does require longer lead times for shipments to reach their destinations. Plan accordingly if you choose to switch from Priority Mail International to First Class Mail International.
  • UPS: ShipEngine offers pre-negotiated discounts of up to 86% when using the Daily Rate for international shipments by UPS. Take advantage of these discounts to reach China with either standard or express services.
  • DHL Express: DHL Express is another prominent carrier that you can use to complete shipments to China in the absence of Priority Mail International.

Access 100-Plus Carriers Through ShipEngine

Diversifying your carrier portfolio is one of the best ways to ship quickly and affordably. At ShipEngine, we offer access to more than 100 different carriers, including options for parcel shipping, regional shipping, international shipping, less-than-truckload (or LTL) shipping, plus more. Connect just once to ShipEngine, and you gain immediate access to all of these shipping integrations.

Our team is always here to help answer your ecommerce and shipping questions — and to help you navigate through challenges like the suspension of a key USPS service. Contact us to talk about your business and its ecommerce and shipping needs, or start a free trial to explore what ShipEngine can do for you.

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ShipEngineer Spotlight: Gabriel Chan https://www.shipengine.com/blog/shipengineer-spotlight-gabriel-chan/ https://www.shipengine.com/blog/shipengineer-spotlight-gabriel-chan/#respond Mon, 31 Jan 2022 22:28:25 +0000 https://www.shipengine.com/?p=3981 ShipEngineers is a regular series that highlights members of the ShipEngine team. See below to learn more about Gabriel from our sales and business development teams. Contact us anytime to speak to an expert about your business and its shipping needs. What is your role at ShipEngine? I work in both business development and in […]

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ShipEngineers is a regular series that highlights members of the ShipEngine team. See below to learn more about Gabriel from our sales and business development teams. Contact us anytime to speak to an expert about your business and its shipping needs.

What is your role at ShipEngine?

I work in both business development and in sales as an account executive.

What does your typical workday look like? 

I spend most of my time talking to clients who are interested in using our services, making sure I have a clear grasp of the pain they’re looking to solve or the opportunity they’re looking to take advantage of. Once ascertained, I then find synergy between our offering and their needs so I can propose a course of action that is mutually beneficial. I also manage ShipEngine’s relationships with partners, both addressing concerns and finding new potential partners to work with.

What tech do you get to work with? 

I’m focused on the technology our prospects and partners are offering, including ERPs, WMSs, ecommerce marketplaces, and general logistics technologies.

How do you spend your free time? 

I enjoy playing games. I’m currently on the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV that has a free trial which includes the entirety of A Realm Reborn AND the award-winning Heavensward expansion up to level 60 with no restrictions on playtime. I also enjoy reading, drinking wine, and watching videos about watches.

What’s one feature of ShipEngine you want more users to discover? 

The quality of our handwritten SDKs and our API coding in general.

How did you get into this type of work? 

I started my own ecommerce business while I was finishing my undergraduate degree at UT-Austin. As the business grew, the CEO of ShippingEasy (one of Auctane’s products) gave a talk at one of my classes about what Auctane does. I spoke to her afterward, and that conversation turned into an internship. At the end of this internship, I was offered a full-time position in sales while continuing to grow and expand my own business.

What did you want to be when you “grew up”? 

I didn’t have any particular aspirations, apart from wanting to retire early and enjoying the remainder of my life in a tropical location.

How long have you been working on ShipEngine? 

About a year.

What are you most excited about when it comes to the future of ShipEngine? 

As the logistical backbone for hundreds of brands, platforms, 3PLs and other businesses, I’m most excited about how our market share will continue to grow. There’s a clear need in the logistics space for a carrier API, especially with growing development costs.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I do classical singing! I also served in the military for 2 years as part of the mandatory conscription program in Singapore.

What is one of your proudest achievements?

Running a successful ecommerce business that continues to grow about 50% YOY!

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Join The Delivery Conference Hosted Virtually by Metapack https://www.shipengine.com/blog/join-the-delivery-conference-hosted-virtually-by-metapack/ https://www.shipengine.com/blog/join-the-delivery-conference-hosted-virtually-by-metapack/#respond Fri, 28 Jan 2022 18:59:55 +0000 https://www.shipengine.com/?p=4027 The ecommerce wave has been coming steadily for years now. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift from shopping at brick-and-mortar stores to shopping online, and the realities of this age of ecommerce and the future of online selling will be discussed at The Delivery Conference, hosted virtually by Metapack on Feb. 8, live from London. […]

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The ecommerce wave has been coming steadily for years now. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift from shopping at brick-and-mortar stores to shopping online, and the realities of this age of ecommerce and the future of online selling will be discussed at The Delivery Conference, hosted virtually by Metapack on Feb. 8, live from London. Registration is free.

ShipEngine and Metapack are members of the Auctane family of ecommerce shipping solutions. Auctane’s products can solve shipping forany ecommerce platforms, brand, third-party logistics company, warehouse operation and others. 

The Deliver Conference includes:

  • More than 1,500 leaders from around the industry.
  • More than 700 ecommerce brands.
  • More than 20 speakers.
  • And about 9 education sessions.

Members of the Metapack team will be available to answer questions and chat about your unique shipping needs. Feel free to ask about ShipEngine and its ecommerce shipping solutions as you visit with your Metapack hosts.

If you’d like to try ShipEngine ahead of The Delivery Conference, you can always start a free trial. You can also schedule time to talk with one of our own shipping and ecommerce experts by contacting us.

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