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How to Determine UPS Domestic Shipping Zones
If you don’t opt for flat-rate shipping, which has a set price, the cost of shipping a package within the United States will vary based on several factors like the distance it needs to travel. To simplify measuring the distance between the points of origin and destination, many carriers use shipping zones. In this article, we’ll going to focus on UPS domestic shipping zones.
What Will Happen If You Accidentally Drop a UPS Package at USPS, or Vice Versa
Many people prefer to purchase shipping labels online and print them themselves because it helps to save time: instead of waiting in line at a Post Office or UPS Store, you can simply drop off your prepaid and pre-labeled package, and be on your merry way. But what will happen if you mistakenly drop your package at a wrong drop-off location?
What Is the Difference Between USPS and UPS Shipping Labels?
If you want your package to get to the recipient without a hitch, it must have a proper shipping label. There are many kinds of shipping labels to choose from; in this article, we will focus on the difference between USPS and UPS shipping labels.
What Will Happen If Your Package Doesn’t Have a ZIP Code?
A ZIP Code is an integral part of a postal address in the United States, regardless of whether you’re shipping domestically or internationally (from abroad to the US). What will happen to your package if the mailing address does not include a ZIP Code? Is there any chance for it to arrive to its destination despite lacking a ZIP Code?
A Brief Guide to the USPS Domestic Shipping Zones
Unless you choose flat rate shipping that has a fixed cost, the cost of shipping a package within the United States will depend on several factors, including the distance that your package has to travel. To make it easier to measure the distance between the point of origin and point of destination, the United States Postal Service has introduced shipping zones. Let’s take a closer look at the USPS domestic shipping zones and how they work.
The Pros and Cons of Flat Rate Shipping for Ordinary Customers
Many online retailers utilize flat rate shipping because it has a bunch of benefits for e-commerce businesses: it allows them to standardize shipping costs and save on packaging, makes it easier to offer free shipping, etc. But what if you’re just an ordinary customer who mails packages occasionally? Should you consider flat rate shipping or is it better to stick to plain old regular shipping?
Can You Handwrite a Shipping Label?
Each package needs a shipping label to get to its destination because the label provides all the necessary information to identify a shipment and its recipient. You can have a shipping label printed at a post office or purchase it online and print it out yourself, but can you handwrite it? Let’s figure it out together.
Can You Ship Alcohol via the USPS or UPS?
Say, you want to surprise a friend who lives out of state with a nice bottle of wine or expensive liquor. What is the best way to do this? Can you ship alcohol via the USPS or UPS, or do you need to find other ways to get your surprise delivered to them?
A Brief Guide to USPS Delivery Times
When shipping with the United States Postal Service, you should know that delivery times can range from the next day to several weeks depending on the service and destination. Here is a brief guide to USPS delivery times that will help you choose the best service for your needs.
What Is a Packing Slip and Does Your Package Need One?
Every package shipped via a postal or courier company needs shipping documents, but what exactly documents are required depends on the situation. For example, some packages need a packing slip, while others don’t. What is a packing slip and how to figure out whether your package needs one?
Why Some Goods Cannot Be Shipped by Air
Air freight is typically the fastest way to get something from point A to point B, but it is not without its downsides. Firstly, it is more expensive than ground transportation, sometimes very much so. Secondly, not all items can be transported by air due to restrictions. Why cannot some goods be shipped by air?
Can You Ship Lithium Batteries via the USPS?
Nowadays, a lot of electronic devices contain lithium batteries, which means that they can be tricky to ship because batteries contain highly flammable electrolytes and can start a fire while in transit under certain conditions. Because of this, most carriers impose shipping restrictions and sometimes even do not allow to mail lithium batteries at all. Can you ship lithium batteries via the United States Postal Service (USPS)? Let’s figure it out together.
Can You Ship Vaping Products in the US?
When you ship something from a USPS Post Office or a private carrier’s location, an employee will tell you if the items you’re shipping are subject to restrictions or prohibitions. However, if you prefer to print shipping labels yourself and ship packages from home, it’s up to you to research which products can and cannot be shipped. For example, can you ship vaping products in the US? Let’s figure this out!
The Pros and Cons of Renting a PO Box from the USPS
A PO Box is one of many additional services provided by the United States Postal Service (USPS). It is a securely locked mailbox located in a Post Office, which you can rent to receive mail and packages instead of having them delivered to your home address. What are the pros and cons of renting a PO Box from the USPS?
What Is the Difference Between a ZIP Code and a Postal Code?
Although different countries use different address formats, most postal addresses in the world consist of similar elements. One of the most important elements in any address is the postal code or the ZIP Code. What is the difference between a postal code and a ZIP Code, and how to understand which one you need to use?
What Is a Residential Surcharge?
Postal and courier companies may apply a variety of surcharges to their base shipping rates in order to compensate additional costs they might incur during handling and/or transportation: additional handling surcharge, address correction surcharge, delivery area surcharge, peak season surcharge, etc. Residential surcharge is one of the most common shipping surcharges. What exactly is a residential surcharge and when is it applied?
4 Tips for Preventing Common Errors in International Addresses
Getting an international address right can be tricky because different countries have different addressing conventions, which can be further complicated by the fact that some countries have different formats for domestic and international addresses. Today, PostageMaker is sharing helpful tips to help you avoid common mistakes when writing international postal addresses.
What Will Happen If You Get the ZIP Code Wrong?
In addition to the residential or commercial address, every package shipped within the United States (or to the United States from abroad) requires a ZIP Code to get to its destination without delays. But what will happen if you get the ZIP Code wrong while the rest of the address is correct? Will your package be returned to you, lost, or simply delayed? Let’s figure it out together.
5 Common Causes of Customs Delays
International shipping time depends on many factors, one of which is customs clearance. Prolonged processing time or hold-ups at customs may result in shipping delays, so it is important to know why customs delays happen and what you can do to minimize their impact. Here are 5 common causes of customs delays.
What Is a Shipping Barcode and Why Does Your Package Need One?
Since their invention in the 1950s and wide introduction in the 1970s, barcodes have become ubiquitous; they can be found on all kinds of goods, various documents, identification wristbands, airline luggage, tickets, some types of mail, etc. Barcodes found on mailpieces are typically referred to as shipping barcodes. Why do packages need a shipping barcode and where can you get one for your package?