USPS thru Stamps.com Real-Time Rates – Inksoft

Real-time pricing for shoppers using USPS via a Stamps.com account

InkSoft provides an integration option with Stamps.com to facilitate USPS shipping. Need to create an account? Click here to get started.

Note: You can use USPS as the shipping account without integrating your account settings. You can always set up your own pricing structure if you do not have an account with Stamps.com.

Setting up USPS through Stamps.com

To get to your Shipping Settings click on:

Hover over Settings
Hover over Shopping Cart Settings
Click on Shipping

To add USPS via Stamps.com as a shipping account:

Click on the drop-down "Select Shipping Account" - Select USPS via Stamps.com
Active: Check Yes to make this shipping option available in the shopping cart
Sort Order: Here you can choose the order in which shoppers will see your shipping carriers and methods available (Example: you can make Pick-up display first, USPS as the second option, etc...)
Automated Integration: Check Yes to use your USPS via Stamps.com account credentials to generate real-time shipping rates.
Full Price Control: This allows you to print your shipping labels via the order manager using your UPS Account credentials. Along with price flexibility! Looking for Full Price Control? Click Here.
Click Save

Account credentials you need:

Stamps.com Username
Stamps.com Password

Additional Information:

Label Format: Select one of the files for your printable shipping labels GIF, JPG, PNG, PDF, EPL2, SPL, ZPL, and STAR

Creating a Shipping Method with Real-Time Rates

Click USPS Accordion
Click Shipping Method
Click Add New Shipping Method.

Fill out the following information (Below is the most important information needed for this method to be active for your shoppers):

Name: The name of the new shipping method (example: to school name)
Production Time: Number of days required to process orders
Days In Transit Min: The minimum number of days required to transport the shipment
Days In Transit Max: The maximum number of days required to transport the shipment

Note: Process days added to the min/max shipping time will be the estimated shipping time (business days).Ex. 7 process days and a Min Transit of 3, Max Transit of 5, would give an estimated shipping time of 15 days. We will always display the maximum transit time at checkout.

Active: Allow customers to use this Shipping Method
Sort Order: The order this shipping option will show up in the shipping list on the cart

Note: Most business owners choose to display shipping methods in order of least to most expensive.

*USPS METHOD: This coincides with your Account Credentials. This has to match with the method you want to pull for pricing (i.e. Shipping Method Name is Priority - You will want this to be Priority Mail)
Store: Assign this shipping method exclusively to any single store or all stores
Permitted Shipping Destinations: The first 4 are allowances. You are allowed to ship to unknown addresses, residential addresses, commercial addresses, and PO boxes (recommended to have all 4 checked)
Click Save

Successfully Created a Shipping Method

After you create your shipping method(s), it will appear as seen below. To manage the newly created method(s):

Click the Method Name to edit (opens up the settings/form as seen above).
Click the Trash Can to delete a method

NOTE: InkSoft utilizes real-time rates that we negotiated on behalf of our customers. These rates are automatically applied to your account once you have successfully configured a real-time rate integration. There are no other actions needed to be taken to get the real-time rate pricing.

Additionally, FIRST CLASS mail has a 13 oz weight limit. This option will not display if the cart has items that exceed that value. This method should be used in conjunction with Priority Mail or another service, otherwise, your customer may not have any shipping options to choose from.

NOTE: Something to keep in mind is that when you get a full ShipStation account, you will also get a stamps.com account. This will make the integration even easier if you use that service.