Shipping Shortcuts Every Reseller Should Know

Shipping doesn’t have to be the most stressful part of reselling, but for some reason, it often is. Between comparing rates, finding the right-sized mailer, and making sure everything goes out on time, it can take more time (and energy) than it should.

Over the years, I’ve found a few simple shipping shortcuts that help me save time, money, and sanity. I’m excited to share them here so you can steal them. Shipping can be easy and stress free, I promise! 

Want to feel more confident with shipping (and all parts of reselling)? The Reseller Roadmap is a step by step guide for new and experienced resellers struggling to hit consistent $1000+ months!

Time-Saving Shortcuts

Schedule USPS pickups

Did you know USPS will come and pick up your packages?! This is such a time saver, especially if you’re a busy mom who doesn’t want to load up all the kids just to get them in and out at the post office.

To schedule pick ups, all you have to do is sign up for an account at USPS.com and schedule them. You can also talk to your mail carrier and ask them if they can just come by and grab your packages when they see them on the porch. Mine even provided me with USPS bins and would switch them out for an empty one to make it easier for them to collect.

Print labels in batches

When you print all your labels at once, it can save you a lot of time! My husband actually helps with shipping and he prefers to do one label at a time so he doesn’t mix any up, but that takes way longer.

What I do to avoid mistakes when I print my shipping in bulk is print them out with my label printer and then write a quick note on the back of each one to match it with the right item. Something easy like “Abercrombie” for an Abercrombie & Fitch top works just fine just so you can make sure you’re putting the label on the right package.

Pre-pack harder-to-ship items

If you sell bulky or breakable items, pack them right after listing so you’re not scrambling to find the right box later. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to find the right box and having to drive out to the store to find one.

Plus, items like hard goods are easier to store (they’re more stackable!) when they’re in boxes. I just mark the SKU directly on the box with a sharpie and stack them all on a shelf. Easy!

Create a simple shipping station

Keep everything in one place: scale, tape, polymailers, boxes, thank-you cards, even scissors and a Sharpie. You really don’t need a fancy setup, just something functional.

If you don’t have the space for a dedicated shipping station, something like a basket or bin with all the stuff you’ll need is easy enough to hide away and bring out when you’re doing your shipping. Scrambling to gather everything every time you need to ship just makes things harder.

Use a thermal laser printer

I LOVE my label printer! And not just because it’s pink. If you haven’t already made the switch, a thermal printer saves so much time! No ink, no cutting, no taping. It’s definitely worth the investment. I buy big packs of 500 labels every few months, and that’s it. No dealing with ink running out on me, etc.

Supplies Shortcuts

Buy polymailers in multiple sizes (and colors!)

Polymailers are a must if you sell clothing or soft goods. They’re lightweight, cheap, and easy to store. But having multiple sizes in the same color can make it hard to see what you’re grabbing. I like to buy different colors for different sizes, so I can grab the right one easily. For example: purple = 9×13, pink = 12×15. It seems small, but it saves time every single day.

Keep USPS flat rate and regional boxes on hand

You know about the free USPS Priority Mail supplies, right? I love to keep a variety of them on hand. You don’t have to use them for everything since Priority Mail rates can be expensive, but having them available gives you more shipping options when you need them, especially for heavier items.

The boxes I use the most are the padded flat rate (sometimes shoes fit in here, and it saves me a lot vs weighted shipping) and the shoe box. 

Reuse packaging materials

I know a lot of resellers are scared to reuse shipping supplies, but I think it’s smart, and as a customer, I would never be mad about it as long as it’s clean. Save bubble wrap and padding from your own deliveries so you’re not constantly buying new supplies. It’s sustainable and saves money!

Money-Saving Shortcuts

Use PirateShip when shipping outside of platforms

If you’re shipping something that didn’t sell on eBay or Poshmark, PirateShip often has better rates than going directly to the post office, especially for heavier or bulky items. You can compare USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc., and pick the one that works best for you. 

Don’t just pick the first option
When your package is over 1 lb, rates can vary a lot. Compare USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx. Sometimes the difference is a couple of dollars, which definitely eats into your profit. Especially on eBay, they don’t always show the most affordable option first because they want you to ship fast.

I personally find that USPS Ground Advantage is the best rate (especially with eBay’s discount) for most items under 1lb. Above that, sometimes it’s Ground Advantage, sometimes it’s FedEx. Just make sure you’re comparing because it can sometimes be a pretty big difference.

Final Thoughts

I know that shipping can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Hopefully, these shortcuts help you save time, reduce stress, and maybe even cut costs (ahem, increase profits!)

If you found this helpful, you might also like:

• Reselling Mistakes Beginners Make
• Reseller Hacks to Save Time, Avoid Mistakes, and Boost Sales
• How to Use Vendoo to Boost Sales on eBay & Poshmark

👉 [How I Use PirateShip to Save on Shipping]
👉 [My Favorite Affordable Shipping Supplies for Resellers]
👉 [5 Simple Ways to Make Reselling Less Overwhelming]