Longform
- Half Sheet Shipping Labels - Buy a bunch and use them for years.
- Package Filler
- The Best Tape & Dispenser - Shipping tape can be such a hassle to deal with. This tape is strong enough and the dispensers are best in class (you never have to find the end of the tape.
- Small Bubble Mailers
- Large Bubble Mailers
- Save Small Boxes - Recycle all of those smaller Amazon, etc boxes you get.
- Mail Scale - Knowing the correct weight will save you time and money.
- Measuring Tape - Any measuring tape will do, but having one of these makes it so much easier.
How to Ship
Ben Brooks at Brooks Review (link is behind a paywall) recently posted some tips for shipping items. I do a lot of the same things he does but with a few slight differences.
My process is the best cheap/easy combination I’ve been able to find.
PayPal has a solid built-in integration with Shipstation, but you have to jump through a few hoops from time to time to make it work (particularly if you don't use Goods & Service or Purchase Protection). I think what I use is better, PayPal or not.
The most important part of the process is using Pirate Ship. You create a free account and don’t have to worry about any extra fees. The only money they make is through their partnerships with USPS and UPS. Because of that, they have the cheapest shipping rates you’ll find..
Pirate Ship also has the easiest and most straightforward process for getting from I’ve packed the box to the label is on and it’s ready to drop off.
Here are the products to have on hand:
I ship a lot of things, so I bought one of these roller carts from Target (IKEA has a similar one) to use as a mobile shipping station.
Lastly, if you live in an area that doesn’t have restrictions on the types of mailboxes you can have, I suggest grabbing one of these monsters. It’ll help you save countless trips to the post office, and your mailman will love you too.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links for products I use and recommend.
