Financial difficulties are impacting everyone, and the ecommerce industry is no exception. So, we understand the importance of saving money wherever you can. Carriers offer free supplies. ShippingEasy merchants have access to affordable shipping rates. Marketplace sellers regularly post listings for refurbished thermal printers. There are multiple resources available — it’s all about knowing where to look and how to use them.
Table of Contents
- Free USPS® shipping supplies
- Free UPS® shipping supplies
- Free FedEx® shipping supplies
- Discounted thermal printers
- Save on shipping with ShippingEasy
- Affordable international shipping with GlobalPost
- Tips for saving on shipping costs
Free USPS® shipping supplies
USPS doesn’t currently require an account to order free shipping supplies – you’ll just need a valid mailing address where you can receive packages. USPS locations do have some supply offerings, but locations can’t guarantee which supplies will be in stock when you visit.
Some free USPS supplies include:
- Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes®
- Priority Mail Regional Rate A & B Boxes®
- Priority Mail Flat Rate® – APO/FPO Boxes
Learn how to order shipping supplies straight from your ShippingEasy account in our Onyx Products® Shipping Supply Store blog!
Free UPS® shipping supplies
UPS offers free UPS supplies including some boxes and packaging, forms, and pouches for users when they sign up for a free account. You can order supplies through your UPS.com account. You’ll also need a valid shipping address, so your supplies can be successfully delivered.
The only thing to keep in mind is that not all of the free labels offered by carriers will work with every printer, so we recommend reaching out to your printer’s support team to avoid ordering labels you can’t use. Available supplies from UPS include:
- Shipping labels, forms, and stickers
- Boxes and packaging
- Pouches
- Express envelopes
Free FedEx® shipping supplies
FedEx also offers customers free shipping supplies, so you’ll need to sign up for an account to receive a FedEx ID and enter a valid address. You’ll need to place a credit card on file, but the supplies themselves are free. Additionally, you can visit the FedEx Pack and Ship locations nearest you to grab supplies in person and get additional help packing your shipment.
Discounted thermal printers
Thermal printers, including Zebras and DYMO LabelWriters, quickly print your labels, don’t use traditional toner and printer ink cartridges, and are also compatible with ConnectEasy. Zebra thermal printers have the advantage of printing shipping labels quickly and requiring no ink, so you don’t have to pay for overpriced toner and ink to print proper shipping labels. Many of our merchants also opt for the Dymo LabelWriter 4XL for the same reasons.
However, the one big downside to thermal printers like the Zebra is the price tag – a new one usually costs around $350-$450. A good thermal printer is worth the investment, but the price tag can be daunting.
While the investment in a new thermal printer might be tempting, there’s an abundance of perfectly functioning refurbished units all over the web. You can get a fully functional Zebra label printer refurbished online for anywhere from $100-$250, which saves you as much as $350 on your purchase. There’s obviously a risk with purchasing a refurbished unit, but there are usually warranties included with your order in addition to third-party warranties to keep your purchase safe for years.
Marketplaces like Amazon and eBay sell refurbished Zebras for around $150-$250 instead of the regular retail price. Amazon and eBay also both offer warranties for these products, so you have some wiggle room if there are any issues. We recommend searching both marketplaces for reliable sellers and reading all of the notes in the product descriptions, so you receive the thermal printer of your dreams.
Where to buy refurbished thermal printers
- eBay, Amazon, and independent sites all sell refurbished units.
- Try to buy from a trusted seller and add an extended warranty if available (SquareTrade extended warranties on eBay purchases are $47.99 for 2 years).
- Here’s a search results page on eBay for GX420 thermal printers to get you started
Save on shipping with ShippingEasy
All ShippingEasy merchants have access to affordable shipping rates through USPS and UPS on ShippingEasy. The USPS rates included with ShippingEasy can save you up to 84% off USPS retail rates. Additionally, when shipping UPS on ShippingEasy, merchants have access to deep discounts of up to 82% off international services, up to 73% off UPS Next Day Air® and UPS 2nd Day Air® services, and 78% off UPS® Ground* shipping. These savings can quickly add up and help put $$ back into your pocket!
*Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice.
This postage is taken out of the funds on your Carrier Funds page, and you choose whether to automatically or manually add funds to your account. If you’re taking a break from shipping or don’t want your account to be automatically refilled, you can easily turn off the automation in your account:
Carrier funds > Scroll to Automatically refill my balance > Switch button from “ON” to “OFF”
This way, money won’t be automatically transferred from your account when your balance falls below the selected amount.
Note: USPS and UPS adjustments will be taken from your account automatically, even if the funds aren’t available. This balance will have to be paid to continue using your account to keep it in good standing. Also, the minimum deposit for your account is $10.
Affordable international shipping with GlobalPost
ShippingEasy merchants can also use GlobalPost for their international shipments. GlobalPost uses a network of global postal and commercial carriers to provide businesses with a modernized international shipping experience.
GlobalPost can be selected as a carrier in your ShippingEasy account, so it doesn’t impede your current shipping process. If you don’t see GlobalPost as an available carrier, reach out to our award-winning support team to have it enabled. Don’t let international shipping be a barrier for your small business; let GlobalPost help you ship across the globe!
Say ciao to worries about international shipping with the help of our blog!
Tips for saving on shipping costs
- Utilize free supplies from USPS, UPS, and FedEx to shrink your shipping supply budget.
- Invest in a refurbished thermal printer instead of buying a brand-new piece of equipment.
- Take advantage of the USPS and UPS rates on ShippingEasy to save on shipping costs.
- Use GlobalPost for affordable international shipping for both you and your customers.
Make affordable Shipping Easy with a 30-day free trial!
Baillee Perkins
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