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Who Do Packages Get Lost in Transit?
According to estimates, up to 2% of packages are lost in transit in the United States. While it is not a huge number in the grand scheme of things, there is a non-zero chance that your package might get lost one day. Why do packages get lost in transit and is there anything you can do to prevent this?
Why Do Packages Get Damaged in Transit?
Postal and courier companies do their best to deliver packages intact, because that’s what clients pay them for, but no one is perfect, and sometimes packages end up being damaged. Why do packages get damaged in transit and is there anything you can do to prevent it?
How to Make Sure Your Shipping Labels Aren’t Flagged as Invalid
Printing shipping labels online has quite a few benefits: it is easy, convenient, and helps to save both time and money (due to shipping discounts offered by label printing services). However, when you print your shipping labels yourself, it is no one else’s responsibility but your own to ensure that they are correct and scannable. How to make sure your shipping labels aren’t flagged as invalid by the carrier?
Why Can a Shipping Label Be Invalid?
Every mailpiece needs a valid shipping label to be delivered, otherwise it may get returned to sender, confiscated by the carrier, or simply lost. But what exactly does “valid” mean in this context? How can a shipping label be invalid? Let’s figure this out together.
How to Ship via EMS from the United States
International mail delivery can take quite a lot of time, but there are certain ways to speed things up if your shipment is time-sensitive. Most national postal operators offer Express Mail Service (EMS) that provides expedited delivery, and the United States Postal Service is not an exception. How to ship via EMS from the United States?
What Happens to Unclaimed Packages
Sometimes packages can’t be delivered as addressed for one (very legitimate) reason or another. In such cases, packages are supposed to be delivered back to the sender, but sometimes it is impossible. What happens to unclaimed packages that cannot be returned to sender?
Why Do Recipients Sometimes Refuse to Accept Parcels?
While postal and courier companies do their best to deliver all parcels in a timely manner, some parcels get returned to senders for a variety of reasons. One of these reasons is “refused delivery”. But why do recipients sometimes refuse to accept parcels?
Why Do Packages Get Returned to Sender?
While postal and courier companies these days are pretty reliable and deliver more than 90% of all shipments on time, a small percentage of packages may be returned to senders as undeliverable. Why exactly can packages get returned to sender and are there any ways to prevent this? Let’s figure it out together.
Can the Recipient Pay for Shipping?
In most situations, it is the sender of a parcel who is responsible for paying the shipping costs. Can you ship something and have the recipient pay for it? There are several ways to have the addressee pay the shipping expenses, but all of them are “indirect”, so to say.
Do You Need Self-Adhesive Paper to Print Shipping Labels?
Printing shipping labels at home has a number of time- and cost-saving benefits, but some people don’t take advantage of this opportunity, assuming they require specialized equipment and materials like a thermal printer and self-adhesive labels. Is that really so? Do you need self-adhesive paper to print shipping labels or can you make do with regular office paper?
Can You Change the Shipping Address on a UPS Shipping Label?
As the old saying goes, to err is human; sometimes we make mistakes even when we’re absolutely sure we have double-checked everything. Some mistakes are easy to fix, others not so much. Say, you’ve made a typo or a mistake on a UPS shipping label. Is it possible to edit the label and change the shipping address? If no, are there any other ways to fix the mistake?
Can You Change the Shipping Address on a USPS Shipping Label?
Getting the recipient’s address right is the key to having your package delivered to its destination without a hitch. Unfortunately, mistakes sometimes happen even when you’re sure that you’ve double-checked everything. Can you change the shipping address on a USPS shipping label if you messed up?
What Is the Difference Between Domestic and International Shipping Labels?
Each package, regardless of whether it is domestic or international, requires a shipping label to get to its to destination. A shipping label provides information about the sender and the recipient, as well as serves as proof of postage, the package’s identification, and sometimes other purposes. Is there any difference between domestic and international shipping labels or are they identical?
What Is an Air Waybill Number and Where to Find It
When completing a commercial invoice for an international shipment, you are required to specify the Air Waybill Number of your package, among other information. What exactly is an Air Waybill Number and where can you find it?
Importance of Declared Value When Shipping Internationally
When mailing a package, you are typically required to state its declared value. Failing to do it right may cause issues if you need to claim insurance, or customs issues when shipping internationally. Why exactly is declared value so important, especially when it comes to international shipping?
USPS, UPS 2024 General Rate Increases
Postal and courier companies adjust their rates every year to make up for rising operating costs and keep up with inflation. The year 2024 is not an exception; the United States Postal Service and UPS announced their general rate increases for 2024 in the fall of 2023 so that customers don’t get off guard when shipping prices are raised.
How to Avoid Shipping Label Barcode Scanning Errors
Each shipping label has a unique barcode that contains encoded information essential for automated sorting and tracking systems. If the barcode is damaged or barely visible, your package may get delayed or even lost, so it’s important to make sure the barcode is scannable when you print shipping labels yourself. How to avoid shipping label barcode scanning errors?
How to Avoid Customs Delays: A Few Things to Consider When Shipping Internationally
Customs delays are one of the most common factors that affect international shipping time: your package won’t enter the destination country and get delivered to the recipient until it’s cleared by customs. Sometimes these delays are caused by things that are outside of your control, like customs being busy because of holidays, but there are steps you can take to minimize the chance of customs delays.
How Long Does Express Shipping Take?
When delivery time is of essence, express shipping is your best choice to ensure that your package arrives as soon as possible. There are many express shipping options for you to choose from, each with its own estimated delivery time. How long does express shipping take when you ship your packages via the USPS or UPS?
How Long Does Standard Shipping Take?
Standard shipping is a popular shipping method among individual customers and e-commerce businesses alike because of its affordability, hence its alternative name economy shipping. However, it has one significant downside: standard shipping is slower than express shipping. So if you want to use economy shipping but don’t want your package to arrive too late, you should figure out in advance how long standard shipping is going to take.