It is no longer news that you need to print shipping labels if you wish to ship packages to customers via USPS. However, you no longer need to visit the post office to get a shipping label if you know how to print or reprint them online.
While this service (printing or reprinting) is free, labels won’t be accepted unless you have paid for postage. Did your shipping label go missing or appear damaged?
Read this guide to find out how to reprint USPS shipping labels via the Click-N-Ship portal and other third-party postage providers. You will also discover if labels expire and if you will get a refund for an unused label.
How to Reprint the USPS Label
The best way to print or reprint a USPS label is via Click-N-Ship. Below are the 2 ways to go about it:
Method 1 (reprinting immediately)
- After creating a label, you should get a “Label Completed” message.
- Click the “Reprint This Label” link next to the “Label Completed” notification.
- You will see a reprint label dialog with terms and conditions.
- Check the boxes to agree to these terms and click the “Reprint” tab.
Method 2 (reprinting USPS label from history)
- Navigate to the “History” button on the Home screen.
- Find your label in the list or use the search bar for quicker access
- Click on the “View” button or the “>” symbol next to the shipment’s date to assess the shipment detail.
- You will see the “Reprint Label” button.
- Click it and agree to the necessary conditions to reprint your label.
Please note that:
- You can only reprint a USPS shipping label once after printing it initially. You must also wait up to 24 hours from the initial printing to reprint.
- You must mail the package on the shipping date selected during label generation. Failure to ship the package on this date will render it stale. You will have to print a new label and pay new postage.
- Mailing options such as Priority Mail and select services may feature free tracking. Signature confirmation may be provided at a discounted price.
What Kind of Printer and Paper Should You Use to Print Click-N-Ship Labels?
Laser printer or a high-quality inkjet printer and white paper or self-adhesive labels. Your inkjet printer should meet the 600 dots-per-inch (DPI) recommendation.
The USPS scanning machine may not effectively read labels from low-quality inkjets or dot matrix printers.
How to Reprint USPS Label on Stamps.com
Stamps.com is another popular and affordable postage provider for small business owners. Reprinting a USPS label is also easy and free on this platform. Below are the steps to take:
- Click on the “Orders” button and select “Shipped” to select the order that needs the label.
- Click the menu icon at the top to see a “Reprint” button with a symbolic printer.
- Click the button and confirm that it is the label you intend to reprint. Press the blue “Reprint” button, and the label will be sent to the printer.
How to Reprint USPS Labels on Shippo
To reprint USPS Labels on Shippo, modify the label settings to your desired dimension and download it for the USPS shipment. Below is a breakdown of the process:
- Select the “Settings” icon and click “Labels and Packing Slips.”
- Change the size of the label format to the required size for USPS packages and click “Save.”
- Go to your “Orders” page, download the label for the USPS order, and send it to your printer.
How to Reprint USPS Label on eBay
eBay also offers online USPS shipping solutions, which allow sellers to calculate prices, buy postage, and print shipping labels with their PC. To reprint a label is free, provided you do so within 5 days of initial purchase.
The process involves:
- Navigate to your “Orders” page and click the “Action” button next to the order you wish to create a label for.
- You will see a “Reprint Label” option. Click it to reprint your label for free.
- If you do not see this option, you are already late (it’s been 5 days already), and must print a new label and pay for its postage.
What If You Accidentally Reprint a Label?
Shipping labels generally have a unique number or identifiers. Since your postage is linked with these numbers, it will be retained regardless of how many times you reprint.
You only need to use one of these labels because they cannot be used multiple times. USPS has a system that detects duplicate postage and may charge you for fraud.
Do USPS Shipping Labels Expire?
Shipping labels are only valuable on the shipping date. Failure to submit a package to USPS on the shipping date you chose while creating the label means you can no longer use it.
In other words, it has expired, and packages (with such labels) will be returned if you try to mail them. File for a refund immediately.
Will USPS Refund for Unused Labels?
USPS refunds customers for unused shipping labels. The whole process may require up to 14 days for proper investigation. Please note that USPS will not grant any refund claims after 60 calendar days from the date the label was printed.
Third-party postage providers such as stamps.com, Shippo, and eBay also pay refunds for unused labels. Shippo issues refunds automatically after 30 days.
FAQs
Does USPS refund for late deliveries?
Only Priority Mail Express packages guarantee refunds. This means you must be patient if your package experiences a shipping label-related issue and is not under Priority Mail Express.
Do you need a shipping label for USPS?
Yes, as long as you are mailing an item weighing over 13 ounces.
Can you handwrite a shipping label?
You can handwrite the shipping address on a label as long as it is legible. However, you will still need the carrier’s barcode, which you cannot handwrite.
How do you get USPS to print your label?
On the Click-N-Ship portal, go to Extra Services and choose Label Delivery – Outbound. USPS will print the label and deliver it to you for free.
Conclusion
There are various (easy) ways to reprint USPS labels. The advantage Click-N-Ship has over others is that it allows you to reprint labels until the close of business of the shipping date.
You should also note that shipping dates do not appear on the labels. However, it does not mean USPS does not know when it will expire. USPS automatically records the shipping date you chose while printing the label.
I hope you found this guide helpful. Please see how many stamps you need for a 10×13 envelope.
Thanks for reading.
