Stamps.com is excited to announce the launch of our System Status page, located at http://status.stamps.com/. We built this page to provide you with real-time, 24/7 information on the status of Stamps.com servers and networks. If we experience an interruption in service, we will post a notice on the page and will continue to update the page as changes occur.
With this new page, you can find up-to-date information on:
System status—Confirm service availability for the Stamps.com website, software and API services
Outages and incidents—We’ll provide details and communication on any service outage
Maintenance—Find information and updates about Stamps.com server maintenance and upgrades.
Here’s an example of what you’ll see on the System Status page:
You can also subscribe to receive System Status updates via email, SMS text or an Atom/RSS feed.
This article includes updates effective March 12, 2021
Shipping Regulations When shipping lithium batteries, businesses must comply with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) standards for preparing shipments that contain lithium batteries. The standards are in place to ensure the safe transportation of shipments that include these batteries and cells. Shippers are responsible to comply with these regulations or risk fines.
Luckily the USPS shipping regulations align with DOT and PHMSA regulations—so as long as your shipment follows USPS regulations, you are in the clear.
USPS Standards for Domestic Shipments Containing Lithium Batteries
Each cell cannot contain more than 1 gram of lithium
Each battery cannot contain more than 2 grams of lithium
All packages must contain a complete return address
For non-installed batteries, your package must have a DOT-approved lithium battery mark (UN3090)
Standards for Shipping Installed Batteries
Installed batteries must be protected from short circuit
Devices with batteries must have protection to prevent accidentally being powered-on
Equipment must be cushioned
Shipping Lithium Batteries to International Destinations?
Lithium batteries can only be shipped internationally if they are installed in the equipment they operate. Shipping carriers are not allowed to ship packages containing only lithium batteries or cells to international locations – they must be included inside a product. No markings or documentation are allowed on these international mailpieces. This rule applies to all international as well as APO/FPO/DPO destinations.
More info on the U.S. Postal Service’s Lithium Battery mailing standards is available on the USPS.com site.
Wondering if it’s legal to use USPS to ship drugs? It’s definitely important to remain compliant with federal and state laws regarding the shipment of medicines, drugs, and controlled substances via the USPS. Here’s a rundown of what’s allowed—and what’s prohibited.
Prescription medicines
According to USPS rules, if you want to ship prescription medicines, you must be a drug manufacturer, a registered agent of a drug manufacturer, pharmacy, medical practitioner, or other authorized dispenser.
Over-the-counter drugs
What about non-prescription medicines like pain and fever reducers (i.e. Tylenol, Advil), cold and cough medicines, decongestants, and antihistamine pills?
You can mail over-the-counter drugs, which are medicines purchased or obtained without a prescription. However, you would still need to be compliant with local and federal laws like the Poison Prevention Packaging Act and the Consumer Product Safety Act.
Controlled substances
Controlled substances, such as narcotics, anabolic steroids, and hallucinogenic drugs, cannot be mailed internationally and in cases of domestic mail, you would have to be an authorized dispenser, such as a medical practitioner or pharmacist. The USPS takes the shipment of narcotics very seriously, and the Postal Inspection Service Prohibited Mail Narcotics program investigates shipments of illegal drugs through the mail and works closely with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat this illicit trade.
Marijuana/cannabis
While marijuana/cannabis has been decriminalized in some states for recreational or medical use, mailing marijuana via the USPS is still illegal. Considered a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, it is important to remember that marijuana is unmailable.
Drug paraphernalia
Drug paraphernalia, such as pipes of various materials, are considered restricted matter and cannot be mailed domestically or internationally.
There may be different reasons why you would need to ship cremated remains: you’re a relative entrusted with transporting or distributing the remains of a loved one; you need to ensure that a pet cremation urn is safely sent back home; or you’re in the death care business and your funeral home needs to transport cremated remains frequently. Whatever the reason may be, Stamps.com can help you make the process as painless as possible.
The first thing to know is that you can only use the USPS to ship cremated remains. Courier services like FedEx and UPS do not allow this. Therefore, you can use your powerful Stamps.com platform to ship cremated remains.
Preparing your package
The USPS allows for shipping cremated remains by Priority Mail Express service only. Keep in mind that there are packaging requirements—USPS requires that the inner container be stable, shock-proof, and sift-proof (i.e. sealed against leakage during transit). Since the USPS requires full return and delivery addresses be included on the outside of the package, we recommend using the Stamps.com Shipping Label feature to meet this guideline and also receive free tracking. Under our “Packages” section, you can select one of our “Shipping Label” options. You can easily print a trackable label on plain paper or on one of our self-adhesive labels, such as the 4 1/4″ x 6 3/4″ shipping labels (SDC-1200).
Identifying your package
Remember also to declare the Special Contents when you print your Shipping Label. After selecting the Priority Mail Express mail class and entering all of the appropriate criteria (addresses, weight, etc.), click on the “Select” button next to “Add’l Options.” Click on “Special Contents” and select “Cremated Remains.”
Additionally, shippers are required to affix Label 139 to all six sides of their shipping box.
International Mailing
For international mail, you may only use Priority Mail Express International to ship cremated remains. Cremated remains must also be shipped in a funeral urn. Remember to double-check whether the country to which you are mailing allows this type of shipment. Some countries, such as Belgium, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal and the United Kingdom do not allow entry of cremated remains. Some countries also do not support Priority Mail Express International. We recommend researching this prior to mailing by accessing the Individual Country Listings here: https://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immctry.htm
Remember to fully and clearly identify the contents on your customs form. Stamps.com makes the process easy and efficient by combining postage and the Customs Declaration Forms into the same documentation/international shipping label. In the Customs Information window, under “Type of Contents,” select “Other” and type in a detailed description under “More Info.” In the itemized package content details, please also enter a detailed description to remain compliant with USPS guidelines.
According to Deloitte, 54% of e-commerce buyers want to receive their products within 2 days of placing their order, while 89% expect to receive their product within 3-4 days of placing their order. Customer expectations are changing, and online retailers need to deliver packages quickly in order to stay competitive.
eBay(R) launched the Guaranteed Delivery Program, allowing buyers to easily find products that are guaranteed to be delivered within 3 days or less. With this eBay program, sellers have two Guaranteed Delivery options:
Door-to-door: With this option, sellers determine and guarantee their own delivery dates based on their ability to deliver to various regions and their carriers’ service level by region.
Handling time: With this option, eBay determines and guarantees the delivery date. Sellers must guarantee same-day or one-day handling and must print their labels on eBay Shipping.
Stamps.com Offers Refunds on Late USPS Deliveries For eBay sellers who use the “Door-to-Door” option and print their labels on Stamps.com, we’re happy to announce that you will now receive refunds on shipping cost and return shipping labels if your orders are delivered late. This feature applies to all eBay Guaranteed Delivery “Door-to-Door” orders that are using one of the following shipping services: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail or First Class Package Service.
If an order that is part of the eBay Guaranteed Delivered “Door-to-Door” program is delivered late from the USPS, the seller will have the following options:
eBay Guaranteed Delivery (Door-to-Door) Options for Late Delivery on eBay Orders
1) Stamps.com will provide credit for shipping costs
2) Stamps.com will provide credit for return shipping label cost
Keep the item purchased – shipping fee paid by buyer
1) Refund shipping costs
1) Stamps.com will provide credit for return shipping label cost
Keep the item purchased – product included free shipping
1) No action needed by seller (eBay will provide buyer with $5 voucher on next purchase)
1) No action by Stamps.com (eBay will provide buyer with $5 voucher on next purchase)
Requesting Refunds for eBay Guaranteed Delivery Program through Stamps.com Stamps.com is offering the same guarantee that eBay provides for sellers who use the Guaranteed Delivery Door-to-Door option. When a guaranteed item doesn’t arrive in allocated delivery time communicated to the buyer, you can request a refund for postage paid through Stamps.com.
To request a refund, send an email to [email protected]. In the email, please include:
A) Your Stamps.com Username: We use this to verify shipments and will apply refunds to your account balance.
B) Package Tracking Number (for product delivered late): We use the package tracking number to verify that shipments meet our Guaranteed Delivery requirements using the following information:
Order Date
USPS Arrival Scan Date and Time (Must be scanned into the USPS before the end of the business day following the order date.)
USPS Delivery Scan Date and Time
C) Refund Requested (Shipping Cost and/or Return Shipping Label Cost):
Shipping Refund only: Enter the amount eBay refunded to buyer.
Return of Item plus Shipping Costs: Enter the shipping cost to the buyer as well as the cost for the return label.
D) Proof of Compensation: Go to the eBay listing in question, print the details of eBay compensation to buyer as a PDF, and include it in the email.
Stamps.com will review the eBay Guaranteed Delivery refund request(s) and respond within 7 days. Any refunds will be applied to your Stamps.com account balance.
