There’s a lot to consider when shipping parcels to determine the best way to ship. Business mailers will either send parcels using a postage meter or an online shipping application. So how do you determine which method is best for you? Below are some questions and answers to help you with some shipping basics and then to determine which workflow will work best for you.

Any mail piece that is greater than ¾” thick or over 13 ounces is considered a parcel and it is a USPS^® shipping service that is used. So, for many mailers they may not even realize that they using USPS^® shipping services.

First-Class Package-Retail, Priority Mail^®, Priority Express Mail^®, Retail Ground^®, Library Mail and Media Mail^®.

Business mailers either use the postage meter or an online shipping application like FP Parcel Shipping.

Postage meters are great for letters and the occasional parcel but the latest in online shipping may be a better option. In fact, online shipping applications like FP Parcel Shipping may already be included in your postage meter lease or it can be added on for a very small monthly fee. The chart below provides a comparison of features between the traditional postage meter and an online shipping application.

Yes, especially First-Class^® package mailers can benefit. Not only are the rates better but retail packages have a weight limit of 13 ounces whereas commercial packages goes up to 16 ounces. That means if you mail a 14 oz. parcel retail you will pay Priority Mail^® rates vs. First-Class Package Commercial. The savings can be up to 67% in comparison in addition to other benefits like printing a professional shipping label with tracking.

If you use a postage meter you can apply the USPS^® label 400. It is a generic tracking label with a barcode and you can order them online from the USPS^® for free. Unfortunately, if you want to tie the recipient to the package then the workflow is manual. If you use an online shipping solution everything is contained in a all-in-one shipping label with tracking.

First of all, you can determine the estimated delivery date. This is critical to be able to deliver packages when your customer expects to receive it. Once the package is shipped you can automatically send the recipient an email with the package information including estimated delivery date and a link with real-time tracking. Lastly, if a customer calls you can easily get the details regarding the shipment status.

Absolutely. In fact, using FP Parcel Shipping you will use a single address book for all shipments. It directly integrates to the carriers so you will also have the ability to use your negotiated carrier rates when rate shopping with USPS^® Commercial rates.

You can print to plain paper, on label sheets like Avery #8126 or using a 4” x 6” label printer.

Yes, because it is online you can mail and ship from anywhere. It also has the capability to print First-Class^® letters, which makes it perfect to complement your postage meter for work from home situations.

Our award winning line of PostBase^® mailing systems are the perfect complement to FP Parcel Shipping for a complete mailing and shipping solution. This perfect pairing allows you access to the biggest savings on both your mailing and packages. Our PostBase^® mailing systems are available in a range from small business to enterprise level, so we have the perfect solution for your company no matter the size.