Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Shipstation The best internet based shipping software hands down.



We have been using Shipstation shipping  Manager for six years now. It is the best shipping software we have tried so far and we have tried them all!  We have been in business since 2006 and this system is hands down the best it available for our business.


We started using it because one of our clients recommended it. She said that she was saving a bunch in shipping costs. We could not believe it, we thought PayPal and eBay shipping services was the lowest price for USPS Priority Mail. Then we tried i the program for free.




We love the fact that we can compare shipping cost among most shipping companies. We can compare USPS, FedEx and UPS at the same time. You can choose the lowest price on the fly. 


We also like comparing between for the USPS Regional A and B  USPS Priority Mail. There are substantial price difference sometimes. For items larger that 5 pounds or bulky packages UPS has the best prices.

 
Shipstation can generate any USPS label including, First class, Parcel Post, Media Mail and Priority Mail. We can even print USPS International First Class postage with the Zebra LP 2844 Thermal Printers. That was a first shipping program we could use our Zebra Thermal Printer with USPS International First Class. That makes it very convenient for international shipments under 4 pounds. UPS works just as well with the program.

We have Refurbished Zebra LP2844 printers with a 90 day warranty on our store here:

 Zebra LP 2844 Printers

We also carry the GoDex brand new thermal printers with a 3 year warranty. You can take a look at them here:

New GoDex Thermal Printers 



One of the features we like the most in 
Shipstation is the ability to print a packing slips with a personalized message right after the shipping label with our Zebra Thermal Printer. That way we know what label goes with each package. With that personalized message, you can ask to your customers to leave you a five star feedback and/or contact you before leaving you feedback.
There are countless options you can write on the Packing Slip. You can put a coupon code, your website store, etc.








Shipstation automatically emails the shipping notice with the tracking number and if requested, a personalized message. That is very important so your valued customers know exactly when the items were shipping and a general idea on when they will be receiving their package.

The system is internet based, there is no programs to install, it works within its own website.  


Because it is internet based, it works on Windows, Mac and Linux computers. It even works on smart phones like Android and iPhones. You can pull orders from eBay, PayPal and Amazon.

You can also copy an paste orders manually if you get orders over the phone. Do not need to paste line by line, just paste the whole address and the software will place the information in the right place. The software is very intuitive full of features and easy use.



After we pasted the complete address in to the box, the software automatically inserts the address in to the right spots.  You have full control of the packing slip information like, price, description, unit price, shipping paid, who gets the shipping notice via email, etc.






We had a very good experience with technical support. They answered right away any questions we had.


The shipping labels are created in PDFs. It prints Packing slips along with the shipping labels as an option. We always know which label goes with each product to be shipped. That is a huge time saver for us. No longer use our regular printer. Our Thermal Zebra printer and our GoDex Printers do all our labels and packing slips from Auctane. We are saving a ton in ink and toner costs.

The picture below is an example of a 4 x 6 Thermal label generated from Auctane.


All computers can open and print PDFs. The software even works on Mac computers!
We ship a lot Priority Mail packages and we are saving in average 20% over paypal shipping fees.

We can run several kinds of reports as well.









Watch a video of Auctane Shipping Manager Pro!



Key features

Now supports UPS as well as USPS!

Save up to 20% on USPS Priority and Express Mail!
  • Completely web-based - print labels right from the eBay.com web site!
  • Works with PCs or Macs
  • Imports orders from eBay, Amazon, and PayPal!
  • Print shipping labels for all UPS and USPS services including First Class Mail International
  • Print labels in batch - reduce shipping time by 50% or more!
  • Print packing slips - up to 2 per page
  • Combine orders into a single shipment
  • Leave automatic buyer feedback
  • Purchase discount shipping insurance
  • Customizable shipping notification email
  • Memorizes item weights for future shipments
  • Use multiple eBay accounts with a single subscription!

Click here to subscribe or try Auctane Shipping Manager!




We have Refurbished Zebra LP2844 printers with a 90 day warranty on our store here:

 Zebra LP 2844 Printers

We also carry the GoDex brand new thermal printers with a 3 year warranty. You can take a look at them here:

New GoDex Thermal Printers 

Updated Zebra LP2844, ZP 450, ZP 500 Thermal Printers Free of Charge Drivers Download

Please contact us by calling us  at 1.888.407.6757 if you have additional questions or if you believe you have gotten a defective unit from us. We are happy to help you. We offer free technical support via phone and remote computer connection.

Please do not ask to return the printer if you have not contacted us via email or via phone. We can help you installing your printer free of charge.

Opening a return counts as a defective unit in the eyes of eBay. That will affect our seller performance. We will make sure your printer works perfectly or your money back. Please contact us via regular eBay message or by phone at 1.888.407.6757. Thank you.




2022 Update:

Zebra LP2844 and ZP 450 Easiest to Install Driver Download






Please make sure to watch the videos that show you how to connect all the cables and load your labels in to the printer. You want to do this before you load the driver in to your computer.


There are three places where you can download the Zebra LP2844 and Zebra 450 thermal Driver for Windows. We have found out that the driver that works the best for most of our customers if you are using eBay or Paypal, Stamps.com, Endicia.com Dymo and many other shipping services as well as most POS systems. If you have a ZP 500 printer, you can download the driver right below the Video.

If you have Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10 Operating System. Please click on the link below to download the driver that works best for the newer Operating Systems:

2019 Update:

Zebra LP2844 and ZP 450 Easiest to Install Driver Download

Please download the driver and follow instructions on how to install the printer. Please make sure your printer has been connected and turned on before you install this driver. Make sure your printer has a green light on the feed button and that your green light is solid green. If you have a red, orange or flashing green light, push the feed button on the printer for it to tun on to a solid green light.

We posted a video to give you step by step instructions on how to install the Generic Seagull Driver:




 




You can download the ZP 500 directly from here:

ZP 500 Original Driver

The printer did not include a owner's manual, you can download it from here: 

ZP 500 Manual



***IMPORTANT***


Please make sure to set up your driver to the right printer model name and number. In this case the LP 2844 or the ZP 450.  Also before printing go to the Thermal Printer Properties on the Printers and Faxes Folder. Click on the Printer Preferences. Make sure to set up the printer to use the 4" X 6" paper. If you do not do that the printer might print only a part of the label or print it wrong. .

***If you are using your printer with eBay, please click on the link located in the upper right hand corner that says "Printer and label receipt preferences" See the picture below.

Please choose the Zebra LP 2844 4 x 6 as you default printer and save it. This setting is the same even if you are using the ZP 450, ZP 500, GK420d or any other 4 x 6 direct thermal printer.
eBay does not know you have a Zebra printer. If you do not change that setting the label will come out incorrectly. 





Here is a video showing how change the setting in eBay for your Zebra Printer:




Please note that if you have a ZP 450, GK420d or any other 4 x 6 printer, the Zebra LP 2844 4 x 6 setting in eBay will work with your printer.


Please try to play with the settings before assuming the printer is defective. Everyone uses a different shipping programs. Most of the programs we know are set up to take advantage of the thermal printers.

Please contact us by calling us  at 1.888.407.6757 if you have additional questions or if you believe you have gotten a defective unit from us. We are happy to help you. We offer free technical support via phone and remote computer connection.

If you did not get the printer from us but need help setting it up with your computer or shipping programs, please contact us at 1.888.407.6757. We can help, we have much experience with this awesome printers. We charge $39 hour, one hour minimum. You do not have to pay we are not able to get your printer to work for you. You do not have to pay in advance only after the job is done.



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Zebra provides a basic Barcode and Label designer program. You can see it here:







The program includes the necessary driver to work with the program.

You can download the free Zebra Designer Program from here:

Zebra Designer Program Download


If you are using the Zebra ZP450 with the Zebra Designer program, please choose the ZDesigner GK420d driver. The program requires a ZDesigner driver and it does not have 



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The generic driver will work with most programs. However if you want to try a different driver, you can try the ZDesigner driver here:


64 Bit and 32 Bit Operating System Zebra Driver

In case the above link does not work, please click on the link below to visit the Zebra Website where you can download the driver directly:











  • When prompted, select the Printer Port you will be using in this case
  • USB1 Connection and click Next. You will be prompted to choose your printer model from a list. Your printer model is ZDesigner LP2844. Click Next after choosing your printer model and the driver will install.

  • The ZDesigner LP 2844 Driver works perfectly with both the LP 2844 and the ZP 450 thermal printers.


    If you are using the LP 2844 or the ZP 450 with UPS.com software, you can download their own driver for this printer here:

    UPS Original Driver Download



    You can also go to the Printer's product page for additional information and free downloads.


    Zebra LP2844 Product Page



    Zebra ZP 450 Product Page


    Users guide:

    Zebra LP 2844 Users Guide PDF Format Download


    Zebra ZP 450 Users Guide PDF Format Download




    We also have the Refurbished Zebra LP 2844 and ZP 450 available in our Internet Store for a fraction of what a new one costs. Please click here to visit our store:

    Refurbished Zebra Thermal Printers.

    We include free technical phone and remote computer connection support with every printer.