To anybody with stamps.com accounts linked to eBay accounts..

phaz0rz · #1 06-10-2019

Has the stamps.com software been taking way longer than usual to post back tracking numbers for shipped orders for anybody here using it?

For about 2 weeks now it's been painstakingly slow for us. It's taking like 2 minutes per tracking number it tries to post back. I end up getting locked out of the postage software for upwards of an hour after printing a batch of ~60 labels because it's taking forever to communicate with eBay.

Has anybody else noticed this or is it just me? I tried Googling and looking around on the eBay forums but couldn't find anything relevant that's recent. IDK WTH I can do to fix it. Already tried unlinking and relinking eBay accounts in the stamps software.. didn't do anything. I guess I'll try reinstalling the software next. Maybe I missed an update or something.

Only making a thread about it because I'm waiting on tracking to be posted back now.

Sunspot144 · #2 06-10-2019

Server maintenance causes that but who knows why on their side. Their stock plummeted when they announced they wont be renewing USPS contract.

Companies usually post updates on Twitter.

Or DDoS attack by a-holes

phaz0rz · #3 06-10-2019

Crickets from stamps.com. No updates of any sort regarding slow tracking postback. And they have dozens of servers so I seriously doubt they're being crippled by a DDOS, lol. It's not the software itself or even it's ability to create/print shipping labels - it's the interaction the software is supposed to have with eBay that seems to have slowed to a crawl recently. My best guess is that it has something to do with the way eBay is feeding orders to external software.

Just curious if anyone else was having the same problem. But stamps.com is relatively obscure here so idk if anyone else here has experienced it. It would sure be reassuring for somebody to tell me I'm not the only one though.

Just went through my email and the software does need updating, but it's because of USPS rate changes coming up soon. I guess I'll see if it performs any better after the update.

yankee · #4 06-10-2019

Might be time to go with endicia or pirateship.

We have been testing other options. Stamps pricing is not very low. Endicia is MUCH cheaper for international as example. Pirate is cheaper for certain services in the priority mail options.

phaz0rz · #5 06-10-2019

Yeah, it may be time to venture out of my postage comfort zone. I signed up with eBay's new postage partner (EasyShip) a few weeks ago but I haven't been impressed. I found out right after signing up that the "lower First Class rates" that eBay is advertising in order to entice sellers into trying EasyShip are BS. First Class rates are all exactly the same as I'm used to seeing but eBay was saying First Class would be as low as $2.35 with their new service. I also don't like how it's browser based with no option to download external software.

I guess it's time to try Pirateship. Been recommending it for a while but haven't seen a reason to try it until maybe now.

Sunspot144 · #6 06-10-2019

Are there other files in the stamps program folder? There can be text files with version updates ie something updated 2w ago.

Sunspot144 · #7 06-10-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankee

Might be time to go with endicia or pirateship.

We have been testing other options. Stamps pricing is not very low. Endicia is MUCH cheaper for international as example. Pirate is cheaper for certain services in the priority mail options.

Stamps = endicia if you choose that route and you can use your stamps login info on endicia.

phaz0rz · #8 06-12-2019

Ha. It's fixed now. I think eBay read over my thread and then took down the entire site for an hour to fix it for me.

Thanks eBay! Much better now, lol.

agent006140 · #9 07-10-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunspot144

Server maintenance causes that but who knows why on their side. Their stock plummeted when they announced they wont be renewing USPS contract.

Companies usually post updates on Twitter.

Or DDoS attack by a-holes

Do you think they can survive without USPS?

phaz0rz · #10 07-10-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by agent006140

Do you think they can survive without USPS?

I don't think they can since they only offer USPS shipping options.

EDIT: I'm sure the company has a plan though. They already own shipstation which does offer shipping options from couriers other than USPS.

Sunspot144 · #11 07-10-2019

First class packages are where USPS is making a profit due to ecommerce and UPS is taking on more door to door deliveries instead of using smartpost services. I believe they're counting on signing larger contracts with UPS (fedex too) in a few years because of how much AMZ uses UPS. USPS is broke af, UPS has room to keep expanding.

agent006140 · #12 07-10-2019

Most individuals/small sellers like us use USPS,others are too expensive.
Fed Exp must have struck a deal with Etsy,as now when I go to print shipping label,I cant get rid of the Fed Exp screen !!!!
Now Etsy would give those who offer free shipping for order of $35+ higher visibility ,who can afford Fed EXP?
But for large items,I heard Fed Exp ground is cheaper than USPS

Sunspot144 · #13 07-10-2019

USPS cant really guarantee delivery dates even though they try hard. The employees lose packages a lot too. I don't think they have the proper technology and equipment to keep track of all the mail. Amazon really pulled ahead with prime and can guarantee delivery dates which is the new standard now. Stamps.com is following the trend and dumping USPS.. I'd love to see USPS federally funded again so the prices for postage dont increase a quarter every year.

It's interesting Etsy chose to force seller's hands on the $35+ free shipping. They're kind of hurting seller's profits while bringing in more customers.. so people better hope they're buying in their niche.

agent006140 · #14 07-11-2019

I have been using USPS for a long long time,rarely do they miss a shipment,most are shipped USPS first class mail and priority mail.
During Xmas shopping season,it pays to ship priority mail if it is going to either coast(I am in deep south) as USPS does not own any planes,commercial airlines allot so much space for mail,and priority and express will have priority to get on the plane before first class,media and parcel select.
Another problem is weather,when East Coast was wrecked,mail going to Europe went to Puerto Rico first and PR has only one flight a day .
One Xmas,many Ebay sellers lost money when USPS green bags piled up in different airports to be rerouted and buyers filed Item not received,sellers lost their merchandise ,their shipping .
AMZN is a big customer of USPS,it still is.

agent006140 · #15 07-11-2019

ETSY must be facing slower sales,first it will pop up a message saying you are charging too much for shipping,now it wants you to offer free shipping and suggest you raise the item price .
what next?free return?

Kashmir · #16 08-08-2019

What is this stamps.com all about? I've received packages from this sender before, but what does it accomplish? Do you retain anonymity if you use it?

agent006140 · #17 08-09-2019

you get cheaper rates,but recently USPS does not offer cheaper rates from Stamps.com users.
I think there is a monthly fee,you can go online and check them out

agent006140 · #18 08-09-2019

Ebay,AMZN,ETSY and Paypal will print shipping labels for free,so it must have something to offer ,esle why should sellers use their service ?