Navigating the world of e-commerce shipping can feel like a monumental task. Between comparing carrier rates, printing labels, tracking packages, and managing returns, the logistics can quickly become overwhelming. This is where a dedicated shipping platform becomes not just a convenience, but a necessity for growth. Shippo has emerged as a leading solution designed to simplify these complexities, empowering businesses of all sizes to ship like major retailers.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using shippo. We’ll cover what the platform is, how it works, and how to master its powerful shipping and tracking features to save time, reduce costs, and delight your customers.
Table of Contents
- What Is Shippo?
- Getting Started: Your Shippo Account Setup
- The Core of Shippo Shipping: Creating Labels
- Understanding Shippo Rates and Pricing
- Mastering the Post-Purchase Experience with Shippo Tracking
- Advanced Features to Scale Your Business
- Getting Help: Shippo Customer Service & Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Shippo?
So, what is shippo? At its core, Shippo is a multi-carrier shipping software platform built for the modern e-commerce business. Founded in 2013 by co-founders Laura Behrens Wu and Simon Kreuz, the company was born from their own firsthand frustrations with the complexities of shipping while trying to launch an online store. They pivoted to solve that problem for everyone, creating a platform that gives every merchant access to the best-in-class tools and technology once reserved for retail giants.
Many people ask, how does shippo work? It acts as a central hub for all your shipping operations. Through a single dashboard and API, Shippo connects you to a global network of shipping carriers. This means you can manage orders from multiple stores, compare rates, print labels, track shipments, and handle returns all in one place. Whether you’ve heard it called goshipo or even seen common misspellings like shippoi, it all refers to the same powerful platform.
Ultimately, what is shippo used for is streamlining the entire fulfillment process. From the moment an order is placed to the final shippo delivery, the platform automates and simplifies tasks that would otherwise consume hours of your time. If you’re wondering what is goshippo and how does goshippo work, it’s the same robust system trusted by over 300,000 businesses to power their shipping.
Getting Started: Your Shippo Account Setup
One of the most appealing aspects of Shippo is its accessibility. You can sign up for a free account in minutes and immediately start exploring its features. A common question is, can i use shippo for personal use? The answer is yes! While built for businesses, individuals can absolutely use shippo for personal use by manually creating an order to generate a shipping label.
For e-commerce sellers, the real power lies in its seamless connections. The platform boasts a wide range of shippo integrations with major e-commerce platforms and marketplaces. Setting up a shippo shopify or shippo woocommerce connection is straightforward, allowing your orders to sync automatically. Shippo also integrates with Amazon, eBay, Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce, and more. If your store isn’t directly supported, you can easily upload orders in bulk using a CSV file. The official shippo app and its integrations ensure that no matter where you sell, your orders flow into one unified dashboard.
To connect your store:
- Navigate to the “Stores” tab in your Shippo settings.
- Find and select your e-commerce platform.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to enter your store credentials and authorize the connection.
- Your orders will begin importing to the “Orders” page automatically.
The Core of Shippo Shipping: Creating Labels
Once your orders are in the system, the process of shipping with shippo is incredibly efficient. You can create a shippo shipping label for a single order, or process hundreds at once using the batch creation feature.
The workflow is simple:
- Select an Order: From the “Orders” page, select the order you want to fulfill.
- Verify Details: Confirm the recipient address and order items. Shippo automatically validates U.S. addresses to help prevent errors.
- Enter Package Information: Input the weight and dimensions for your shippo package. To save time, you can create package templates for your frequently used boxes and mailers.
- Compare Rates & Purchase: Shippo will display a list of available services and rates from various carriers. Choose the best option for your needs and click “Buy.”
- Print Your Label: After purchasing, you can immediately download and shippo print label. The platform supports standard 8.5×11 inch paper as well as 4×6 inch thermal labels.
For high-volume shippers, Shippo’s automation rules are a game-changer. You can set up rules to automatically apply specific package templates or carrier services based on criteria like item SKU, order weight, or shipping destination. If you’ve ever wondered how to auto select package size in bulk shippo, automation rules are the answer. This powerful feature, combined with other shippo features, significantly speeds up the fulfillment process.
Understanding Shippo Rates and Pricing
A key benefit of using Shippo is gaining access to deeply discounted shipping rates. Many users ask, how much does shippo cost? The platform itself has flexible plans, including a free Starter Plan, but the real savings come from postage. The shippo pricing model is designed to be scalable.
Shippo provides immediate access to its master accounts with major carriers, offering significant discounts without any volume requirements or negotiations. You can see highly competitive shippo rates for:
- Shippo USPS: Save up to 90% off retail rates.
- Shippo UPS: Enjoy substantial discounts on various services.
- Shippo FedEx: Access special services like FedEx Ground® Economy.
- DHL Express: Get great rates for international shipping.
When you create a shippo label, the platform instantly compares shippo shipping rates across these carriers in real-time, ensuring you always find the most cost-effective option. You can use the built-in shippo shipping calculator to get a quick shippo quote or shippo estimate for any potential shipment. The total shippo cost for a label is transparent, showing you exactly what you’ll pay before you purchase. The platform’s ability to display and compare shippo usps rates alongside other carriers is a major advantage for optimizing your shipping spend.
Mastering the Post-Purchase Experience with Shippo Tracking
Effective package tracking is crucial for customer satisfaction and reducing “Where is my order?” inquiries. Shippo excels in this area by centralizing and enhancing the tracking experience. When you create a label, a shippo tracking number is generated and automatically sent back to your e-commerce store, which then notifies your customer.
The platform offers a suite of powerful shippo tracking tools:
- Centralized Dashboard: Track all your shipments, regardless of the carrier, from the “Shipments” page in your Shippo account. You can see the latest shippo tracking status at a glance.
- Standardized Notifications: Shippo standardizes tracking events across all carriers, providing a consistent and easy-to-understand history for you and your customers. This is essential for platforms that need integrated carriers tracking.
- Automated Email Alerts: Configure Shippo to automatically send branded email notifications to your customers when their package is shipped and when it’s delivered.
- Branded Tracking Pages: With a Pro Plan, you can direct customers to a custom-branded tracking page instead of the carrier’s site. This creates a seamless brand experience and offers opportunities for upselling with product recommendations and promotions.
- Shippo Tracking API: For ultimate customization, the shippo tracking api allows developers to integrate real-time tracking data directly into their own websites or applications.
To track shippo packages, simply navigate to your Shipments page. For customers wanting to go shippo tracking, the link in their notification email will take them to the right place. The detailed shippo usps tracking and updates from other carriers are all funneled into this single, cohesive system. Many users want to know how to track shippo package shipments, and the platform makes it intuitive for both the merchant and the end customer.
Advanced Features to Scale Your Business
Beyond the basics of labels and tracking, Shippo offers a range of advanced features designed to support growing businesses.
Shippo International Shipping
Does shippo ship internationally? Absolutely. The platform simplifies the complexities of cross-border e-commerce by automatically generating the necessary customs forms and commercial invoices based on your order’s item details. Shippo supports Paperless Trade with carriers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL Express, which electronically transmits customs documentation to save you time and paper. You can easily manage incoterms like DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) and DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to decide who pays for customs fees.
Shippo Returns Management Features
A smooth returns process builds customer loyalty. Shippo offers robust shippo returns management features, allowing you to create a shippo return label in three flexible ways:
- With the Outbound Label: Generate a return label at the same time as the outbound shipping label.
- On-Demand: Create a return label later from the original order or shipment details.
- Automated: Set up a rule to automatically create a scan-based return label for every outbound shipment. These “pay-on-use” labels are a fantastic feature, as you are only charged if the customer actually uses the label to send the item back.
Shipping Insurance
Protect your shipments against loss, theft, or damage with Shippo Total Protection, powered by XCover. This affordable insurance can be added to any order and often provides more comprehensive coverage (including for “porch piracy”) at a lower cost than carrier-provided insurance. You can even set rules to automatically insure all shipments over a certain value.
It’s important to note what is not supported. For instance, regarding shippo media mail, the USPS technology used by Shippo does not currently support this service level. For a unique need like shippo tred, which may refer to a specific logistical requirement, you can explore the platform’s extensive carrier service options or contact support for guidance.
Getting Help: Shippo Customer Service & Troubleshooting
Even with the most intuitive platform, questions and issues can arise. Shippo provides comprehensive support through its extensive Help Center, which is filled with detailed guides and troubleshooting articles.
If you need direct assistance, the primary way to contact shippo customer service is by submitting a request through the specialized forms in their Help Center. This ensures your query is routed to the right team for the most efficient response. So, how do i contact shippo customer service? The answer is to navigate to their support portal and select the form that best matches your issue, whether it’s related to billing, labels, or a specific integration. This method applies whether you’re looking for general shippo customer support or specific goshippo customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shippo and how does it work?
What is shippo and how does it work is a common question. Shippo is a multi-carrier e-commerce shipping platform that connects to your online stores and allows you to compare rates, print shipping labels, track packages, and manage returns from a single dashboard. It simplifies and automates the entire shipping process.
Is Shippo free?
Is shippo free to start? Yes, Shippo offers a free Starter Plan. This plan allows you to access discounted carrier rates and core features. You only pay for the postage you purchase and any optional add-ons like insurance.
Does Shippo have a monthly fee?
Does shippo have a monthly fee depends on your plan. The Starter Plan has no monthly fee. For businesses with higher shipping volumes or those needing advanced features like branded tracking pages and phone support, Shippo offers paid monthly subscription plans (Pro and Premier) tailored to different shipping volumes.
How much does Shippo cost?
The cost of using Shippo depends on your plan and shipping volume. On the free Starter Plan, you only pay for the cost of your shipping labels. For Pro and Premier plans, there is a monthly subscription fee in addition to postage costs.
is shippo legit?
Yes, is shippo legit is a question many ask when first discovering the service. It is a well-established and trusted company used by over 300,000 businesses. It has strong partnerships with major carriers and e-commerce platforms worldwide.
Is Shippo worth it?
For most e-commerce businesses, the answer to “is shippo worth it” is a resounding yes. The time saved through automation and the money saved via discounted shipping rates often far outweigh any potential subscription costs. The ability to manage all shipping activities in one place is a significant operational advantage.
Can I use Shippo for personal use?
Yes, you can use Shippo for personal shipping needs. Simply create an account and use the “Create Label” function to manually enter address details and purchase a label.
Who does Shippo ship with?
Who does shippo ship with is a long list! Shippo integrates with a global network of dozens of carriers, including major players like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL Express, as well as regional and international carriers such as Canada Post, Evri, and Australia Post.
What is Shippo shipping labels?
What is shippo shipping labels refers to the postage labels you can purchase and print through the Shippo platform. These labels are official and scannable by carriers, containing all necessary information for transit, including addresses, postage paid, and a tracking barcode.
What is Shippo location 1 tracking?
If you see a status like “what is shippo location 1 tracking,” it typically refers to a carrier’s internal scanning terminology. “Location 1” often indicates the first major sorting facility or hub a package has reached after being picked up from the sender. It’s a standard part of the transit process, showing that your package is officially on its way.