Get ready for everything selling and shipping during the holiday shipping season. Here's how to prepare, buy and print labels efficiently, and fix the most common issues that come up along the way.
Know your shipping deadlines
Check Holiday Shipping Deadlines: USPS, FedEx, UPS (2025) for deadlines by service level. Keep in mind your packages need to be with the carrier, not just labeled, by the stated deadline for delivery before the holidays.
Connect your store and create labels
Connect your e-commerce store to Shippo to import your customer orders automatically. When you're ready to ship, click Create Label on that order.
If you need a label for something that didn't come from a connected store, use the Create Label button at the top right of your Orders page.
Find shipping rates
Test out rates with our USPS Shipping Calculator, or on your Orders page directly. As long as you don't click Buy, you won't be charged.
Print labels in bulk
Printing labels in bulk speeds up fulfillment. You can purchase labels in bulk and print them all at once, or purchase them individually and print them together later.
Import orders with a CSV
If you'd rather import and create batches of shipping labels outside of a connected store, you can upload your orders with a CSV.
Customize your package and label settings
Set default units of measurement and create package templates to speed up label creation. You can also configure print preferences, add text to labels, set default service levels, and adjust return label settings to match how your business ships.
Schedule a package pickup
During peak season, you're likely shipping more packages each day than usual. Save time by scheduling a package pickup directly in Shippo instead of dropping off.
Print an end-of-day shipping manifest
Shipping a high volume of orders may mean your carrier requires an end-of-day manifest. Just remember: you need to manifest on the same calendar date you create your shipping labels.
Handle customs declarations for international orders
Shipping internationally this season? We automatically create a customs declaration for orders with international addresses, so you don't have to fill one out manually.
Fix a mistake on your label
If you made a mistake on an address, package size, weight, or need to add insurance, you can refund the label. We can't edit an existing label because most changes affect the rate, but we'll refund any label you won't use so you can create a new one.
After you request a refund:
- Go to your Orders page.
- Click the dropdown arrow next to the order and select Create Another Label.
- Follow the same purchase process as before.
If all you need to change is the label size or format, skip the refund. Just update the format on the Label Settings page and download the label again.
Common error messages and how to fix them
Missing phone number
Phone numbers are required for all addresses (sender, return, and recipient) on international shipments, and for domestic shipments with some carriers. Add a phone number to the address the error references. If the error mentions "from address" or "shipper address," that's your own address. If it mentions "to address" or "recipient," that's the address you're shipping to.
Examples of this error:
- UPS label service error: Severity: Hard, code: 120109, detail: Missing or invalid Shipper phone number
- FedEx: ERROR: RequestedShipment Recipient contact - phoneNumber is required
- Missing value for From Phone
No rates found
This usually means there's an issue with one of your addresses. Check the following:
- Name field is empty. Click Edit next to each address to check. You don't need to use your personal name here. Moving your company name from the Company field into the Name field will fix it.
- Zip/postal code. Click Edit next to each address and check for the letter "O" used instead of the number "0," confirm the zip code field has a valid zip (not a state or country), and confirm the zip matches the city, state, and country.
- Excess weight or dimensions. Your package's weight or size might exceed carrier limits, which vary by destination and service level.
- Carrier-provided parcel template. If you've selected a template for a carrier you don't have an account with, you won't get rates. Check that the template matches a carrier account you have, or enter your own dimensions.
- Invalid email address. Click Edit next to each address and confirm the email is complete, including the @ symbol and a valid domain like .com or .net.
Billing errors
If you see a View Error button instead of your usual label download, or a billing/suspension pop-up, here's what it means:
- "We haven't been able to charge your last invoice." Go to the Shippo Billing tab, update your payment method, and click Re-attempt charge next to the invoice. Once the payment succeeds, you can purchase labels again.
- "Your account needs a valid payment method on file." Either your payment method isn't saved, or your label purchase was blocked due to unusual activity. See our guide on resolving blocked accounts for next steps.
- "Your account has been suspended." Your account was blocked from label purchases due to unusual activity. See our guide on resolving blocked accounts for next steps.
Understand pre-authorization charges
When you add a new credit card to your account, we place a $1 pre-authorization hold to confirm the payment method is valid. This charge is reversed immediately, though it can take a few business days to show up as refunded in your bank account.
Need help?
If you still have questions about billing, check our billing FAQ, or reach out to our support team here.