Some parts of selling online can feel like “busy work” that takes time and isn’t very fun. For many of us, buying postage is one of those chores. That’s why Bonanza empowers US-based sellers to buy and print USPS and FedEx shipping labels without ever leaving the site.
All you need is a standard computer printer to make postage-paid labels in minutes. Just pay for the postage inside Bonanza, print the USPS or FedEx-approved label, and affix it to your package.
We’ve designed it to be super fast, and super easy - we even mark the order as shipped and set the tracking number for you. So you can spend less time waiting in line at the post office and more time growing your business.
"OMG! I've never been so excited about postage!"
Where can I find the Bonanza postage-printing feature?
Do I need a special printer to print postage?
Do I get a discount on the postage price?
How can I get a Bonanza shipping fund?
What happens when my Bonanza shipping fund runs out?
Can I configure my shipping labels to be paid for by the buyer?
Can I buy international shipping labels?
What shipping services can I purchase through Bonanza?
Can I change the shipping address on the label?
What happens if I pay too much or too little for a shipping label?
Can I cancel a shipping label I've purchased via Bonanza?
Packing like a pro
Where can I find the Bonanza postage-printing feature?
When you view an order in "Items Sold," you’ll see the option as “Buy shipping.” It’s located right next to the links you already use to mark items as shipped. (Screen shot below)
The "Shipping to" information will automatically populate based on the shipping address provided by the buyer at checkout. You are able to edit the "Shipping from" address if necessary.
Fill in the remaining fields based on the package type (e.g, "thick envelope" or "package") for the shipping service you wish to use for the order fulfillment. Keep in mind that the package type selected will determine the available shipping options (for example, if you select "Envelope" as the package type and choose "First class mail" as the shipping service, tracking will not be available). Ensure that the information such as weight and package size are accurate to avoid additional postage fees.
Click the "Update rates" button once all the information is confirmed to view the available services and shipping costs prior to completing the purchase.
Do I need a special printer to print postage?
No - you can use any standard computer printer and plain paper. Print the label, put it in the upper-right corner of your parcel, then stick it on using packing tape or strong glue. Just make sure it's stuck on well enough that it won't scrape off or come loose during transit.
Do I get a discount on the postage price?
Yes. Thanks to a productive partnership with our postage provider, the rates offered are up to 15% below retail USPS pricing.
Are there any fees for printing postage on Bonanza?
With our upgraded shipping program, sellers enjoy no label fees in addition to the lowest USPS rates on the market and highly competitive FedEx rates. There's no reason not to purchase your shipping label directly from Bonanza!
Note that purchasing individual labels will result in a small credit card transaction fee per label purchase, however that can be avoided by using the Bonanza shipping fund to purchase labels.
How can I get a Bonanza shipping fund?
Nobody likes having to enter their credit card details for every label purchased. Fortunately, sellers can add lump sums to their Bonanza Shipping Fund. Then, when you purchase another label, we will automatically deduct from the shipping fund balance so you can quickly and easily purchase a label. When you purchase an individual shipping label, the final page of label purchase provides a checkbox to add cash to your Bonanza shipping fund.
If you end up not using the money in your shipping fund, you can have the balance of the account refunded to you at any time (less the credit card processing fees we paid) via your "Selling > Billing statements" page.
What happens when my Bonanza shipping fund runs out?
If you print postage often, you might enjoy our auto-funding service. When you turn on auto-funding, we’ll refill your shipping fund whenever the balance is low.
You can find the auto-funding option on your Bonanza Fees statement ("Selling -> Billing statements"). It looks like this:
You can turn off auto-funding at any time by revisiting the same page.
If you wish to withdraw funds that have been deposited to your pre-funded shipping account, visit your "Selling > Billing statements" page and in the top-right corner is a box detailing your shipping fund balance. Click the link to "Withdraw funds" to receive a refund of the shipping fund balance. Please allow 3-7 business days for the funds to appear in your account. Withdrawing funds that have been deposited to your pre-funded shipping account will incur an 8% credit card processing fee. The refundable amount will be displayed prior to you confirming your withdrawal request.
Can I configure my shipping labels to be paid for by the buyer?
Yes! If you use calculated shipping for your items, we offer the option to pass the cost of the shipping label on to the buyer. On our new item form, under the "Calculated Shipping" section, look for the checkbox "Let buyer select service and pay label cost." If you check this box, we will calculate the shipping cost during checkout such that the buyer pays you a sufficient amount to cover the cost of your shipping label.
Do note that since most Bonanza payments are handled by third parties such as Paypal and Amazon, you will still need to use a credit card to purchase your shipping label via Bonanza (since we do not have direct access to the funds that the buyer sent to you).
Can I buy international shipping labels?
At this time, sellers are not able to purchase international shipping labels. Fear not; this feature will be enabled soon! Keep an eye on our newsletter and blog for updates to site features.
What shipping services can I purchase through Bonanza?
At this time we support shipping via the United States Postal Service (USPS) and FedEx. When purchasing your shipping label, you will be able to select the shipping carrier when purchasing a label from the order summary.
Can I change the shipping address on the label?
A buyer's address cannot be edited once a purchase is complete. If the buyer requests that you ship the item to another address, we recommend canceling the order and having the buyer go through checkout again with the correct shipping address. Alternatively, you may wish to purchase a shipping label via a third-party provider, such as PayPal or the shipping provider directly (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc). We always recommend checking with the payment provider (PayPal, Amazon Payments, or Stripe) prior to changing the shipping address to ensure that you do not negate any protection eligibility.
What happens if I pay too much or too little for a shipping label?
Starting September 1, 2017, sellers who purchase shipping labels via Bonanza will participate in the new USPS system for Automated Package Verification ("APV"). In the event you pay too much or too little for a shipping label, the USPS will automatically issue an adjustment for the cost of the label which will be applied to your Bonanza account. The parcel will still be delivered to the buyer. Read more about the APV system.
Can I cancel a shipping label I've purchased via Bonanza?
If you need to cancel the shipping label you purchased via Bonanza, please contact our world-class support team with the order number so that we may assist you. Please note that Bonanza is unable to provide refunds for shipping labels that have been delivered to and processed by the USPS.
Packing like a pro
The process of packing and shipping is an unfortunate business reality (well, unless you’re selling digital goods).
There are a few things you need to consider when packaging up your item:
- Make sure you choose a box that is a cozy fit for your item. If you sell a leather wallet or a pair of sunglasses, it wouldn't make sense to use a box that would fit a guitar case or a 60-inch TV. On the other hand, you don't want your item to be squished into a box so tightly that it's impossible to remove or ends up damaging the item.
- Whether or not your item is breakable, it's usually a good idea to add some sort of insulation to your package, as it may get shaken up and tossed around in transit. If your item is fragile, you should take extra precautions like using bubble wrap and "Fragile" stickers to ensure its safety.
- Consider adding insurance to the package in the event that it is damaged in transit. You can also add a mandatory signature upon delivery to protect yourself from future liability once the package has been delivered.
- Follow shipping carrier regulations, such as USPS hazardous material requirements, to avoid disruption with delivery or additional fees.
Now shipping on Bonanza is a little faster and a lot easier. Give it a try, and see how much time you can save!