Where do you get your shipping labels? (Panicking and really need some help here!)

by | Jan 27, 2010 | Announcements, News, Contests and Giveaways, Ranting, Whining and Yelling at the Sky | 8 comments

Readers, I could really use your help right now. Kinda really freaking out right now.

Many years ago, when my business was new, I ordered shipping labels. I ordered WAY too many of them. As such, I have been working off that very same order for going on 10+ years.

About 6 months ago, I finally used the last of those labels and realized I had no idea where to get more. I started ordering labels in small batches from a bunch of different stores trying to find one I liked before committing to a big order.

I cannot find any label that

  1. isn’t so thin it won’t tear when I pull it off the backing 
  2. will stay stuck to the freaking package!!!!

The latest batch is so God-Awful, I just got back from the post office where three packages of mine were sitting with no labels on them, the labels had fallen off in transit. If the post office actually caught these three packages by some miracle, you know there are probably many more where those came from that they didn’t catch. I am freaking out because I have no idea how big a catastrophe this is. I have visions of every package I mailed out recently getting lost in space.

I need to turn to you for some help here. Where do you get your shipping labels? I really need a brand/store I can trust and I need to place an order ASAP because I don’t trust the current labels I have worth a damn so I’m afraid to mail anything. If you don’t feel comfortable posting publicly who you order your shipping labels from, please either email me or Direct Message me on Twitter (@hillarydepiano). I know some people jealously guard their suppliers but I am in a hell of a pinch here and hope somebody can help me out.

Here is what I absolutely require of my shipping labels:

  • They have good enough stickiness that they will not come off the package in transit
  • They are strong enough to not tear in normal use (shipping, tearing off of backing, etc)
  • They will work with my laser printer

I need the good old fashion 8.5 in by 11 in, 2 labels a sheet self-stick labels that seem to be the most common one that everyone uses. That is why it floors me it’s so hard to get good ones.

Other features that would be nice but are not deal breakers

  • labels have an edge for easier peeling
  • backing is a different color than label

Can anyone please help me out here?

8 Comments

  1. russ

    Input address into Word pad doc, print 81/2x 11, cut to length,
    and clear tape. same with paypal and ups labels.

    Not pretty, but easy, and it works.

    Reply
  2. Hillary

    I appreciate the idea but I really need the time saving of self-stick.

    Reply
  3. huper

    UPS and Fedex have free labels. UPS are 2 up I use the Fedex one and print a label and packing slip on the same paper. I originally ordered the Fedex lables from someone who was SELLING them off ebay-it was annoying to pay for them and then find out the person had gotten them free from Fedex and was PROFITING on them but they work great-been using 5+ years. UPS will have the 2 up labels. Either one will send them FREE if you have a account-hope this helps you.

    Reply
  4. John

    Hillary,

    I use two sources for shipping labels. Been using both for 3+ years and never had any problem. Both ship via UPS. The one I use most frequently is Planet Label – planetlabel.com and the other is off ebay, user id threerb – I also get sturdy mailers from this ebay seller.

    I always add a strip of tape across the center of the label. This was recommended to me by the post office.

    I hope this helps!

    John

    Reply
  5. Hillary

    Thank you very much for your answers, everyone! I have orders in a few places now, we'll see which ones work out!

    Reply
  6. Hillary

    Thank you very much for your answers, everyone! I have orders in a few places now, we’ll see which ones work out!

    Reply
  7. Lauren @ Hobo Mama

    We really like Online Labels http://www.onlinelabels.com/

    They have the size you’re talking about, good quality, peel off easily, never had them fall off a package and we’ve done weird uneven bubble envelopes at times. We buy in bulk for the cost savings. You get a very occasional coupon with them if you give them your email address (and they’re light on other emails, which is nice).

    If you’ve already used and dismissed them, please disregard, but we like ’em! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  8. NICK

    dhl.com has great labels and also have a laminate sheet you can order for extra support but they work fine without them too dhl ups fedex those work great and the usps are okay wouldnt be my first choice but fairly easy to order

    Reply

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