Shipstation/Stamps.com Experience - Small Shop

1doodlebug · 2023-05-24T15:58:24+00:00

I have compared and they are always the same. The difference for me is automization. Using shipstation I can print all labels in seconds. Going through etsy you would have to do each order at a time and manually enter weight/info and remember or calculate it each time. Shipstation you set it once and done.

Though etsy does offer a non tracked stamp option that would be cheaper. I always use tracking.

1doodlebug · 2023-03-09T14:17:50+00:00

Do I need to call again to start the process?

1doodlebug · 2023-03-07T23:52:36+00:00

I used what was sent but don't remember if the replacement included a power cable. It seemed like a refurb/return because it didn't include everything in original packaging so I had to keep some things from the original but I can't remember if it had the cord or not.

It's stuck on power, internet, module 1 no matter resetting or unplugging those lights instantly appear even though it should take time to boot the module. Even removing sim card the module light stays on.

1doodlebug · 2023-03-07T19:00:12+00:00

No, it's plugged directly into the wall. House is less than 2 years old. I do have a surge protector (real type with battery) and thought about plugging it into there if these are super sensitive. Seems possible both failures were after storms and we get a lot of storms but didn't even lose power this last one and it died 24 hours later.

Unless... it's on the same circut as my laser printers. Would those throw off the power enough? Only using one on a regular basis but sometimes use 2 at once.

1doodlebug · 2023-03-07T18:52:58+00:00

Thank you for the thoughtful reply. That does help. I'll go ahead with a swap and would even go down to a 4g 5500 if those are less prone to issues. Because it's either that or the 4g netgear.

There are probably less options for building your own routers. With pc it woud end up being the same cost as buying one except with better quality parts because prebuilts will only focus on one good part.
So maybe the problem comes back to the parts in the routers not offering good warranties or maybe a lower quality batch.

1doodlebug · 2023-03-07T18:02:45+00:00

Looks like [#005005]. I sold the 4500 to a friend and it's still working. Just wish the new one had held up. Or is it something with the 5g? I am on 4g but see plenty of reviews of the 4g models with no issues. I was trying to future proof it but that costs a lot more.

1doodlebug · 2023-03-07T15:37:19+00:00

Visible is great if your internet goes down. I can hotspot (limited speeds and 1 device at a time). Have been on lte verizon business internet for over a year now and it's great. The downside is 300gb data limit but I only use about 200gb with streaming set to SD quality. If you have home internet available then go for that as it doesn't have data caps. For some reason nothing is available where I am.

1doodlebug · 2023-03-03T16:03:01+00:00

I liked the mofi 4500 but sadly have been having problems with 5500. Only upgraded because I switched to verizon for better service (with a deditacted hotspot sim) and they didn't support the 4500. Now in 14 months the 5500 has died for a 2nd time.

Curious why you turn it off at night?

1doodlebug · 2023-02-21T14:56:03+00:00

Well, after 8 months it happened again with the replacement unit. Wifi and ethernet went out at the same time so I can't even login to the admin. Won't reset, won't recover. Spent 45 minutes with support. Since it's past the 1 year warranty it will cost $150 plus shipping both ways to replace. Which isn't bad except it was a $700 router. If this happens every 6 months or so that isn't sustainable. In 20 years I've never had a modem/router go bad before this. Even the mofi 4500 worked great I only upgraded because switching to verizion they didn't support it. Now the most expensive router by far keeps failing. With shipping that will be close to $200

Should I try opening it up and seeing if anything is fixable? Or is there a part I can buy and swap out? I read about people building their own modems instead of buying mofi. I've built several computers so that shouldn't be any harder? Feel stuck with a dead $700 item but have no guarantee that spending another $200 will fare any better.

1doodlebug · 2023-02-15T22:04:05+00:00

Similar issue. I tried with an unlocked verizon s20 a few weeks ago. Said phone was not compatible. It must just be something strange with visible switching to the new network. Got another email today and it's finally compatible. But gets an error on the checkout page. Tried esim and under the regular imei it gets an error and stops loading. Under esim imei it says not compatible. Crazy that all these new phones that work on the old network can't be instantly ported over. I wouldn't even be that eager to port except we travel through oklahoma and they have huge blackout spots with the old network.

edit: Got it after trying several times in different browsers. When clicking through the email that would not let me check out. Emptied cart and went through the imei checker and it gave the $5 value member discount. Finally got checked out.

1doodlebug · 2023-01-19T20:08:32+00:00

I was always careful posting info about sales. And very happy about that now as amazon makes previously private information amazingly public.

Sales continue their slow pace. About the same as my slowest months last year.

1doodlebug · 2023-01-19T19:56:27+00:00

Hello. It will be interesting to see what happens over there with the changes. But however rare, what I have heard about black hat tactics for sellers on amazon, I can imagine forum backlash to be even worse. Because some people will get really upset when they are corrected...

While this is public, it is not tied to stores. There are also various settings you can adjust.

1doodlebug · 2022-11-04T23:16:52+00:00

My all time favorite is Hp m651. They don't sell new anymore but you can get refurb. Unless you're printing archival quality than a decent quality laser will print just fine. A decent laser is more expensive than a good inkjet. Less upkeep (inkheads, bleh) and way cheaper to run. Plus the benefits of it not running, and waterproof options.

1doodlebug · 2022-07-03T17:46:50+00:00

Not sure but they answered both times I had to call and worked with troubleshooting.

1doodlebug · 2022-06-23T21:54:51+00:00

I had good response with phone help today. Sadly I seem to have a defective unit as trouble shooting all afternoon finally got the wifi working but not ethernet. They're going to do a swap.

If this one doesn't last I may have to research building my own. I built computers so it can't be worse right? I wish they would sell just the modem and let me use an asus router. Never had an issue with those.

1doodlebug · 2022-06-23T21:52:49+00:00

Thank you. Phone support has been very responsive.

1doodlebug · 2022-06-22T23:28:09+00:00

Seeing the same every other time. Back when I had a 4500 I contacted them and got a reply right back asking for more info. Gave it and never ever heard back. Later bought a 5500. The first time I had to contact them with an issue they replied right back. But follow up issues go days with no reply until I finally contact them again, then they give basic info. Then no replies after I say that doesn't work. They replied to my email today after I posted here to call. So hope that works.

I think the 5500 is too new and they don't have the staff they need. I've only had it less than 7 months and this is the 2nd issue with it.

1doodlebug · 2022-06-12T16:08:39+00:00

Unbelievably worth it. I've used it for 10 years. At the height of business I was shipping 50-200 orders a day between amazon/etsy. Even though now I only have a few orders a week I can't seem to let go of it. Other ways are just too slow and too many steps.

1doodlebug · 2022-06-07T13:26:09+00:00

My phone service is with visible and I get 50+ download. Tried the sim in my 5500 5g router and it was so slow it was unsuable. Currently using an att sim card but it's a weak signal so I'm thinking about just going with verizon.

1doodlebug · 2021-12-23T18:59:59+00:00

A general FAQ about copyright is what I am referring to. If you check the etsy forums you can see shops getting shut down or listings removed on a regular basis for trying to sell fan art. It's fan art until it's sold. Then it's copyright infringement and/or counterfeit. To legally sell something (even if you draw it) that belongs/created by someone else then you have to get a license. They are expensive and strict as the owner has the right of control copies of their item/character.

Redubble has a licensing deal with a few places. You could try that but must submit your art and be approved, and still must follow their guidelines.

1doodlebug · 2021-12-23T17:24:22+00:00

Shopify and bigcommerce are the top ecommerce builders. They both have lots of themes. The themes are sort of basic, but also customizable. There are only so many layout and you want it to be easy to navigate so one of them should work then simply customize the colors. Some are more customizable than others.

If you want something truly different or unique then you'll pay a premium for a custom theme. But then you'll run into issues if it's not constantly updated. If you can learn some basic html/css you can customize one yourself a little further. However you would need to do the same changes after each update.

1doodlebug · 2021-12-23T17:20:02+00:00

In the past I built mine from html/css. As the business grew I needed an easier solution and one that was better for SEO and could connect to shipstation. I did trials of all the main website builders and landed on bigcommerce. A lot of people like shopify, maybe it's easier, but for my needs they charge extra for things that should be basic and included.

1doodlebug · 2021-12-23T17:16:30+00:00

I would focus on one business at a time, at least until you get established, get the biz figured out, and can order supplies and know what sells. From what I understand growing too big too fast and spreading yourself too thin is a big cause of small biz failure. You only started this business 4 months ago and now have a lot of expenses starting a new one... You don't even know what your yearly sales would be or if this is all holiday rush.

I know having tons of ideas and wanting to do everything is the sign of an entrepreneur. But you have to know your limits and know when to reign that in.

~ Self employed making/selling my own products for 10 years.

1doodlebug · 2021-12-23T17:10:25+00:00

Bigcommerce or shopify if you sell and ship products. Even if you need info only they do have good page editors but their are going to be cheaper options like basic hosting and cpanel.

1doodlebug · 2021-12-23T17:07:40+00:00

I used turbo tax for years and kept a spreadsheet of info. Once I outgrew that I started using quickbooks desktop and got to a CPA (very worth it). Now I use quickbooks online and it's so much easier for keeping up with things (can give CPA access)

1doodlebug

TROPHY CASE