EasyPost

What Is EasyPost?

EasyPost is a shipping API platform that connects your Ecommerce dashboard directly to major shipping carriers. Instead of logging into separate carrier websites to compare rates, print labels, and track packages, EasyPost brings everything into one place inside your Ecommerce system.

What Can You Do with EasyPost?

• Buy discounted postage directly from your Ecommerce dashboard
• Compare shipping rates across multiple carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and more) in real time
• Print shipping labels in PNG, PDF, ZPL, or EPL2 format — compatible with standard and thermal printers
• Track packages with automatic tracking codes and public tracking URLs for your customers
• Verify addresses to reduce failed deliveries and return-to-sender situations
• Add shipping insurance to protect high-value parts and accessories
• Ship internationally with built-in customs form support
• Offer calculated shipping at checkout so your webstore customers see real carrier rates based on their location and order weight

Why Use It?

If your dealership sells parts, accessories, or gear through your Ecommerce webstore or processes phone/counter orders that need to be shipped, EasyPost eliminates the need to juggle multiple carrier accounts and websites. You get rate shopping, label printing, and tracking all from within the tools you already use every day.

Create EasyPost Account and Configure Settings

1️⃣ From your dashboard, click Shipments

2️⃣ You will land on the main settings page. Click the link to configure your “Shipping Settings."

On the shipping configuration page, you will see a prompt that says "Sign up for an EasyPost account here." Click that link. It will take you to the EasyPost website where you can create a new account with your email and a password.

Once you have created your account, EasyPost will show you a brief onboarding guide. Spend about 5 minutes reviewing the basics — it will help you understand what is available. You do not need to configure anything complicated on the EasyPost side; most of the work happens in Ecommerce.

3️⃣ Create a new account. Once you generate a login and password you will be taken to the EasyPost dashboard, a very helpful start-up guide and set-up checklist to show you where everything is.

4️⃣

1. Log into your EasyPost Dashboard at easypost.com.
2. Click your email address in the top-left corner of the EasyPost dashboard.
3. Select "API Keys" from the dropdown menu.
4. Find the Production API Key section.
5. Click "Reveal" to show the key, then copy the entire key value.

Important: You must use the Production API key, not the Test key. The Test key will not return real carrier rates or allow you to purchase actual postage. Carrier account retrieval also requires a Production key.

5️⃣ You will be copying this Production API Key and pasting it into the settings for the Ecommerce Configuration. Click Show then Copy.

6️⃣ Proceed back to the Ecommerce Configuration Shipments Settings and paste the API Key

Note: If you change your API key later, Ecommerce will automatically clear your saved origin address since it is linked to the previous EasyPost account. You will need to re-enter your origin address after updating the key.

7️⃣

Set Your Shipping Origin Address

On the same Shipping settings page, fill in the Shipping Origin Address section. This is the address your packages ship from.

Click Save. Ecommerce will validate and register this address with EasyPost automatically. You can update this address later from Settings > Shipping.

Configuring Carriers

How Carriers Work with EasyPost

By default, EasyPost provides access to USPS rates without any additional carrier setup. If you want rates from UPS, FedEx, DHL, or other carriers, you need to add those carrier accounts through your EasyPost dashboard first.

Adding Carrier Accounts in EasyPost

1. Log into your EasyPost Dashboard.
2. Navigate to Carrier Accounts in the EasyPost settings.
3. Click Add Carrier Account and select the carrier you want (e.g., UPS, FedEx, DHL Express).
4. Enter your carrier account credentials (account number, meter number, etc.). If you have negotiated rates with that carrier, enter the account details associated with those rates.
5. Save the carrier account in EasyPost.

Once added in EasyPost, the carrier will automatically become available in the Ecommerce platform. There is no additional configuration needed on the Ecommerce side — the platform pulls the list of available carriers directly from your EasyPost account.

Supported Carriers

EasyPost supports a wide range of carriers. The most common ones used by powersports dealerships include:

• USPS — Best for lightweight parts, accessories, and apparel
• UPS — Great for heavier items and ground shipping
• FedEx — Good for express and time-sensitive shipments
• DHL Express — Useful for international shipments

Other supported carriers include DPD UK, Purolator, Royal Mail, StarTrack, LaserShip, OnTrac, and more.

Filtering Carriers by Country (Webstore Shipping Rules)

If your webstore ships internationally, you can control which carriers are available for specific countries:

1. In the Ecommerce admin, go to your Webstore Shipping Rules settings.
2. Select a country you ship to.
3. Choose which carrier accounts should be available for that country.

This is useful if, for example, you only want to show USPS and DHL options for Canadian orders, or restrict certain carriers for overseas destinations.

How It Works

Rate Shopping

When you create a shipment for an order in Ecommerce, here is what happens behind the scenes:

1. Ecommerce sends the package details (weight, dimensions, or predefined package type), origin address, and destination address to EasyPost.
2. EasyPost queries all of your enabled carrier accounts and returns available shipping rates.
3. You see a list of options showing the carrier, service level (e.g., Priority, Ground, Express), price, and estimated delivery time.
4. You pick the rate that best fits your needs.

Calculated shipping at checkout: If you have enabled calculated shipping for your webstore, this same process happens automatically when a customer enters their shipping address during checkout. They see real-time rates from your configured carriers and choose the one they want.

Weight padding: Ecommerce allows you to configure a weight padding percentage in your shipping settings. This adds a buffer to the total package weight before fetching rates, which accounts for packaging materials. For example, a 10% weight padding on a 20 oz order would request rates for 22 oz.

Predefined Package Types

Instead of entering custom dimensions for every shipment, you can select a predefined package type from the carrier. This tells the carrier the exact box or envelope you are using, which can affect pricing. Common predefined packages include:

Label Generation

Once you select a rate and purchase postage:

1. Ecommerce sends the purchase request to EasyPost with your chosen rate.
2. EasyPost purchases the postage and generates the shipping label.
3. The label is returned to Ecommerce and linked to the shipment package.
4. You can download or print the label directly from the order.

Labels are available in multiple formats:

• PNG (default) — Standard image format, works with any printer
• PDF — Clean format for printing, good for standard printers
• ZPL — For Zebra thermal label printers
• EPL2 — For older thermal label printers

Tracking

When postage is purchased, EasyPost automatically generates:

• A tracking code from the carrier (e.g., a USPS or UPS tracking number)
• A public tracking URL that you or your customer can use to check delivery status
• A tracking status (e.g., pre-transit, in transit, delivered)

The tracking code and URL are saved on the shipment package record in Ecommerce. You can share the tracking URL with your customer so they can follow their package.

Shipping Insurance

When creating a shipment, you can specify an insurance amount to protect the package. This is especially useful for high-value parts or accessories. The insurance amount is sent to EasyPost when purchasing the rate, and the coverage details are stored on the shipment record.

International Shipping and Customs

For international orders, Ecommerce supports full customs declaration through EasyPost. When shipping outside your country, you can provide:

• Contents type (merchandise, gift, documents, returned goods, sample, or other)
• EEL/PFC code for U.S. export compliance (e.g., NOEEI 30.37(a)     for goods under $2,500 USD)
• Customs items with descriptions, quantities, weights, values, origin countries, and HS tariff numbers
• Non-delivery option (return to sender or abandon)
• Customs certification with signer name

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to pay for an EasyPost account?

EasyPost charges per label purchased, not for having an account. Signing up is free. You pay only when you buy postage. Check easypost.com/pricing for current per-label fees.

Q: Can I use my existing UPS or FedEx account with negotiated rates?

Yes. Add your carrier account credentials in the EasyPost dashboard. Once connected, EasyPost will return your negotiated rates when you shop for shipping in Ecommerce.

Q: Why am I not seeing rates from UPS or FedEx?

You need to add those carrier accounts in your EasyPost dashboard first. By default, only USPS rates may be available. Go to EasyPost > Carrier Accounts and add UPS, FedEx, or any other carrier you want to use.

Q: What happens if I change my EasyPost API key?

Ecommerce will automatically clear your saved shipping origin address because the address is registered with EasyPost and tied to the API key. You will need to re-enter your origin address after updating the key.

Q: Can my webstore customers see live shipping rates at checkout?

Yes, if you have enabled calculated shipping in your shipping settings. Customers will see real-time rates from your configured carriers based on their address and the weight of their order. You can also set up price-banded shipping as a simpler alternative (flat rates based on order total and destination country).

Q: What label format should I use?

Use PNG or PDF if you have a standard inkjet or laser printer. Use ZPL if you have a Zebra thermal label printer (most common for high-volume shipping). Use EPL2 if you have an older-model thermal printer that requires EPL2 format.

Q: Can I ship internationally through Ecommerce?

Yes. When creating a shipment to an international destination, Ecommerce will prompt you for customs information. You need to provide item descriptions, values, and quantities. EasyPost handles the customs forms with the carrier.

Q: How does the weight padding setting work?

Weight padding adds a percentage buffer to the total package weight before requesting rates. This accounts for packaging materials (boxes, bubble wrap, packing peanuts). For example, if you set padding to 15% and the product weight is 32 oz, Ecommerce will request rates for 36.8 oz.

Q: Can I filter which carriers show up for certain countries?

Yes. In the webstore shipping rules, you can assign specific carrier accounts to specific countries. For example, you might allow only USPS and DHL for international orders while offering UPS and FedEx for domestic orders.

Q: Where do I find tracking information after purchasing a label?

Tracking details are stored on the shipment package record in Ecommerce. Each purchased shipment includes a tracking code, tracking URL, carrier name, and service level. You can find these by viewing the shipment details for any order.

Troubleshooting