Setting Up the SolidShip Shipping Tool

Josh Smith

May 16, 2022 22:19

This article explains how to configure your SolidShip settings so you can begin printing labels.

What we'll cover:

Before you Set Up SolidShip
Setting Up Your Shipping Options
Setting Up Your Printers
DAZzle Users: Setting Up Your Label Layouts
Connecting a USB Scale
Printing Test Labels
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Before You Set Up SolidShip

1) Establish a connection to your FedEx, UPS, Endicia, or Stamps.com accounts. See our Related Articles for instructions about each carrier.

NOTE: If you use Endicia DAZzle you must also:

Install DAZzle on your computer.
Save your label layouts in DAZzle. See the Customizing DAZzle Labels section of the Setting Up Endicia DAZzle to Print USPS Labels article for instructions.

2) Download and install the SolidShip Shipping Tool.

You can install SolidShip on as many computers as you like. We recommend installing and configuring it on one of your shipping stations before installing it on other computers. To install SolidShip, see Installing the SolidShip Shipping Tool.

Setting Up Your Shipping Options

1) Launch SolidShip from your Start menu.

2) In SolidShip, go to the Options menu--> Setup Shipping Options.

3) In the Setup Shipping Options pop-up, select the options you would like to use.

The most popular options are:

USPS Tracking: This will enable optional Delivery Confirmation services for USPS shipping methods that don't include tracking. You should enable this option so that we can send tracking information back to your marketplaces.
Endicia Stealth Postage Label: This option hides the cost of your USPS shipping labels for Endicia Label Server, DAZzle, and Stamps.com.

NOTE: DAZzle users must also enable this option on the Label Layouts directly in DAZzle. See Setting up Endicia DAZzle to Print USPS Labels for instructions.

Validate Address by Ship Processor: This feature verifies addresses through your carrier's own validation service as you ship them.

This functionality is especially helpful when printing FedEx labels. Suppose you specify that SolidShip should print a FedEx Ground label. If FedEx's address verification service determines that the address is a residence, we'll automatically print a FedEx Home Delivery label instead of a Ground label. If FedEx determines the address is a business, we will proceed with the Ground label.

NOTE: To use UPS's address verification service, you must ask your UPS representative to grant you verification permission through the Ship API. If address verification is not properly enabled in your UPS account, and you check the Validate Address by Ship Processor option in SolidShip, you will receive an "address classification is not allowed" error when you attempt to print labels.

Certified Mail, Registered Mail, and Restricted Delivery are only available for certain Shipping Methods. If you want to use one of these services, consult with your shipping carrier.

4) Click the Save button.

Setting_Up_The_Solid_Ship_Shipping_Tool_Common_Options.png

Setting Up Your Printers

1) In SolidShip, go to the Options menu--> Setup Printers.

2) For each shipping carrier, select the correct printer from the drop-down menu.

For Thermal Printers: Select EPL as the Label Format, unless you see ZPL in the printer name.
For Inkjet/Laser Printers: First select GIF as the Label Format. If you have trouble printing a test label, try PNG and JPG.

DAZzle Users: Setting Up Your Label Layouts

1) Save a Label Layout in DAZzle for each shipping method you use. For information on saving Label Layouts, and creating a Customs Form for international shipments, see Setting Up Endicia DAZzle to Print USPS Labels.

2) Once you have your Label Layouts, and Customs Form saved, in SolidShip, go to the Options menu -> Setup Label Layouts.

3) For each service you use, click the Browse button and locate the Label Layout you saved in DAZzle.

Most people find the DAZzle Label Layouts in their Public Documents folder: Computer -> C-Drive -> Users -> Public -> Public Documents -> Endicia -> DAZzle.

4) Browse for your saved Customs Form.

5) Check the Override Customs Form items details box.

By default, the Set item description template field is populated with: <product:title/>. This tag instructs Solid Commerce to insert the title of each product onto your customs form.
If you want a generic description to appear on your customs form, instead of the specific product names, type in your own description. For example, enter "Shoes" or "Accessories." Your generic description will be used for every product. Please be aware of customs' rules and regulations when typing in a generic description.

6) Click the Save button.

Connecting a USB Scale

SolidShip can automatically read weights from a USB scale. For full instructions, see Connecting & Using a USB Scale With the SolidShip Shipping Tool.

Printing Test Labels

Print one test label for each carrier to ensure you're properly connected, and to make sure the labels are printing correctly.

1) In SolidShip, check the Test Ship box.

2) To test USPS labels:

Check the Override shipping provider, use box and choose USPS.
Check the Override shipping method, use box. Select a shipping method from the drop-down menu.
Check the Override package type, use box. Select USPS Package (Rectangular), or a flat rate option, from the drop-down menu.

NOTE: If you have created multiple USPS Profiles, you may want to print a test label for each one. Check the Override Shipping Profile box to select a Shipping Profile.

Setting_Up_The_Solid_Ship_Shipping_Override_Options_for_USPS_Testing.png

3) To test UPS and FedEx labels:

Check the Override shipping provider, use box and choose UPS or FedEx.
Check the Override shipping method, use box. Select a shipping method from the drop-down menu.
Check the Override package type, use box. Select Custom Packaging from the drop-down menu.

NOTE: All UPS and FedEx labels are live. Even if you select the Test Ship check box, the charges for the labels will appear in your UPS or FedEx account. However, you will only pay for labels that are scanned by UPS or FedEx. If the labels are not scanned before the expiration date, the charges will disappear from your UPS or FedEx account.

Setting_Up_The_Solid_Ship_Shipping_Override_Options_for_FedEx_Testing.png

4) In Solid Commerce, go to the Orders menu -> Manage Orders. Find an order you would like to test ship.

5) Back in SolidShip, enter the Market Order Number, SC Sale ID, or SKU.

Make sure the drop-down menu on the upper left-hand side of SolidShip is set to the proper order identifier (Market Order Number, SC Sale ID, or SKU).

6) Click the Test Ship button.

5) If you have created Shipping Rules in Solid Commerce to automate your label printing, you can test the rules to make sure they generate the correct labels. Uncheck all of the Override options and click the Test Ship button.

If your rules specify weight ranges for various shipping methods (such as 1 to 13 ounces for USPS First Class Parcel shipments), enable the Override total weight option, and manually enter weights as you test print. This allows you to verify that the correct labels print based on the shipment's weight.