A seller shipping lightweight sticker orders in regular envelopes seeks to reduce costs by using standard postage stamps instead of purchasing shipping labels through Shopify. They also want a simple way to print address labels without buying full shipping labels.
Current Limitations:
Carriers don’t offer API automation for prepaid stamps/envelopes
Neither Shopify Shipping nor third-party apps can provide this functionality
Shopify’s First Class Mail option costs significantly more (~$1.40) than a forever stamp (~$0.70)
Workarounds Mentioned:
Modify Shopify’s packing slip template to show only address information
Use label maker software (e.g., Brother P-Touch Editor) with saved templates, manually copying addresses and marking orders fulfilled
LetterTrack Pro prints trackable labels (with customer email notifications), though postage stamps must still be applied separately
Etsy offers stamp purchasing through Pitney Bowes integration, confirming the feature is technically possible
Status: No integrated Shopify solution exists. Multiple sellers express frustration with this limitation, with some continuing to use Etsy for stamp-shipped items.
Summarized with AI on October 30.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
I sell stickers and I’ve always shipped using first class, which ends up being $1-2. I ship my orders in a regular envelope that weighs about 2oz. I’ve been wanting to make shipping costs more affordable for myself by using regular stamps. My question is, can I purchase a regular stamp through Shopify or a Shopify app? And if not, what’s the easiest way to print out address labels (not shipping labels) for my orders?
I’ve downloaded and tested out so many address label apps and most of them seem so clunky and not worth the effort. Why can’t Shopify allow you to print out an address label without needing to purchase a shipping label???
Hey Mandilynnwrites. Not sure if this is the solution you’re after (and it is a third-party solution which may not be ideal), but in Starshipit you can use Australia Post Postage Paid, which is label which comes with a postage paid imprint. It is suitable if you send regular quantities of mail, or small items. Just a thought and obviously if I’m off base, no problem at all and I hope you find a solution!
Unfortunately, carriers do not offer API automation for prepaid envelopes/stamps. As a result, neither Shopify Shipping nor any other app can provide this functionality.
As an alternative, you can modify the packing slips template in Shopify by retaining only the necessary address information.
I use lettertrack pro which will print a label and give you tracking. The tracking information will be emailed to customers as long as you provide an email. Make sure you update your privacy policy to include letter track pro if you intend to use them. You will have to then use a regular stamp to pay for postage unfortunately. They give you 5 labels to try out. https://www.letter-track.com/registerap.asp?AFID=6017
I’m running into the same issue at the moment and can’t seem to find an answer. Shopify charges $1.40 for a “First Class Mail” where a forever stamp would be about half that cost. One thing we do in our shop when we want to use a stamp is to print the label directly through our label maker software (Brother - P-Touch Editor), where we have a template saved with our return address and just paste the customer’s address. It’s not integrated into Shopify so I have to make sure to manually click “fulfill” once I’m done. Not perfect, but does the trick.