Pirate Ship was built to make turning spreadsheets into shipping labels super easy... but if you've got packages that are different weights and sizes, it may not be immediately obvious what you need to do.
Step-by-step instructions are below, but this video also shows how to do it:
Example address spreadsheet:
Click here to see an example spreadsheet containing orders with different weights and dimensions:
Step-by-step Instructions:
Things you can't specify in spreadsheets: First off, note that you currently can't specify different Package Types, Extra Services, or Customs Forms options in a spreadsheet... so all orders in your spreadsheet need to share those characteristics.
For example, if you're shipping differently-sized envelopes and boxes, you'd need a sheet for each package type.
Step 1: Prepare your spreadsheet
Creating columns for weight: If the weight of your packages will vary, you'll need a column for Weight in your spreadsheet.
You can enter the weight either in ounces or pounds, or you can have one column for each.
You can only use numbers, or numbers with decimals... so don't put "lbs" or "oz" or anything else in these fields.
Creating columns for dimensions: If the dimensions of your packages will vary, you'll need to add columns for Length, Width, and Height.
The values can only be numbers, or numbers with decimals... so don't put " symbols or "inches" or anything like that in there.
Here's a screenshot example of how to create columns for weight and dimensions:
Leaving fields blank: If you leave any of the weight or dimension fields blank for any of the orders, Pirate Ship will use the "Default" package details that you enter when you upload the spreadsheet.
Step 2: Upload your spreadsheet to Pirate Ship
Mapping your weight & dimension fields: When you upload your sheet, you'll need to map the weight & dimension fields to "Override" like this:
Step 3: Enter the "Default" package details:
In the next step, you'll be required to enter "Default" dimensions and weight. If any of the addresses in your spreadsheet didn't have a weight or size specified, this is what will be used.
If every address in your sheet has a weight or size specified, then what you enter as a "Default" doesn't matter, because it will be overridden by the values in your sheet.
So just fill in some gibberish if you need to... and trust us, the designer has been flogged:
Pro Tip: You can add insurance to your orders!
Use a Saved Package to add insurance: If you want to add insurance to your orders that you upload on a spreadsheet, the easiest way is by creating a saved package with your desired amount of insurance added.
You can select that package from the "Package Details" drop-down on the same screen where you enter your "default" weight and dimensions.
Here's how that looks:
Step 4: Confirm and Buy
Prices appear as averages: After you Get Rates for your spreadsheet, each individual label price isn't broken out. Instead, the prices will be shown as an average... but you can confirm that Pirate Ship is overriding your data by looking in the Shipment Details section.
Here's how that looks:
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