Side Quests · Small missions. Real progress.
Time: About 20 minutes once your item is packed and your printer works Cost: Postage, paper, ink, and tape You’ll need: A paid US eBay order, a packed item, a scale, a measuring tape, and a printer.
The item has sold. Now the shipping step is sitting on your to-do list because you think you need a label printer first. You do not: eBay’s guidance allows an ordinary printer and standard paper. Today’s quest is one properly labeled package, not a new shipping station.
Your mission: Prepare one real order for handoff and save the steps for next time. Carrier drop-off or pickup is separate from this time estimate.
Your five-step quest
- Measure what will actually ship.
Weigh and measure the fully packed parcel, not just the product. Note those figures beside the order. Use the buyer’s checkout address; do not improvise an address from a separate message. - Open the label tool for that order.
In Seller Hub or My eBay, find the order and choose its shipping-label option. Check the parcel details and select a service appropriate to the delivery commitment you made. - Match the label format to your printer.
Choose a printable format suitable for standard paper rather than assuming a small thermal-label format is right. Check this before buying: eBay says the format cannot be adjusted after purchase. - Review, purchase, and print once.
Confirm the price, payment method, address, and service before buying the label. Print the carrier-generated document. Do not design your own postage barcode or buy extra labels simply to test your printer. - Attach it and arrange the handoff.
Check the address and barcode are clear, then secure the label to the parcel. Record your drop-off or pickup plan. A printed label does not mean the carrier has received the package.
Save this next-order checklist
Packed parcel → weight and dimensions checked → checkout address checked → service and price reviewed → print format checked → label attached → handoff arranged.
Quest complete when: Your package has its correct label and a handoff plan. Keep the checklist near your packing supplies so the next sale starts with a routine, not another equipment search.
Source: eBay’s labels and packaging guidance and label-printing instructions. Checked September 8, 2026. This quest covers eBay, not Etsy; their workflows should be checked separately.
