Why you should not use the Free Australia Post Labels from the Post Office
Once you have decided to use Australia Post to ship your parcels for your eCommerce business, the next step is to decide how to print your AusPost shipping labels and what labels to use.
How to Print Shipping Labels for Australia Post?
Easy. Buy a Direct Thermal Label Printer like the economical TSC DA210 or other trusted brands such as Zebra GK420D, Dymo 4XL, or Brother QL-1100. These printers don’t use ink so all you need to buy is the label itself. It’s the standard method used by thousands of successful businesses for printing online shipping labels.
Another option is to use the free Parcel Post and Express Post sticker labels that you can request at your designated post office branch (ask your Australia Post account manager if you’re not sure). For Parcel Post (regular), the free labels are 4 per A4 page; for Express Post, they’re 3 labels per page.
While these free labels may seem like a budget-friendly option, let’s explain why at Awesome Pack, we believe they’re not the best long-term solution for your business.
Why You Should Not Use the Free AusPost Labels from the Post Office?
Sure, free shipping labels are tempting, but they do come with their own set of hidden issues. They’re free for a reason, and the following drawbacks might give you some helpful insights.
Serious Issues When Using Free Australia Post Shipping Labels:
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Low Quality and Durability
Free sticker labels from Australia Post are basic in quality and are not water-resistant. If they get wet, they can fall off your parcel or become scratched and unreadable during transit, leading to lost parcels or unhappy customers. -
Ink Costs Still Apply
Even though the labels are free, the ink in your laser or inkjet printer is not. Over time, replacing toner and ink cartridges will quietly eat into the savings you thought you were making. A better option? Consider switching to our direct thermal labels, which don’t require ink or toner at all. -
Inefficient Sheet Format
Free Parcel Post labels come in 4 per page, which is fine if you’re printing in bulk, but if you only need to print one, you waste the other 3, creating unnecessary waste. The same goes for Express Post, where you get 3 per page. -
Availability Issues
Many post offices will tell you they’ve run out and need to order more. So these free shipping labels aren’t always readily available when you need them most, which can disrupt your shipping process.
Why Most Successful eCommerce Businesses Use Direct Thermal Printers for Printing Shipping Labels?
From our experience working with thousands of businesses, there’s no question that all successful online stores use direct thermal printers for shipping labels, regardless of whether they use Australia Post, StarTrack, Fastway, TNT, or Toll.
We have customers shipping 20 orders a day, all the way up to large 3PL companies shipping over 10,000 parcels daily, who all use direct thermal printers for their shipping label needs.
Here’s why it makes sense:
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Stronger, Stickier Labels:
Our direct thermal shipping labels are water-resistant and scratch-resistant to ensure your label stays put on the parcel, arriving safely and clearly readable. -
On-Demand Printing Without Waste:
Direct thermal labels come on a roll, allowing you to print one at a time or in bulk, whatever suits your workflow. This eliminates wastage and confusion when printing. -
Ink-Free Technology:
With a direct thermal printer, you’ll never need to buy ink or toner again. The technology uses heat to create the label’s text and barcodes all you need is the direct thermal label itself. -
Faster Fulfilment Process:
Printing with a direct thermal printer is often much quicker than using a laser printer, saving you valuable time, especially when handling high order volumes.
If you’re curious about the difference between direct thermal vs thermal transfer labels, we have a helpful guide you can check out here.
Where to Buy Direct Thermal Shipping Labels and Printers?
We at Awesome Pack offer a huge range of direct thermal shipping labels that are both affordable and made with high-quality materials. That’s why we confidently offer our money-back guarantee on all our shipping labels.
Click on the courier you use below to see the label rolls available for your business:
Looking for a Direct Thermal Printer for Printing Shipping Labels?
Our recommendation? The TSC DA210. It’s cost-effective, reliable, and comes with a 2-year warranty. For less than $400, you’ll get everything you need to print your shipping labels swiftly and clearly. Compare that to other big brands like Zebra that charge over $700, and you’ll see why we love the DA210.
It’s fast, versatile, and fits a variety of label roll sizes, perfect for businesses of all sizes.