Create your own EasyPost account, connect it to Auction Flex with an API key, and then ship straight from an invoice.

This guide covers the full process, from creating your EasyPost account to buying your first label.

​Version requirements: The EasyPost integration works in Auction Flex v9 and above. We encourage upgrading to v10 to get the most up-to-date features. Screenshots in this guide are from v10, so screens may look slightly different in earlier versions.

You only do this once, at app.easypost.com.

Go to app.easypost.com/signup and enter your name, work email and a password (at least 15 characters). Accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, complete the reCAPTCHA, then submit.

EasyPost sends a "Verify Your New Account Email" message. Click Verify My Email Address, or go to app.easypost.com/verification and enter the code from the email.

In Account Setup, enter your business name, phone number and an estimated shipping volume range. The business address you enter becomes the default From address printed on your labels, so use the address your packages ship from.

On the Account Configuration screen, leave Use EasyPost Wallet Carriers and Protect Your Shipments (insurance) switched on. USPS Carrier Claims is included.

Tracking Updates is the one setting to decide on. It is optional. When it is on, EasyPost sends your buyers tracking page, text and email updates for a small per-shipment fee (currently $0.03), and requires a payment method on file before you can click Get Started. When it is off, the payment method section disappears and you can continue. Auction Flex already emails your buyer the tracking number after each label purchase (see Part 3), so you can safely leave this off.

EasyPost asks whether you want shipping software (Nexus) or the Shipping API. Choose Shipping API, since Auction Flex connects with your API key

The EasyPost dashboard prompts you to add funds to your Shipping Wallet. Under Account Settings › Billing you can confirm USPS Carrier Claims and EasyPost Wallet Carriers are on, and see your current wallet balance. Make sure you have set up how labels will be paid for before you buy your first one.

Auction Flex needs one key to talk to EasyPost.

The page has two sections:

Click copy next to the key you want to use.

​Treat your API key like a password. It gives full access to your EasyPost account. Do not paste it into emails, support tickets or shared documents.

In Auction Flex, go to Settings & Option Maintenance › SHIPPING. The tab has four sub-tabs.

Choose EasyPost as the Shipping Processor, then set how the S&H charge is suggested on the invoice.

These markup settings only control the suggested S&H amount. Your clerk can change the amount when adding the charge to an invoice.

Click Set and paste your EasyPost API key. It displays masked afterward.

The remaining fields cover insurance and delivery confirmation: Insurance Cost Rate, Min Insured Value, Max Insured Value, and Delivery Confirmation (for example, Signature). Leave the insurance fields as they are unless EasyPost changes its rates.

These are the package types offered by the Quick Set Specifications button when you create a shipment. Each row is either enabled or marked -disabled-. Disable the packages you never use to keep your Quick Set list short. Use the green plus, red X and pencil buttons to add, remove or edit specs.

When Automatically create email when shipment/postage is purchased is checked, Auction Flex opens a ready-to-send email to the buyer after each label purchase, with the invoice PDF attached. You can edit the subject and body using the merge fields listed on the left (for example, <%= TrackingNum %>, <%= Carrier %> and <%= ShipmentCharges %>).

Open the invoice in Invoice Maintenance and go to the PICKUP/SHIPPING tab. Set Ship or Pickup to Ship, then click the green plus. The Edit Invoice Shipment window opens.

Section 1 fills in from the customer's ship-to address. Section 2 is the package: weight, dimensions, shipment value, insurance, delivery confirmation and ship date.
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​Quick Set Specifications fills these in from your predefined specs.

Click Get Shipping Rates. A list of carrier and service options with prices opens. Double-click the one you want (press Esc to cancel). For example:

The Carrier, Type of Service, Shipping Cost and Insurance Cost fill in, and Add S&H
​Charge becomes available. The invoice balance does not change yet.

Click Add S&H Charge. Auction Flex proposes an amount, which you can overwrite before clicking OK. The suggested amount is postage plus insurance plus handling. In this example:

Buy Shipment/Postage stays disabled until the invoice balance is 0.00. Click Add Invoice Receipt, choose the payment type, confirm the amount, and click Done.

Click Buy Shipment/Postage. The button's note says you agree to the UPS Capital Insurance Agency terms. Auction Flex then asks two things:

If you turned on the Email-tab setting, an email opens addressed to the buyer with the carrier, service, tracking number, ship date, contents and S&H charge filled in, plus the invoice PDF. Review it and click Send.

The window now shows the tracking number, ship date and contents, with "Email Sent" beside the Email button. A Reprint Label button appears next to Buy Shipment/Postage if you need another copy of the label. Click Save.

Auction Flex asks whether every lot on the invoice has shipped. Choose Yes if so. Choose No if more shipments will follow, such as a split shipment.

The Pickup/Shipping grid lists each shipment with its carrier, tracking number and ship date. The invoice Notes record each time an email was sent to the buyer. Reopening a saved shipment shows its details with the fields greyed out.

In EasyPost, go to Shipments. Use the mode filter (Test or Production) and date range at the top. Expand a row to see the status, tracking code and cost, the From and To addresses, and the parcel. Buttons let you open Track, download the Label and Receipt, or request a Refund.

Click the tracking code in EasyPost, or the globe button beside Tracking# in Auction Flex, to open the public tracking page with delivery progress and estimated delivery.

If you run into trouble, contact Auction Flex Support and we will help you get set up.