Void Labels
Under certain circumstances, you may need to void a label you have created. For example, a customer cancels a shipment or a label was created incorrectly. Another common reason to void a label is for unused return labels that are charged on creation -- you will need to void that label to get a refund for it.
You'll use the label_id
to identify which label you would like to void. The void process is similar for any label but the refund process may differ depending on the carrier.
Once a label is voided it cannot be unvoided. However, you can create a new label for that shipment if needed.
Requirements
- You will need the
label_id
for the label you wish to void. You can get yourlabel_id
from the create a shipping label response, or list labels to find alabel_id
based on query parameters. - The carrier must support voiding label. If you are unsure if your carrier supports this action, contact them directly to find out their label voiding policy.
- The label must be within the carrier's allowed void timeframe. If you are uncertain about your carrier's allowed timeframe, check their void and refund policies for specific deadline details.
Sample Request & Response
PUT /v2/labels/:label_id/void
PUT /v2/labels/se-421351/void HTTP/1.1 Host: api.shipstation.com API-Key: __YOUR_API_KEY_HERE__
Response
The response body will include two items:
- A true/false boolean value to show if the void request was approved
- A message from the carrier (The message will vary depending on the carrier used to create the label.)
{ "approved": true, "message": "Request for refund submitted. This label has been voided." }
Refunds
For a voided label to qualify for a refund the label must be unused. This means that the label was not picked up or scanned by the carrier.
Any additional refund requirements and restrictions to the process of refunding a label will depend upon the policy of the carrier from whom the label was originally purchased.
ShipStation Carriers
You must void the label within a certain number of days after generating the label:
- USPS = 28 days
- UPS and other carriers = 30 days
In most cases, the refund will be instantly refunded to your ShipStation account balance. However, in some cases the refund can take up to 28 days to apply to the balance.
Stamps.com or Endicia USPS Label Refunds
To qualify for electronic reimbursement, the refund must be requested within a certain number of days after generating the label:
- Stamps.com = 28 days
- Endicia = 30 days
Post-Billed Carrier Refunds
Post-billed carrier accounts, like UPS and FedEx, do not charge for shipping labels that are not used or scanned into the carrier's system. Therefore, no refunds need to be applied to your account.
Voiding labels for a post-billed carrier is not necessary if the labels are unscanned. However, you can still void labels for these carriers to help with your reporting if desired.
Denied Requests
If your void request is denied, please refer to the message
returned in the response. You can also contact support to figure out why you are unable to void a label.
Possible reasons a carrier may deny a void label request include:
- The label is too old to be voided.
- The label has been scanned in by the carrier already.
- The label has left the originating facility and is already en route to the destination.
- The label was created on a carrier connection that has since been removed. If you disconnect a carrier from your account (possibly as a troubleshooting step) and reconnect it, that carrier has a new
carrier_id
in your account. If you attempt to void a label created under the oldcarrier_id
, the void attempt will fail since thatcarrier_id
no longer exists.