Pitney Bowes

Overview

Pitney Bowes provides delivery and return shipping through PB Expedited Services and PB Standard Services. Pitney Bowes recommends integration with both to provide merchants the full range of shipping options. You can use the same Create Shipment request for both services. Before integrating, please read the API Overview and Getting Started pages. When integrating, use the API Operations listed on this page. Always read the Considerations section on an API operation’s documentation page for any conditions or limitations specific to that operation. Refer to this page for general information on Services (Mail Classes), Special Services, Parcel Types, and Label Sizes.

PB Expedited Services

PB Expedited provides domestic and international shipping through USPS^®. PB Expedited offers both delivery and return labels. On qualifying shipments, PB Expedited offers PB Delivery Guarantee. By default, all developer and merchant accounts have access to ship with PB Expedited.

PB Standard Services

PB Standard provides postpaid shipping. Labels incur no charges at the time of print. PB Standard offers both delivery and return labels. When printing delivery labels, shippers must containerize their parcels. To ship with PB Standard, a merchant must first onboard.

API Operations

The following operations are used with PB Expedited and PB Standard. For PB Standard requests that originate in the Asia-Pacific Region, Pitney Bowes also provides APAC Services to localize operations. See APAC Services. For the sequence of operations used to ship a parcel, see this workflow.

Operation	Method	Resource Path
Get Carrier Rules	GET	/v1/information/rules/rating-services?carrier={carrier}&originCountryCode={XX}&destinationCountryCode={YY}
Get Carrier Countries	GET	/v1/countries?carrier={carrier}&originCountryCode={two-character-ISO-code}
Find Carrier Facilities	POST	/v1/carrier-facility
Validate an Address	POST	/v1/addresses/verify
Suggest Addresses	POST	/v1/addresses/verify-suggest
Rate a Service	POST	/v1/rates
Create a PB Delivery Shipment	POST	/v1/shipments
Create a PB Expedited Returns Label	POST	/v1/shipments
Create a PB Standard Returns Label	POST	/v1/shipments
Reprint a Label	GET	/v1/shipments/{shipmentId}?carrier={carrier}
Retry a Label	GET	/v1/shipments?originalTransactionId={transaction_id}&carrier={carrier}
Void a Label	DELETE	/v1/shipments/{shipmentId}?carrier={carrier}&cancelInitiator=SHIPPER
Electronic Delivery	POST	/v1/shipments/{shipmentId}/email
Create a USPS SCAN Form	POST	/v1/manifests
Create a PB Standard Closeout	POST	/v1/manifests
Create a Container Label	POST	/v1/container-manifest
Get Tracking Information	GET	/v1/tracking/{trackingNumber}?packageIdentifierType=TrackingNumber
Get Transaction Reports	GET	/v4/ledger/developers/{developerId}/transactions/reports
Get Archived Reports	GET	/v4/ledger/developers/{developerId}/transactions/archived
Merchant Accounts APIs	——	See API Operations for Merchant Accounts.

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Services (Mail Classes)

Pitney Bowes provides Delivery Services, Returns Services, and International Services.

Delivery Services

The following table does not show whether a special service is compatible with a given combination of service and parcel type. If your shipment uses PB Expedited, you can check compatibility using the Rules API or Domestic Mail Manual. Note that some domestic services might include a customs form, as described in this FAQ.

Delivery Mail Class	ID	PB Expedited       (USPS)	PB Standard     (PBCS)	Parcel Types 1
Bound Printed Matter	BPM		✓	PKG
First-Class Mail	FCM	✓	✓	Expedited: FLAT, IRRPKG, LETTER, NMLETTER, PKG Standard: PKG
Library Mail	LIB	✓		LGENV, PKG
Media Mail	MEDIA	✓		LGENV, PKG
Parcel Select	PRCLSEL		✓	PKG
Parcel Select Ground	PRCLSEL	✓		PKG
Parcel Select Lightweight	PSLW		✓	PKG
Priority Mail	PM	✓	✓	Expedited: FRB, FRE, LGENV, LFRB, LGLFRENV, MLFRB, PKG, PFRENV, RBA, RBB, SOFTPACK, SFRB Standard: PKG
Priority Mail Express	EM	✓		FRE, LGENV, LGLFRENV, PKG, PFRENV
Retail Ground (formerly Standard Post)	STDPOST	✓		PKG

1

Use the Rules API to determine compatible special services.

Returns Services

The following table does not show whether a special service is compatible with a given combination of service and parcel type. If your shipment uses PB Expedited, you can check compatibility using the Rules API or Domestic Mail Manual.

Returns Mail Class	ID	PB Expedited       (USPS)	PB Standard     (PBCS)	Parcel Types 2
First-Class Package Return Service	FCM	✓		PKG
Parcel Select Return Service	PRCLSEL	✓	✓	PKG
Priority Mail Return Service	PM	✓		PKG, FRE, LGLFRENV, PFRENV

2

Use the Rules API to determine compatible special services.

International Services

The returned label includes the customs form. The following table shows supported services and parcel types but does not show whether a special service is compatible with a given combination of service and parcel type. To check compatibility, use the Rules API or Domestic Mail Manual.

International Mail Class	ID	Parcel Types 3
First-Class Mail International	FCMI	LGENV, LTR, NMLTR
First-Class Package International Service (supports E-DELCON)	FCPIS	PKG
Priority Mail Express International	EMI	FRE, LGENV, LGLFRENV, PFRENV, PKG
Priority Mail International	PMI	DVDBOX, FRB, FRE, LFRB, LGENV, LGLFRENV, PFRENV, PKG, SFRB, VIDEOBOX

3

Use the Rules API to determine compatible special services.

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Special Services

This section describes the following:

• PB Expedited Special Services

• PB Expedited Special Services Returned Only in the Response

• PB Standard Special Services

PB Expedited Special Services

PB Expedited supports the following special services. Before using a special service, use the Rules API to determine:

• If the special service is compatible with the combination of mail class and parcel type.

• If the mail class and parcel type require a trackable special service. If so, DelCon is trackable and has no charge.

• If the special service is compatible with other special services.

• What are the input parameters. For more info on input parameters, see this FAQ.

Important

• This table does not show compatible parcel types.

• This table does not show compatibility with other special services.

• Use of a special service might be subject to other restrictions.

• Do not include a special service unless you intend to apply it.

Note

If you use the FCM service, no special service is required.

Special Service	ID	Services 4
Adult Signature Required	ADSIG	EM, FCM, PM, PRCLSEL
Adult Signature with Restricted Delivery	ADSIGRD	EM, FCM, PM, PRCLSEL
Certified Mail	Cert	FCM, PM
Certified Mail with Adult Signature	CERTAD	FCM, PM
Certified Mail with Adult Signature and Restricted Delivery	CERTADRD	FCM, PM
Certified Mail with Restricted Delivery	CertRD	FCM, PM
Collect On Delivery (COD)	COD	EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Collect On Delivery with Restricted Delivery	CODRD	EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Delivery Confirmation	DelCon	FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Electronic Return Receipt	ERR	FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Hazardous Materials	hazmat	EM, FCM, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Holiday Delivery.	holiday	EM
Insured Mail	Ins	EM, EMI, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PMI, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Insured Mail with Restricted Delivery	InsRD	EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Live Animal	liveanimal	EM, FCM, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Live Animal - Day Old Poultry	liveanimal-poultry	EM, FCM, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Registered Mail	Reg	FCM, PM
Registered Mail with COD	RegCOD	FCM, PM
Registered Mail with Insurance	RegIns	FCM, PM
Registered Mail with Insurance and Restricted Delivery	RegInsRD	FCM, PM
Registered Mail with Restricted Delivery	RegRD	FCM, PM
Return Receipt	RR	EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Special Handling - Fragile	SH	EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Signature Confirmation	Sig	EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Signature with Restricted Delivery	SigRD	FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Sunday Delivery	sunday	EM
Sunday holiday Delivery	sunday-holiday	EM

4

Use the Rules API to determine compatible parcel types and special services.

PB Expedited Special Services Returned Only in the Response

The following special services can be returned in the response of a Create Shipment request. They provide information about fees, if applicable.

Special Service	ID	Description
Non-Standard Dimension 1	NonStandardDim1	Applies if length is greater than 22 inches and less than or equal to 30 inches.
Non-Standard Dimension 2	NonStandardDim2	Applies if the length is greater than 30 inches.
Non-Standard Volume	NonStandardVol	Applies if volume is greater than 2 cubic feet.

PB Standard Special Services

The following special services are supported for PB Standard shipments created through the PB Ecommerce APIs. Do not include a special service unless you intend to apply it.

Special Service	ID	Input Parameters
Delivery Confirmation	DelCon	Input parameters are not required for DelCon. To use DelCon, add the following to the rates.specialServices array: { "specialServiceId": "DelCon" }
Signature Confirmation	Sig	Input parameters are not required for Sig. To use Sig, add the following to the rates.specialServices array: { "specialServiceId": "Sig" }
Subscribe to Notifications	NOTIFICATIONS	To set input parameters, see PB Standard Notifications. Note: To use this service, the merchant must be configured for notifications, as described in PB Standard Notifications.

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Parcel Types

Pitney Bowes supports the parcel types described in the following tables:

• PB Expedited Letters and Flats

• PB Expedited Packages

• PB Standard Packages

PB Expedited Letters and Flats

Parcel Type	ID	Services that use the Parcel Type 5
Large Envelope/Flat	Use one of the following IDs, depending on the mail class: LGENV: Use for mail classes other than First-Class. FLAT: Use only with First-Class Mail. FLAT requires the DOC_6X4 label size. FLAT does not support special services. The generated label has an IMb. See this FAQ on printing an IMb label.	The services (mail classes) are specific to the ID: LGENV supports EM, EMI, FCMI, LIB, MEDIA, PM, and PMI FLAT supports FCM
Flat Rate Envelope	FRE	EM, EMI, PM, PMI
Letter	LETTER Use only with First-Class Mail and a label size of either DOC_6X4 or DOC_9X4. LETTER does not support special services. The generated label has an IMb. See this FAQ on printing an IMb label.	FCM
Legal Flat Rate Envelope	LGLFRENV	EM, EMI, PM, PMI
Letter	LTR Use only with First-Class Mail International (FCMI).	FCMI
Nonmachinable Letter	NMLETTER Use only with First-Class Mail. For steps to ship non-machinable letters, see this FAQ.	FCM
Nonmachinable Letter	NMLTR Use only with First-Class Mail International (FCMI). For steps to ship non-machinable letters, see this FAQ.	FCMI
Padded Flat Rate Envelope	PFRENV	EM, EMI, PM, PMI
Soft Pack Envelope	SOFTPACK See How are rates calculated for USPS soft packs?	PM

5 Use the Rules API to determine whether the service’s special services are compatible with the parcel type.

PB Expedited Packages

Parcel Type	ID	Services that use the Parcel Type 6
DVD Flat Rate Box	DVDBOX	PMI
Medium Flat Rate Box 1, Medium Flat Rate Box 2	FRB	PM, PMI
Irregular Parcel For steps to ship irregular parcels, please see this FAQ.	IRRPKG	FCM
Large Flat Rate Box	LFRB	PM, PMI
Military Large Flat Rate Box	MLFRB	PM
Package	PKG	EM, EMI, FCM, FCPIS, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PMI, PRCLSEL, STDPOST
Regional Box A	RBA	PM
Regional Box B	RBB	PM
Small Flat Rate Box	SFRB	PM, PMI
Large Video Flat Rate Box	VIDEOBOX	PMI

6 Use the Rules API to determine whether the service’s special services are compatible with the parcel type.

PB Standard Packages

PB Standard uses the Package (PKG) parcel type.

Parcel Type	ID	Services Supporting the Parcel Type
Package	PKG	BPM, PRCLSEL, PSLW, FCM, PM

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Labels

Label Considerations

• The value for the label size uses an upper-case X. Do not use a lower-case x.

• Labels retrieved through URLs are available for 24 hours after creation.

• For APAC Services, this table does not apply. See APAC Label Settings.

• For ZPL2 labels, if your printer does not support Unicode, see this topic.

• For FCM / FLAT shipments, set the label size to DOC_6X4.

• For FCM / LETTER shipments, set the label size to DOC_6X4 or DOC_9X4.

• For international shipments, set the label size to DOC_4X6 or DOC_8X11. The returned label includes the customs form. The form serves as both shipping label and customs declaration.

• To print Doc Tabs, see this FAQ.

• Advise shippers on correct label placement.

• The PB Standard Returns service provides the option to create a QR code instead of a label.

Label Sizes Per Carrier

Pitney Bowes supports the following label sizes. For the label options for each carrier, see these tables: Expedited Labels, Standard Delivery Labels, and Standard Returns Labels and QR Codes.

Label size	PB Expedited       (USPS)	PB Standard Delivery       (PBCS)	PB Standard Returns       (PBCS)
DOC_4X4		✓
DOC_4X5		✓
DOC_4X6	✓	✓	✓
DOC_4X8	✓
DOC_6X4	✓		✓
DOC_8X11	✓		✓
DOC_9X4	✓

Expedited Labels

Note

Please read the Label Considerations above before printing a label.

PB Expedited labels use the following options.

Label Size	File Format	Content Type	Resolution
DOC_4X6	PDF PNG ZPL2	URL BASE64 BASE64	not applicable DPI_203, DPI_300 (default) DPI_203 (default), DPI_300 (domestic labels only)
DOC_4X8	PDF PNG ZPL2	URL BASE64 BASE64	not applicable not applicable not applicable
DOC_6X4	PDF PNG ZPL2	URL BASE64 BASE64	not applicable DPI_203 DPI_203
DOC_8X11	PDF PNG	URL BASE64	not applicable DPI_300
DOC_9X4	PDF PNG	URL BASE64	not applicable DPI_203

Standard Delivery Labels

Note

Please read the Label Considerations above before printing a label.

PB Standard Delivery labels use the following options.

Label Size	File Format	Content Type	Resolution
DOC_4X4	PDF PNG ZPL2	URL BASE64 BASE64	DPI_203 DPI_203 DPI_203 (default), DPI_300
DOC_4X5	PDF PNG ZPL2 TIF BMP	URL BASE64 BASE64 BASE64 BASE64	DPI_203 DPI_203 DPI_203 (default), DPI_300 DPI_203, DPI_300, DPI_600 (default) DPI_203, DPI_300, DPI_600 (default)
DOC_4X6	PDF PNG ZPL2 BMP	URL BASE64 BASE64 BASE64	DPI_203 DPI_203 DPI_203 (default), DPI_300 DPI_203, DPI_300, DPI_600 (default)

Standard Returns Labels and QR Codes

Note

Please read the Label Considerations above before printing a label.

PB Standard Returns prints either a label or a QR code, as described in the following tables:

Standard Returns Label Options

Label Size	File Format	Content Type	Resolution
DOC_4X6	PDF PNG ZPL2	URL BASE64 BASE64	DPI_300 DPI_203, DPI_300 (default) DPI_203, DPI_300 (default)
DOC_6X4	PDF PNG ZPL2	URL BASE64 BASE64	DPI_300 DPI_203, DPI_300 (default) DPI_203, DPI_300 (default)
DOC_8X11	PDF	URL	DPI_300

Standard Returns QR Code Options

Label Size	File Format	Content Type	Resolution
No setting. Leave blank.	GIF GIF	URL BASE64	No setting. Leave blank.

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Surcharges

For PB Expedited, the following USPS surcharges can apply. If a surcharge applies, it is returned in the rates.surcharges array.

API Code	Surcharge
irregular	The parcel is an Irregular Parcel.
nonmachinable	The parcel is a Nonmachinable Letter.
Oversize	The parcel is subject to oversize pricing. Note: If the rates.surcharges array returns an Oversize fee of 0.0, the oversize fee is already included in the base charge.

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Onboard with PB Standard

To onboard a merchant to use PB Standard:

1. Contact your Pitney Bowes representative to register the merchant at one or more PB Standard facilities. Pitney Bowes will provide the merchant with a set of PB Standard IDs for use when shipping with PB Standard.

2. Email a request to ClientSupportTechServices@pb.com asking Pitney Bowes to enable the merchant to use PB Standard. In the request, include the merchant’s Shipper ID and PB Standard IDs.

PB Standard IDs

Pitney Bowes provides a merchant with the following IDs during onboarding. Pitney Bowes also provides test values for the IDs for use when testing on Sandbox.

ID	Description	Sandbox Test Value
CLIENT_ID	The unique ID assigned to the merchant for use with PB Standard.	NGST
CLIENT_FACILITY_ID	The merchant’s facility. A merchant can have multiple client facility IDs.	0093
CARRIER_FACILITY_ID	The PB Standard facility assigned to the merchant. A merchant can be assigned multiple PB Standard facilities.	1585

See Also

For additional information, see the FAQs.

For USPS cutoff times and service suspensions, see PB Expedited Delivery FAQs.

For information on PB Delivery Guarantee see the Pitney Bowes Delivery Guarantee.

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