Quick answer: Pack the item securely, measure and weigh the finished package, then buy a suitable label and arrange carrier acceptance. Confirm the label-printing or QR-code options available for your selected service before relying on them.
Your first shipment is easier when you plan the package before the item sells. You need a suitable box or mailer, protection for the item, a reliable weight and measurements. You also need a way to get the paid label onto the package and the package accepted by the carrier.
A home printer can help, but you may have another option for eligible labels. The label and the carrier handoff are two separate parts of the process.
Gather a small set of supplies
Start with a scale that can handle the items you sell, a tape measure, packing tape and suitable packaging. A phone is useful for listing photos and can display a supported label QR code. You do not need a large supply order for your first few sales.
Choose packaging that protects the item through ordinary shipping handling. A soft mailer that suits a shirt may not suit a fragile object. Reused boxes should be sound, with old shipping labels and barcodes removed or fully covered. Follow the carrier's packaging and service requirements. USPS package preparation
Pack, weigh and measure
Use the finished package weight, including the box, padding and contents. Measure the outside dimensions. Enter those details when estimating shipping and creating the label.
Check that the service matches the package, destination and delivery promise in your listing. A lower label price is not a saving if you entered the wrong weight or selected a service that does not match your order.
Check the order before shipping
Open the order inside eBay and confirm that payment is complete and the order is ready to ship. A message saying “I paid” is not a substitute for the order status. Follow the shipping address provided on the order.
Money waiting for payout is a different issue from whether the buyer has paid. Use eBay's order instructions to decide when to ship, and meet your stated handling time. eBay's explanation of transaction holds
Buy the label and choose how to print it
From the order, open the shipping-label option and check the package details, service and charge. Review before purchasing. If printing at home, attach the label securely with the barcode readable. eBay shipping-label instructions
For an eligible USPS label, eBay can provide a QR code that a participating Post Office can scan to print the label. You still buy the postage; the QR code supplies the printing option. Check that your selected label offers that option before relying on it. eBay's USPS label guidance
Save the code on your phone before leaving and make sure you can open it. Take the packed item and the code to the appropriate counter. The QR code is not a request for a carrier collecting a package at your house to bring a printer.
Get the package accepted
At the counter, ask for an acceptance scan and keep the receipt. Printing a label does not by itself show that the carrier has the package. Check the tracking record after handoff and keep your shipment records with the order. If tracking still shows only a created label by the next business day, check with the drop-off location using your receipt or pickup record. Do not buy another label simply because the first scan has not appeared.
For your first order, a staffed counter can make the handoff easier to understand. If you later use other drop-off methods, learn how and when acceptance is recorded rather than assuming every location works the same way.
Cannot get to the Post Office during the day?
USPS offers free Package Pickup during regular delivery for eligible prepaid packages. Check your address, service eligibility and scheduling instructions. Have the package sealed and the postage label attached before pickup. A specific pickup-time service can have a separate charge. USPS Package Pickup
If you only have a QR code and no printed label, arrange printing before scheduling home pickup. Also allow enough time to meet the handling promise in your listing; scheduling a pickup is not the same as carrier acceptance.
Before handoff: Confirm the correct item, completed payment, order address, packed weight, readable label and selected service. After handoff, check tracking and keep the receipt or pickup record.
Want help before your first shipment?
Bring the item, package measurements and your questions to an RTL eBay Your Way one-hour call. We can work through the eBay steps together so you understand what you are selecting.