Maybe you’ve got a package to send but haven’t had the chance to drop it off yet. You suspect the clock is ticking on your shipping labels, but you want to know for sure how long you’ve got.
Well, that’s exactly why we’ve written this article. In it, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about FedEx shipping labels and when (or if) they expire. So, if you’re ready to find out once and for all, then keep reading!
Do FedEx Labels Expire In [currentyear]?
FedEx shipping labels expire, but expiration dates vary in [currentyear]. Typically, labels that have been emailed can be printed and used for up to 2 years. Once a label has been printed, it must be used within 2 weeks, or else it expires. If a label expires, FedEx considers it invalid and a new label needs to be purchased.
We cover even more specifics in this article, so be sure to check out the whole thing for more useful facts and tips!
Do FedEx Shipping Labels Expire?
FedEx shipping labels do expire, but the expiration dates vary.
In most cases, labels that are emailed can be printed and used for up to 2 years. However, once a label is printed, it must be used within 2 weeks. If not, it expires.
Do Prepaid FedEx Return Labels Expire?
Ecommerce businesses will be happy to hear that prepaid FedEx shipping labels do not expire.
In addition, if you create an email return label, you’ll be able to access the online information for 2 years before it expires.
This allows small- and medium-sized businesses to create prepaid shipping labels and include them with customer orders to facilitate the returns process.
Not only do customers appreciate this kind of service, but it doesn’t cost businesses anything extra. Indeed, companies aren’t charged for postage unless the customer uses the label.
What If I Create a FedEx Label But Don’t Ship Before It Expires?
If you print out a FedEx shipping label and it expires before you have a chance to mail it (i.e. if it’s been more than 2 weeks since printing), you should discard it and create a new one.
You don’t need to do anything to cancel the original label and you won’t be charged for it. That being said, you may have to wait a few days to see the refund hit your bank account.
Does FedEx Offer Refunds for Shipping Labels That Weren’t Used?
If you purchased a shipping label but never used it, you can cancel it and get a refund.
How you go about getting a refund depends on which type of account you have and where you purchased the label.
For example, if you’re just an average consumer who only buys labels now and then, you may not have to do anything special to get a refund.
In other words, you could print the label and never use it. It will expire in 2 weeks and FedEx will automatically refund your money.
If, however, you purchased the label from a third-party vendor, you may have to contact the customer service center in order to get a refund.
In either case, you also have the option to void a label if you’re not going to use it, regardless of whether or not you’ve been charged.
This process is different for those with business accounts who are billed monthly.
In this case, FedEx only bills the customer when a label is actually used to ship (i.e. it was scanned by a FedEx carrier).
Therefore, if a label is created but never used, the customer won’t be charged for it and no extra steps are needed.
Do FedEx Tracking Numbers Expire?
Tracking information for FedEx Express, FedEx Express Freight, FedEx Ground, FedEx SmartPost, and FedEx Custom Critical shipments is available for 90 days after delivery.
FedEx Freight shipment information is available for two years after delivery.
To know more, you can also read our posts on why is FedEx so slow, what is FedEx Express, and why is FedEx so expensive.
Conclusion
When it comes to shipping labels, FedEx is pretty generous about expiration dates. As long as you don’t print out a shipping label, you can use it for up to 2 years. If you do end up printing it, you then have 2 weeks to use it.
What’s even better is that you won’t get charged for expired shipping labels. You can simply wait for FedEx to refund your money, or you can contact customer service to move the process along more quickly.
