If you're new to shipping, buckle up; it can be a bumpy ride. Despite the "gee this is easy" commercials on television, signing up for everything can get complicated very quickly. If you're looking to sign up with USPS, here's the lowdown.

1. Sign up for a online USPS account. https://ecap-ws-prod.usps.com/entreg/login.do And fill everything in. You'll need this account to print shipping labels. After you sign up, go to "Click-N-Ship (Print a Shipping Label) link under Prepare to Ship.  You'll may need to download some software to your computer. You don't have to use their system, but it's there if you want it. And finally, this account will not make calculating shipping prices automatic on your website -- that's next.

That was easy. I want to lull you into a false sense of security. Now you'll have to sign up for the API stuff.

1. To sign up for the API for the cart, go here: https://secure.shippingapis.com/registration/ a and fill out the form. Be sure to put in the correct website you are going to have your shopping cart on!
2. You will get an email back that says a whole bunch of stuff with links. You'll need to keep this and most importantly, you'll need to keep your username and password. As soon as you get this auto-generated email, you'll need to send an email right back to their customer care center. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Write something like this.

Now you wait. Probably a day, maybe two. You might want to sign off, go eat. Catch up on some sleep, or go watch some of our demo movies. If you're still waiting, go look at some river otter pictures. That will help pass the time. Wait! I almost forgot. Once they move your account to the production server, they will send yet another email confirming this. Please forward that email to me along with your username and password for USPS API. I don't need any info for the very first site you signed up with. Just the second.