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Yes. If the label's information is correct and only the print quality is bad (faded, streaked, cut off), just print it again from the saved PDF and throw the bad copy away. Reprinting costs you nothing because it is the same label. The rule changes only when the information itself is wrong: then you void the label and buy a new one instead of reprinting the mistake.
Reprinting means making another physical copy of the same label: same tracking number, same barcode, same purchase. Replace means killing the original label (voiding it, ideally with a refund) and buying a fresh one because the address, weight, or service was wrong. Reprinting a label with a wrong address just produces two copies of the wrong address, which is worse than useless: it suggests the error is fine.
The practical test is simple. Look at the bad print and ask: if this had printed cleanly, would I put it on the box? If yes, reprint. If no, void and rebuy. Most carriers let you void an unused label for a refund within a set window after purchase, so a mistaken label costs time rather than money if you catch it before the parcel ships.
Three usual culprits. Low toner or ink makes barcodes faded, and faded barcodes fail at sorting scanners. Wrong paper size or scaling shrinks the barcode below the minimum size scanners expect, or cuts off the edges. And printing on plain paper with an inkjet on the highest-quality setting can leave the ink wet, which smears when the label is handled. The fixes: use enough ink, print at actual size (no "fit to page"), and let the page dry before applying it.
Always keep the label PDF saved on your computer, not just the printed copy. If the print is bad, you reprint from the PDF. If the PDF is gone and the seller's portal expired the download link, you are stuck contacting support to get it again.
| Situation | Reprint or replace? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Print faded, streaked, or cut off | Reprint | Print again from the saved PDF; discard the bad copy |
| Wrong address or postal code | Replace | Void the label, buy a new one with the right address |
| Wrong weight or dimensions | Replace | Void it; under-declared weight triggers surcharges |
| Label expired unused | Replace | Buy a fresh label; expired labels don't scan |
| Parcel damaged in transit, needs a return label | Replace (new label entirely) | Reprinting the outbound label won't bring it back |
Two identical active copies of one label on one box are not a practical problem if only one parcel ships: the carrier scans the barcode once and moves on. The danger is the opposite mistake: putting the bad copy on one box and the good reprint on another, then shipping both. The carrier treats them as the same shipment, one gets misrouted, and you have a tracing mess. Rule: one label, one box, every time. Discard the failed print the moment the good one comes out.
Ready to ship it? Get a shipping label with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and get your label.
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