Welcome to ShipRush's Deutsche Post (InternetMarke) integration. This guide will help you understand and use Deutsche Post's letter and small goods shipping services through ShipRush.
Overview
Deutsche Post is Germany's national postal service provider. ShipRush integrates with Deutsche Post's InternetMarke service, allowing you to purchase postage and print shipping labels for letters and small goods directly from your ShipRush account.
Note: The Deutsche Post integration is available only for shipments originating in Germany. Your shipper account must be registered in Germany to use this service.
Supported Services
ShipRush supports Deutsche Post's letter and small goods services through the InternetMarke platform:
Standard Letters: Cost-effective letter delivery within Germany and internationally.
Registered Mail: Letter service with delivery confirmation and tracking.
Premium Mail: Enhanced letter service with priority handling.
Note: InternetMarke services are designed for letters and domestic book or goods shipments. International parcel services, customs documentation, and freight services are not supported through this integration.
Label Formats and Printer Support
ShipRush provides flexible label printing options for Deutsche Post shipments:
Standard Office Printers
PNG format labels compatible with standard office printers.
Print labels on standard A4 or letter-size paper.
Suitable for lower-volume shipping operations.
Thermal Printers
Automatic conversion to ZPL format for thermal printers.
Compatible with Zebra and Datamax thermal printers.
Configurable margin settings for label positioning.
Ideal for high-volume shipping operations.
Setting up Your Deutsche Post Account
To use Deutsche Post shipping services in ShipRush, you must connect your Deutsche Post InternetMarke account:
Navigate to Settings: Log in to ShipRush and go to your carrier settings.
Add Carrier Account: Click Add Carrier and select Deutsche Post or InternetMarke from the carrier list.
Enter Account Credentials: Provide your Deutsche Post Portokasse username and password. These are the same credentials you use to log in to the Deutsche Post Portokasse portal.
Configure Printer Settings: Select your printer type (standard or thermal) and configure margin settings if using a thermal printer.
Save Configuration: Click Save to activate your Deutsche Post account in ShipRush.
Creating a Deutsche Post Account
If you do not have a Deutsche Post Portokasse account, you can create one:
Visit the Deutsche Post Portokasse portal.
Register for a Portokasse account by providing your business information.
Verify your email address and complete the registration process.
Add funds to your Portokasse wallet to purchase postage.
Return to ShipRush and follow the account setup steps above.
Account Requirements
You must maintain a positive balance in your Portokasse wallet to purchase postage. ShipRush will display your current wallet balance when you rate shipments.
Printing Labels
After creating a shipment, ShipRush will generate your Deutsche Post label:
Standard Printer Setup:
Labels are generated in PNG format.
Print on standard A4 or letter-size paper.
Attach the printed label to your letter or package.
Thermal Printer Setup:
Labels are automatically converted to ZPL format.
Configure horizontal and vertical margins in your carrier settings for proper label positioning.
Print directly to your thermal printer (4x6 label size).
No additional label sheets required.
Tracking Shipments
ShipRush provides tracking numbers for your Deutsche Post shipments:
Tracking numbers are automatically assigned when you create a shipment.
Track shipments through the Deutsche Post tracking portal or ShipRush.
Delivery confirmation available for registered and premium mail services.
Account Balance and Postage
Your Deutsche Post Portokasse wallet balance is used to purchase postage:
ShipRush displays your current wallet balance when rating shipments.
Postage is deducted from your wallet when you create a shipment.
Add funds to your wallet through the Deutsche Post Portokasse portal.
Monitor your balance regularly to avoid shipment failures.
Tip: Set up automatic top-up in your Portokasse account to maintain a minimum balance and prevent shipping interruptions.
Best Practices
Maintain Adequate Balance: Keep sufficient funds in your Portokasse wallet to avoid shipment failures.
Test Your Setup: Create a test shipment to verify your printer settings before processing a production shipment.
Margin Configuration: If using thermal printers, adjust margin settings to ensure labels print correctly on your specific printer model.
Service Selection: Choose the appropriate service level based on delivery requirements and budget.
Tracking Numbers: Save tracking numbers for customer service and shipment verification.
Troubleshooting
Authentication Failures
Verify your Portokasse username and password are correct.
Ensure your Portokasse account is active and in good standing.
Check that you are using your Portokasse credentials, not your general Deutsche Post login.
Insufficient Balance
Check your wallet balance in the Portokasse portal.
Add funds through the Portokasse website before creating shipments.
Allow time for balance updates to synchronize with ShipRush.
Label Printing Issues
For thermal printers: Verify margin settings match your printer specifications.
For standard printers: Ensure paper size is set to A4 or letter.
Test print settings with a sample label before processing multiple shipments.
Service Availability
Verify your shipment origin is in Germany.
Confirm the service level is supported for your destination country.
Check Deutsche Post service availability for specific destination addresses.
Support and Resources
Deutsche Post Resources:
Portokasse Portal - Account management and balance top-up.
Deutsche Post Website - Service information and tracking.
Deutsche Post Support: pcf-1click@deutschepost.de.
ShipRush Support:
Contact ShipRush customer support for integration assistance.
Refer to ShipRush documentation for general shipping and account setup guidance.
Note: ShipRush uses Deutsche Post's InternetMarke 2025 REST API for modern, reliable integration. This replaces the legacy SOAP-based implementation and provides enhanced performance and features.