Can we use Shipping Manger without ShipEngine and can we use the shipment instead of the invoice?

Hi there, 

Yes, you can indeed use Shipping Manager in QuickBooks Desktop without relying on ShipEngine. Let me share more information and address all your questions one by one.

Since you've negotiated your own rates with FedEx and UPS, you can directly utilize those rates within QBDT's Shipping Manager. You'll need to configure your carrier accounts with your negotiated rates within the Shipping Manager settings. This will allow you to generate shipping labels and track shipments using your pre-existing agreements.

You mentioned your workflow involves shipping first and then creating the invoice with tracking and cost information. Here's how you can handle shipments before invoices:

1. You can create the shipment first in QBDT's Shipping Manager, recording all details.
2. When you later create the invoice, QuickBooks will automatically fill in the shipping information (tracking, cost).
3. You can then edit the invoice if you want to change something.

Regarding the continuity of your current shipping screens after May 31, it's important to understand the implications of discontinued QuickBooks Desktop services. For QuickBooks Desktop versions that are discontinued, online services will cease to function. However, if you are utilizing a supported version of QBDT, such as QBDT 2023 or earlier, you will still be able to utilize the core shipping features. Additionally, here's an article about shipping manager with frequently asked questions in QBDT: Intuit QuickBooks Shipping Manager.

For in depth and specific configuration of your shipping setup, as it involves privacy related information, I would strongly recommend contacting our QuickBooks Desktop Support team. They can provide detailed technical assistance and ensure your shipping setup is configured correctly based on your specific needs and QuickBooks Desktop version.

Moreover, you can also consider setting up and managing your inventory as it can help with your shipping, let me add this article as a reference: Set up Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Desktop. 

Let me know if you have additional concerns besides shipping management in QBDT. I'm always here to help.

QuickBooks ShipEngine Team:

I have found several things that need to be changed in your new manager to make it useful:

1. When you pass the shipping address to the engine, you need to format the Phone Number to your form, not make the user update all customer addresses to remove the characters that make it readable. This should be simple for a programmer.  i.e.   (212) 555-1212 to 2125551212  
I have thousands of phone numbers in my customer list to repair to use this app.

2. Add the ability to select a Commercial OR Residential Address that you then PASS to the carrier. 
UPS charges Extra to Fix this error per package!!

3. Add the ability to add a Handling surcharge shipment, we usually add the S/H to the invoice and your system only does the S and then passes it to the invoice.

4. Remove the Copyright symbol from the pull down window of the Select Services tab and organize them by some type of structure, i.e. Cheapest to most expensive, like you do in Compare Rate tab. Remove the services that are not from the Select Carrier pull down. i.e. if you select UPS, remove everyone else.
The Copyright Symbol does not allow you to search the box for what you want. Everyone knows UPS belongs to UPS you do not need to state it on every item. 
If you are scared of the lawyers, put it on the window somewhere out of the way!

I really feel this is a half baked app, made by people who do not use or understand the product.

Kevin