Shippo & USPS: A Complete Guide to Discounted Shipping Rates & Features

Are you an e-commerce business owner frustrated by the high cost of shipping? You’re not alone. Shipping is often a major expense for online retailers, eating into profit margins and hindering growth. But what if you could save money on shipping without sacrificing speed or reliability? That’s where Shippo comes in.

Shippo is a powerful shipping platform that streamlines shipping processes and connects you to a vast network of carriers, including the United States Postal Service (USPS). With Shippo, you can access discounted USPS rates, simplify label creation, and automate your shipping workflows.

Table of Contents

• Shippo’s Benefits for USPS Shipping
• Unveiling USPS Priority Mail Options
  • Priority Mail Cubic
  • Priority Mail Flat Rate
  • Priority Mail (Weight-Based)
• Shippo’s Features for Streamlining USPS Shipping
• FAQ Section
• Optimizing Your USPS Shipping Rates with Shippo

Shippo’s Benefits for USPS Shipping

Shippo offers several significant advantages for businesses shipping with USPS. The most notable is the ability to access discounted rates. By leveraging Shippo’s network of over 70,000 e-commerce merchants, Shippo is able to negotiate volume discounts with carriers like USPS that you wouldn’t be able to get on your own. These discounts can save you a significant amount of money on each shipment. There are several advantages to using Shippo for USPS shipping, especially when it comes to finding the best rates. When you compare Shippo rates for USPS to standard retail rates, you could save as much as 90% by using the platform.

Beyond discounted “Shippo USPS rates” and “Shippo rates USPS”, Shippo also simplifies the shipping process. Their user-friendly platform, available both as a web app and a customizable API, allows you to easily create labels, compare rates from multiple carriers, and manage your shipments in one central location.

One of Shippo’s most powerful features is its automation capabilities. You can create rules that automatically assign the correct labels, service levels, and even insurance based on factors like package weight and destination. This eliminates the need for manual decisions, saving you time and minimizing the chance for errors.

Unveiling USPS Priority Mail Options

USPS Priority Mail is a popular domestic shipping option for packages weighing up to 70 pounds. But within Priority Mail, there are several service levels with different price structures and delivery guarantees. Shippo gives you access to all these options, allowing you to choose the best fit for each shipment.

Priority Mail Cubic

Priority Mail Cubic is a service level that offers rates up to 90% off retail prices. The pricing is based on the package’s cubic volume, calculated by multiplying its length, width, and height. You can ship a package up to a half cubic foot in volume, which is about the size of a shoebox. Packages shipped through Cubic pricing can weigh up to 20 pounds.

This service level is ideal for shipping smaller, lightweight packages. If you’re shipping items that weigh at least a pound and no more than 20 pounds, Priority Mail Cubic can be a highly cost-effective option, especially compared to retail rates.

Priority Mail Flat Rate

With Priority Mail Flat Rate, you pay a fixed price for your shipment, regardless of its weight or distance traveled. This makes it a convenient and predictable option for small, heavy packages or items going long distances.

USPS offers a range of Flat Rate boxes (Envelope, Small, Medium, Large) in specific sizes. To qualify for Flat Rate pricing, your package must fit within one of these designated boxes.

Priority Mail (Weight-Based)

Priority Mail (weight-based) is the traditional Priority Mail service. The rates are calculated based on the package’s weight and the distance traveled, which is determined by USPS zones. This service level is a good option for packages weighing up to 70 pounds that don’t fit into the Cubic or Flat Rate options.

This service level is often the most cost-effective for very lightweight packages (think 1-6 pounds) and also functions as a catch-all for those that don’t fit into the other Priority Mail service levels.

Shippo’s Features for Streamlining USPS Shipping

Beyond discounted USPS rates, Shippo offers a suite of features that make shipping easier and more efficient.

• Label Printing: Shippo allows you to easily print shipping labels for your USPS shipments, directly from your computer. This eliminates the need to visit the post office or wait in line, saving you time and effort. Shippo’s label printing feature is intuitive and flexible. You can customize your labels with your brand logo, return address, and other essential information. Plus, you can print labels in bulk, further speeding up the process.

• Pickup Scheduling: Shippo can help you schedule free pickups for your USPS Priority Mail shipments. This convenient option allows USPS carriers to pick up your packages directly from your home or office, further streamlining your shipping process. You can schedule pickups online through the Shippo app, specifying the date and time that works best for you.

• Tracking & Notifications: Shippo automatically tracks your shipments and provides real-time updates. This ensures you can easily monitor the progress of each package and keep your customers informed about their deliveries. Shippo offers various tracking options. You can track your shipments through the Shippo app, via email notifications, or by using the Shippo tracking API to integrate tracking information into your own e-commerce platform.

• Returns: Shippo offers hassle-free returns processing. You can create return labels for your customers, making it easy for them to return unwanted items. Shippo’s return labels are branded with your logo and include clear instructions for the customer. You can even set up automated returns rules so that return labels are automatically generated when a customer initiates a return request.

FAQ Section

What are the specific USPS services available through Shippo? Shippo integrates with a wide range of USPS services, including First-Class Package Service, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Media Mail, and more. You can access all these services through the Shippo platform and compare their rates to find the best option for each shipment.

How can I calculate my USPS shipping rates using Shippo? Shippo’s USPS shipping calculator is incredibly easy to use. Simply enter the origin and destination addresses, package dimensions, weight, and select the desired USPS service level. The calculator will instantly provide you with discounted rates, making it simple to compare and choose the best option for each shipment.

What are the typical discounts offered by Shippo on USPS rates? Shippo’s discounts can vary depending on the specific service level and the package’s weight and destination. However, you can generally expect to save around 20% off retail rates, with discounts as high as 90% being possible.

Does Shippo offer insurance for USPS Priority Mail shipments? Yes, Shippo offers insurance for USPS Priority Mail shipments. You can choose to purchase insurance at various levels, depending on the value of your package. Shippo’s insurance is competitively priced and provides peace of mind, safeguarding your business against potential losses in case of damage or theft.

Optimizing Your USPS Shipping Rates with Shippo

Now that you’ve gained a solid understanding of Shippo’s benefits and USPS Priority Mail options, let’s explore some practical strategies for optimizing your USPS shipping rates:

1. Leverage Cubic Pricing: For small, lightweight packages, Priority Mail Cubic pricing can provide significant savings. If your package is under 20 pounds and fits within a half cubic foot volume, consider using this service level.

2. Utilize Flat Rate When Possible: When shipping small, heavy items or when long distances are involved, flat rate pricing can often be the most cost-effective option.

3. Embrace Automation: Take full advantage of Shippo’s automation features. Set up rules to streamline label creation, service level selection, and insurance purchasing, based on your shipping patterns.

4. Monitor Your Shipping Costs: Use Shippo’s reporting tools to track your shipping costs and identify opportunities for optimization.

By implementing these strategies and leveraging Shippo’s advanced features, you can significantly reduce your USPS shipping costs and improve your e-commerce business’s bottom line.