• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

PSA: Stop paying USPS retail rates!

EnderW

[H]F Junkie
2FA
Joined
Sep 25, 2003
Messages
11,458
No one should be paying USPS retail rates. These are significantly higher than if you purchase online. Latest example, I just purchased a small item in the FS forum.
Seller paid $17.55 for a less than 1 lb package!
The same rate would have been $7.69 on pirate ship

I've been using this site for years and have had zero issues.
You can purchase USPS or UPS shipping. Highly recommended.
pirateship.com

Bonus FYI - USPS offers free pickup next business day
 
^...Same....Pirateship has been by go to. Has saved me a small fortune considering I ship fully built desktops around...lol.
 
I just shipped something earlier this week, I knew it would fit in a USPS FRB, but I also knew an FRB would cost $20+. Hopped on PirateShip and I was a bit shocked that UPS was less than $10. Also slightly less interesting was that the same box size/weight USPS vis PirateShip was $10.xx.
 
Yeah, it's saved me literally hundreds of dollars if not more. A decent 110 lb. postage scale will usually pay for itself within 1-2 transactions if you create your own label and use Pirate Ship/Shippo/Ship Nerd/etc. If you're paying retail rates and do any amount of selling online, you're just throwing money away.
 
Good post - pirate ship user for years here too. Not just cheaper but good UI and faster to print or send a label too
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ikasu
like this
Good post - pirate ship user for years here too. Not just cheaper but good UI and faster to print or send a label too
It's nice being able to drop a package off and then leave. The convenience is immense.
 
My local USPS has a dedicated line for drop offs. If UPS, drop it off at UPS store, don't forget to get a receipt for high value items.
You've got some big brain postal workers then. I'm always stuck in a crowd of people asking about every kind of service, what box to use, and if the usps can tape it up for them. And the people picky about stamps.
 
We should just stop paying USPS. Let it die already.
Pretty much impossible since the Constitution grants Congress the power for establishing the mail systems/routes/etc. They'll continue getting billions of dollars of taxpayer funded bailouts. In 2022 they got over $100B in taxpayer money to "cancel" debt and overhaul their operations. It obviously didn't work because just last year they had a $9B net loss and they're on track this year for another net loss around the same amount.
 
Pretty much impossible since the Constitution grants Congress the power for establishing the mail systems/routes/etc. They'll continue getting billions of dollars of taxpayer funded bailouts. In 2022 they got over $100B in taxpayer money to "cancel" debt and overhaul their operations. It obviously didn't work because just last year they had a $9B net loss and they're on track this year for another net loss around the same amount.
Then time for an update. 99% of "mail" is useless junk. The 2 times a year I get a paper document mailed to me for some reason it's because of some outdated BS law that says it has to be mailed or something and there are plenty of commercial alternatives that can deliver with far better reliability. "It's always been that way" is the bane of progress. Rip the band aids off and let it all die.
 
This thread is reminding me why I want to sell via eBay more than I have so far. eBay seems to automate the postal savings, not to mention the eyeballs sellers get there.
 
This thread is reminding me why I want to sell via eBay more than I have so far. eBay seems to automate the postal savings, not to mention the eyeballs sellers get there.
Ebay's rating engine is done by Pitney Bowes. Pitney Bowes also offers a platform(s) like Pirate Ship. There are many more out there as well.
 
I am not familiar..but if you have one of those USPS boxes or envelopes, can you still use pirateship, or must you use a brown box for shipping? Never used Pirateship, just asking
 
You can use pirate ship but you would need to ship via USPS.

I have heard of people using USPS boxes and ship UPS but I wouldn't recommend this. UPS might toss your package into "wrong carrier" bin and this usually takes a few business days to resolve.
 
USPS flat rate boxes are a terrible value any time I've checked the price of them. Maybe if you're shipping lead plates it makes sense.
I have received a large quantity of #00 lead shot in usps flat rate for a good price. The tape was the only thing that held it together though. The box basically became a paper wrapper between bag and shipping tape. I reload 12ga and 20ga primarily. I shoot clays on rare occasion. Paper just as much though.
 
Been using it for over 4 years when another board bro told me about it. It seems to be good for heavier packages but about the same for things under 1 pound.
 
I have received a large quantity of #00 lead shot in usps flat rate for a good price. The tape was the only thing that held it together though. The box basically became a paper wrapper between bag and shipping tape. I reload 12ga and 20ga primarily. I shoot clays on rare occasion. Paper just as much though.
Before reading this post, I was at USPS. I was talking to the agent at the counter about the cost of shipping and whether I should use my own box or their box. According to USPS agent, their box is NOT good for lighter items. For lighter items usually its cheaper to ship using your own box. However, up to 70 lbs, you can ship using THEIR flat rate medium box, and they will cap out the price at $24.95. And this is nationwide shipping, 70lbs, at that price. He gave an example of someone shiping 70lbs to seattle for that price. Now I have no idea what the hell will fit in that tiny ass box, but in your situation I can understand why the price they gave you might have been good. This is a random FYI, don't mind me.

https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2009/pb22265/html/info1_004.htm

But im getting ready to use Pirate Ship because I have some large items I need to ship LMAO. Ive never used them before
 
Been using Paypal shipping forever. I try not to send things USPS if UPS is only a little more, even the stupid UPS ground saver which uses USPS at some point in the process. The ability to scan and drop at a UPS store beats going to a post office any day of the week.
 
Been using Paypal shipping forever. I try not to send things USPS if UPS is only a little more, even the stupid UPS ground saver which uses USPS at some point in the process. The ability to scan and drop at a UPS store beats going to a post office any day of the week.
Why not free USPS pickup?
 
Back
Top