Your Guide to Cheap Shipping Labels: How to Save Big on Shipping Costs

Shipping is one of the biggest expenses for small and medium-sized eCommerce businesses. Reducing those costs is key to increasing profitability and providing an excellent customer experience. Cheap shipping labels can help you save money, but knowing how to access the right shipping discounts can make a significant difference in your shipping process. 

This guide explains how you can print shipping labels at discounted rates, improve your delivery process, and save precious time for other business tasks.

What Are Cheap Shipping Labels and Why They Matter for E-commerce?

Cheap shipping labels are discounted shipping labels that allow you to ship packages at lower rates compared to standard retail rates. Instead of paying full retail prices at your local post office, you can access applicable discounts through shipping software or negotiated agreements.

For online retailers, discounted shipping rates directly affect profitability. For example, if you are shipping 500 packages per month and save $2 per shipping label, you’ll see $1,000 in monthly savings. This extra money can be reinvested in marketing or product development.

Expensive label fees and hidden shipping costs can lead to abandoned carts. Studies show that nearly half of customers abandon their orders because of high shipping costs at checkout. By offering low-cost shipping options or even free shipping when possible, you can encourage customers to complete their purchases and improve your conversion rates.

Cheap international shipping labels also allow businesses to expand globally without facing excessive shipping costs. For instance, offering USPS Priority Mail for international shipments can connect your store to over 190 countries with affordable delivery times and tracking.

By streamlining the shipping process and using discounted shipping rates, you also save time. Instead of manually comparing rates, you can automate this task through Easyship’s software, leaving more time to focus on growing your business.

The Two Primary Ways to Unlock Cheap Shipping Labels

1. Negotiate Directly with Carriers

Many top carriers like USPS, FedEx, and UPS offer discounted rates to businesses that ship a large volume of packages each month. To qualify for these shipping discounts, you typically need to meet specific shipment thresholds. For example, USPS requires merchants to ship at least 5,000 packages annually to qualify for wholesale prices.

However, this method isn’t practical for small businesses or eCommerce startups. If you’re shipping fewer packages, you may not meet the requirements to access these shipping discounts.

2. Use Shipping Software to Access Discounted Rates

Shipping software like Easyship gives merchants instant access to pre-negotiated discounted shipping labels. These platforms aggregate shipments from thousands of users to negotiate low-cost shipping rates with carriers. Even if you only ship 50 packages per month, you’ll benefit from the same discounted rates as larger retailers.

These tools allow you to compare retail prices, wholesale prices, and applicable discounts from different services, so you can choose the cheapest way to ship each package. You’ll also be able to create labels, print them, and track shipments—all from one dashboard.

How Pre-Negotiated Discounts Work and Why They’re a Game-Changer

Pre-negotiated discounts work by combining the shipping volume of multiple users on a platform to access wholesale prices from major carriers like USPS, FedEx, and UPS. Since carriers prioritize businesses with higher shipment volumes, shipping software helps small businesses achieve those savings without having to meet minimum thresholds.

Unlike negotiating directly with carriers, shipping software doesn’t require merchants to have an account with each courier. Instead, you get instant access to the best shipping rates available, whether you’re sending a domestic shipment or an international package.

For example, Easyship users enjoy savings of up to 91% compared to standard retail rates. This level of discount would be difficult for smaller eCommerce businesses to negotiate on their own.

Cheapest Courier Options for Domestic Shipping in the US

Finding cheap shipping for domestic packages often comes down to comparing shipping rates from multiple carriers. Here’s a breakdown of indicative shipping costs for a 1-lb package shipped from New York to Los Angeles:

For small, lightweight packages, USPS often offers the cheapest shipping labels. However, for larger shipments, you might save more by using UPS or FedEx services. You can easily compare rates using Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator.

Cost-Effective International Shipping with USPS Priority Mail International

USPS Priority Mail International offers a balance between affordability and speed for international shipping. With Flat Rate boxes and weight-based shipping options, this service is ideal for eCommerce stores shipping products abroad.

• Delivery time: 6-10 business days, depending on the destination country’s infrastructure.
• Flat Rate shipping labels: Starting at $27.10, Flat Rate options provide predictable costs.
• Weight-based pricing: Starting at $19.69, this option is ideal for custom-sized packages.

USPS also offers free shipping documents, package tracking, and insurance for up to $200 on merchandise shipments. Businesses looking to expand globally can benefit from these discounted shipping labels while maintaining reliable delivery.

Comparing Faster Alternatives to Cheap Shipping Labels

For urgent deliveries, faster shipping services may be necessary despite their higher costs. Here’s a comparison of premium options:

• Global Express Guaranteed: Delivery in 1-3 business days, starting at $67.80.
• Priority Mail Express International: Delivery in 3-5 business days, starting at $42.85.

These services may be ideal for high-priority shipments or products that require faster delivery. Shipping software allows you to compare these options side by side to choose the best service for each shipment.

The Benefits of Using Shipping Software for Cheaper Labels

Shipping software doesn’t just help you print discounted shipping labels. It also streamlines your entire shipping process:

• Seamless integration with eCommerce platforms: Automatically sync orders from Shopify, WooCommerce, and more.
• Label creation and printing: Generate and print labels in just a few clicks.
• Automated shipping documents: Automatically create invoices, customs declarations, and tracking numbers.
• Cost comparison: Find the cheapest way to ship each package by comparing rates across carriers.

How to Create Cheap Shipping Labels in Minutes Using Shipping Software

Creating discounted shipping labels is simple. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Sign up for shipping software: Choose a platform like Easyship and create an account.
2. Connect your store: Link your eCommerce platform to automatically import orders.
3. Use a shipping rate calculator: Enter package details to find the lowest rates.
4. Select a service and print shipping labels: Choose the courier with the best rate and print the label.
5. Ship and track: Drop off the package at the post office or schedule a pickup and monitor the delivery.

Tips for Maximizing Savings with Cheap Shipping Labels

• Optimize your packaging: Smaller and lighter packages often result in lower label fees.
• Combine shipments: Whenever possible, ship multiple items together to reduce costs.
• Use a shipping rate calculator regularly: Rates can change, so compare prices before creating labels.
• Take advantage of seasonal discounts: Some carriers offer limited-time shipping discounts during peak seasons.
• Use poly mailers instead of boxes where possible.
• Schedule pickups to avoid last-mile carrier fees.
• Run A/B tests on shipping options at checkout to see which improve conversions.

Cheap shipping labels are a powerful tool for cutting costs and increasing profitability. With the right shipping software and strategy, you can access discounted shipping rates, print labels quickly, and streamline your entire shipping process. Sign up today and start saving!

Ready to simplify and save on shipping?
Easyship is here to help.

Easyship was built to simplify shipping for eCommerce sellers of every size. If you’re looking for ways to save on shipping costs, compare rates, automate fulfillment, or grow internationally—our free shipping tools and smart dashboard can save you hours daily.

FAQs on Shipping Labels

1. What are cheap shipping labels, and how can they help my eCommerce store?

Cheap shipping labels are discounted postage rates that allow you to ship packages at lower costs than retail prices. They help increase your profitability by reducing shipping expenses and improving customer satisfaction with affordable delivery options.

2. How can I get discounted shipping labels without high shipment volumes?

Use shipping software like Easyship to access pre-negotiated discounted rates. These platforms pool shipments from many users, enabling you to benefit from wholesale prices without needing to meet high minimum shipping thresholds required by carriers.

3. What’s the cheapest way to ship small packages domestically in the US?

USPS often provides the cheapest shipping labels for lightweight packages, while UPS or FedEx may offer better rates for larger items. Use a shipping rate calculator to compare rates and choose the most cost-effective option for each shipment.

4. Can I use cheap shipping labels for international deliveries?

Yes, services like USPS Priority Mail International offer affordable international shipping options with Flat Rate and weight-based pricing. They include package tracking and insurance, making them suitable for businesses expanding into global markets.

5. How do shipping software platforms simplify the shipping process?

Shipping software integrates with eCommerce platforms, automatically pulling order data, comparing shipping rates, and generating labels. They also create necessary shipping documents like invoices and tracking numbers, saving time and reducing manual tasks.

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