Ship Thrifty.com Q&A

Our customers love working with us. Here are some of the common words they've shared:

• About the Tools - Brilliant, Amazing, Lifesaver, Easy, User-friendly, Fantastic, A Gift, Simple, Seamless, Speedy, Cost-saver, Timesaving, Valuable
• About Our Team - Amazing, Trustworthy, Love Working with Us, Professional, Passionate, Value Our Partnership, Flexible, Knowledgeable, Awesome, Compassionate, Dedicated, Helpful, Guardian Angel, Patient, Friends
• How They Feel About Working with Us - Blessed, Happy, Appreciative, Grateful, Delighted, Glad, Excited

Ship Thrifty.com is a free online shipping tool. We don't charge monthly fees to use the application.

We are covered by the carriers.

• This is not the first time we’ve heard this, but rest assured, it is not a scam. We partner with the carriers and built our shipping tools from scratch with people who ship packages. We have extensive expertise in military shipping and support military families and nonprofits through our tools and education.
• We are Military OneSource Vetted/Approved and partner with The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Blue Star Mothers of America, and 100s of nonprofits nationwide, as well as bases worldwide. Several large corporations use us to ship their military care packages. We also teach at military pre-deployments, volunteer and packing events, and speak nationally at military events. Sometimes it is easier to see what others have to say,y so take a look at our testimonials.

We partner with major carriers. We offer discounted rates on shipping and supplemental insurance to empower you to optimize your shipment(s) based on your needs and choices while sharing tips and resources to help you ship better. You will also save time, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. Depending on your shipping volume, we offer additional programs you may be eligible for. Email us at contactus@ShipThrifty.com to learn more.

Low-volume shippers pay the highest shipping rates. When you use Ship Thrifty, you can leverage our discounts with an easy-to-use interface that saves you time and money.

There are a couple of answers to this question. Just because you have an account with a carrier does not mean you always get the best prices. Using Ship Thrifty lets you easily manage your shipments (box sizes and weight), so you can get the best value for your shipping needs. Third, we designed our interface to display carrier information, so you can choose the option that best meets your needs based on speed, carrier, or cost.

The site's simplicity lets you set up your shipment in a fraction of the time. We also offer discounted insurance, and if you run a business, we integrate with other platforms at no cost. If you'd like to discuss your specific needs and the differences between Ship Thrifty.com, please email us at contactus@shipthrifty.com. There are many reasons to be excited about Ship Thrifty.

Getting started is EASY! Just create your free account https://ShipThrifty.com/register. An OTP will be sent to your email to verify your account, and a member of our support team will contact you to personally activate it. If you need the account activated right away, call us at 800-544-4992. It’s just an added security measure we have in place to ensure your information has not been compromised.

Once your account is activated, you're ready to ship.

If you are a business owner looking to integrate with other platforms, it takes about 5 minutes to set up webhooks. We can help to make the transition quick and painless.

If you want us to teach you the special functions of the tools, it takes 10-30 minutes, depending on your shipping experience. Many just create their accounts and start shipping.

Yes, we offer training for individuals and businesses. We can train anyone on your team to ship. Email us at contactus@ShipThrifty.com to schedule online shipping training at your convenience. If you're familiar with shipping, you can also view our help videos on our https://shipthrifty.com/resource/category/help/ page.

We can teach someone to use our tools in under 10 minutes. Schedule training by calling our support team at 800-544-4992.

Yep. Anyone can be a shipping Rockstar using Ship Thrifty.com. Our oldest known shipper is almost 90.

Absolutely! We love helping people with their shipping. We can spend as little or as much time helping you as you need, and shipping support is always free.

Yes, feel free to schedule a time that works for you here, https://calendly.com/ShipThrifty.

Base coverage is offered by carriers as follows.

- USPS® Ground Advantage & Priority mail include coverage up to $100 for loss or damage

- Other carrier insurance typically covers up to $100 for loss or damage. You can add supplemental insurance to any order for a fraction of what others charge.

- Expedited shipping is estimated, and carriers don’t include coverage for time-in-transit or “late” claims.

Visit our website or call us at 800-544-4992.

Great question! We created Ship Thrifty to simplify shipping and provide businesses and consumers with options and transparency. We believe in delivering value to you. Save addresses, copy and edit labels, and use our custom, brandable tools at no additional cost. Our reporting is straightforward and easy to understand. You’ll know exactly what you’ve sent, what you’ve spent, and where everything is at.

You can use Ship Thrifty, whether or not you have an online storefront. We are military shipping experts.

No, Ship Thrifty can be used for shipments inside the U.S. and sending packages to APO, FPO, and DPO overseas military locations.

Ship Thrifty is the backbone of our shipping application. It is how we pull prices from the carriers and print labels. Ship to Military is a website we set up to provide resources for military shippers.

It depends on where you live in the U.S., the carrier, and your package's weight and dimensions. Generally, using a plain box or reusing a sturdy one is the most cost-effective option. Note: if you’re reusing a box, all prior labels must be removed, and boxes with hazard, cleaning, or alcohol markings must be removed or completely covered. We are always happy to help you identify the most cost-effective shipping options, so reach out for a free assessment.

When you create your account, you can use our batch shipping tools to view costs for different box sizes and services. Copy your entry, try different boxes and dimensions, and refresh your rates. Ship Thrifty automatically displays the lowest-priced option first, and you can view additional options based on your needs. If you ship via USPS, a brown box you pay for may cost less than a flat-rate box in most cases.

We offer a box partnership with plain and branded boxes at wholesale rates through UCANPACK.

Uline, Staples, and Amazon offer boxes for purchase online. Another option is to pick them up at local stores that carry boxes or envelopes, such as Dollar Stores, Staples, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe's. We recommend heavy-duty boxes, especially for heavier items or packages going long distances, such as those being sent to an APO/FPO/DPO. USPS.com also offers free shipping supplies for Priority Mail, but it often costs less to use your own box, even if you have to purchase it. Carriers do not permit their boxes or shipping materials to be used for any purpose other than shipping. Carrier-branded packaging may be used only for shipping with the specified service and carrier.

Shipments are paid for by credit card at checkout. You can also prefund your shipping account by ACH or use your credit card to load your My Wallet in the admin area before making shipments. Credit card payments are processed through Stripe. They use tokenization, so card information is not stored directly on our platform. Many large companies use the service (Google, Target, Salesforce, NASDAQ, Shopify, Expedia, etc.). You can also mail a check to pre-fund your account, and we also offer ACH.

It is not necessary, but it is a good investment if you ship regularly. The weight is more reliable than a bathroom scale and doesn’t require a significant investment. If you choose to use a bathroom scale, we recommend adding a pound or two to your weight just to be safe.

Rounding up to the next pound is recommended among carriers. A weight of 10.2 pounds should be rounded up to 11. Think of each price bracket as having a little “up to” in front of it. If a 10.95-pound package may be heavier, round up to 12 pounds rather than 11, especially if you are not using a postal scale.

The label will include your address, the recipient's address, and package details. If you are making an APO/FPO/DPO shipment, the customs details will also be printed on the label. You do not need to write out customs forms - everything prints right on the label. If you have more than 7 rows of customs details, an additional customs continuation form will be printed, and those labels should also be applied to your package flaps.

You don't need one when you use Ship Thrifty.com; your customs information is printed directly on your shipping label. Because you create and pay for your shipping label online, you avoid the line at the post office and skip the postal clerk entering your customs information by hand.

To disclose the items in your package, add a detailed description of each item, followed by the HS code that will display based on your item description. Select the country of origin, enter the quantity, price, and weight for each item. Your package weight and value will be calculated based on this information. The total weight of your customs entries should match the package weight or be a bit higher. If the total weight listed in your customs details is less than your package's actual weight, add some weight to the items. It is acceptable for the customs details to be slightly greater (2-3 lbs) than the box's actual weight to account for weighing discrepancies. 7 customs details fit on the main label, and each customs continuation can contain 28 items, with a maximum of 45 items.

– Be sure to check what is prohibited for the base zip code you are sending with the What’s Prohibited link in the Create a Label tool or the circle with the line through it in the Create Multiple Labels tool. Sending items that aren’t allowed at that base may cause nonrefundable returned packages.

– If you have more entries than what will fit on the address label, an additional custom continuation will be delivered, which also needs to be printed and put on the box.

Your admin panel provides access to live tracking, shipping history, historical reports, address books, and more.

We have SSL encryption on our site, which provides a higher level of security. We also support strong authentication, which means you need a username and password to access your data and prevent others from seeing it. We restrict internal access to our systems and do not sell, share, or distribute addresses. Our hosting tools also include security protocols to protect your information.

We work with the post office. Ship Thrifty falls into the PC Postage category, which allows us to offer discounted rates. We increase efficiency for the post office, improving the experience for postal customers by reducing wait times.

You can drop off your boxes at any carrier location that matches the carrier printed on the shipping label. Carriers also partner with local stores for drop off. Anyone can schedule a pickup with USPS by completing USPS® Schedule a Pickup Form. If you have a lot of packages or larger, heavier ones, we recommend calling your local post office to ensure they can pick up. Pickup availability varies by location and staffing. If your business location is interested in site pickup, you can create an account with major carriers to set up pickups at your location. Carriers charge a fee for the service.

When you're logged into your Ship Thrifty.com account, go to your My Tracking link. You will also get live tracking notifications when a carrier scans your package. You can also enter your tracking link on the carrier's website to view the status report.

If you haven't gotten a live tracking alert for a while, your package is most likely still on its way. Check your My Tracking report and look to the right of the current-colored column for status. Military packages sometimes experience a delay between the USPS® International Service Center and the Base. The average time for packages to reach someone overseas is typically two weeks, but it can sometimes take longer.

Yes, you can give your salespeople access to your account by adding them as users. When you do, you will be able to track all shipments and gain clarity on shipping activity. This also streamlines package handling and makes sales easier for your company representatives.

Luggage, golf clubs, trade show booths, and other items can also be shipped.

Yes, you can upload a CSV or Excel file to Ship Thrifty. Use the template available when you log in to your Ship Thrifty account and add your data. We can also add your addresses to your account for you, and this service is complimentary, as we are all about helping you ship better.

We can help you integrate any online applications with your Ship Thrifty account. It just takes a couple of minutes to set up, and we will help you. Reach out to let us know you'd like to discuss integration, and share a good time to reach you for further discussion or setup.

No, we don't charge fees for integration or for getting you set up.

Carriers have size and weight restrictions.

USPS® package cannot exceed 70 pounds, length + girth cannot exceed 108 inches

FedEx Express® packages cannot exceed 150 pounds, 119 inches in length and 165 inches length and girth

Length is the measurement of the longest side, and girth is the distance around the thickest part (perpendicular to length).

Here's a link to our Ship Thrifty Blog Post on Carrier Size and Weight Shipping Restrictions for more information.

Items that can be sent overseas to our military include snacks, hygiene products, games, books, and similar items. It is important not to send items that are restricted by USPS or prohibited by the APO/FPO/DPO base locations. See Military Restrictions

Yes. Be sure you know what can and can’t be sent overseas.

Restricted items can’t be shipped:

• Aerosols
• Alcohol-based items (hand sanitizer, wet wipes, mouthwash, eyeglass cleaner/wipes)
• Cleaning supplies (Tide pens, peroxides, chlorides)
• Nail polish
• Perfume or other hazardous materials

Some Common Prohibited Items (at some bases):

• Coffee
• Pork products
• Over-the-counter meds and supplements
• Any meat products - Beef jerky, tuna/chicken packets etc.

Also, military shipments must comply with domestic and international shipping requirements.

Ship Thrifty ties the military restrictions right in the shipping tools. You can also use this Military Restrictions link to check specific restrictions based on base zip code and follow domestic and international dangerous goodrules.

No, FedEx and USPS cannot ship to PO Boxes. If you’re shipping to a PO Box, you must use USPS

Yes, major carriers have general restricted items that include hazardous material, explosives, fireworks, firearms (parts or ammunition), money, money orders, passports, credit/debit/ATM cards, antiques, works of art, lottery tickets, animals, plants, pornographic materials, contraband, narcotics, and psychotropic substances, and fragile glassware. Additional information is available on the carrier websites.

Yes, most items can be shipped when you have a carrier contract, a regular shipping volume, and comply with their regulations.

Dry ice is a restricted item. Ship Thrifty prohibits shipping dry ice and requests that you contact the carriers directly to arrange shipment.

Alcohol is a restricted item. You must obtain carrier approval to ship it, along with a contract, a regular shipping volume, and compliance with their regulations.

Ship Thrifty does not offer international shipping at this time.

If shipping within the U.S., major carriers can deliver packages to a base. If shipping overseas to an APO, FPO, or DPO, USPS is the only carrier approved to send to overseas military bases.

Military mail MUST be addressed to an actual person, or it won’t be delivered. Soldier, Any Service Member, etc., is not allowed. Rank/grade/rating is recommended but not required; skip it if sent to a DPO (e.g., CPT for Captain).

Yes. If you send books, play scripts, printed music books, CDs, records, tapes, 16 mm or smaller film, test materials, educational materials, or medical or student-related records, they can be sent for less via Media Mail. Media Mail may not contain advertising or be mixed with other items, such as bookmarks or T-shirts. Comic books cannot be sent via Media Mail either. Media Mail can be enabled in your Ship Thrifty account settings.

If you notice an error on a label and it has not been scanned by the carrier, we recommend canceling the label and creating a new one with the correct information. Labels can be cancelled in the My Orders Simple link. The card you used for checkout will be credited automatically within 3 to 7 business days. Do not handwrite on a label with errors, as the information is still in the scan code.

If the label has already been dropped off, there is not much you can do. Please note that the package may be returned or additional fees may be assessed if the postage is incorrect due to an error.

We always recommend adding a little extra weight or rounding up to the next whole inch if you aren't sure about your measurements or weight. Overall, the roundup does not significantly affect costs and helps ensure your package is not returned or assessed additional fees due to incorrect information.

USPS® typically returns the package to you with a note stating that the address is insufficient. Other major carriers will attempt to determine the correct address and, if possible, return the package rather than send it back. A surcharge for an address correction will be billed to your card on file. The charge varies by carrier but is typically under $20. Returned packages are not refundable.

A manifest is a scan form that generates a barcode, allowing you to check all your packages in at once. Ship Thrifty automatically generates a manifest for your USPS shipments, reducing drop-off or pickup time by 90%. USPS scans a single form, and all your packages are checked in at one time, rather than scanning each label individually. Most people split orders into groups of 300 or fewer and may create multiple manifests to make the batches easier to handle.

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