As an ecommerce entrepreneur or small business owner, navigating the world of shipping can be daunting. With countless carriers, services, and software vying for your business, it‘s tough to know where to turn for the best rates and experience. Two options you‘ve likely come across are Pirate Ship and USPS. But is Pirate Ship the same as USPS? And which one is the better choice for your needs?
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive deep into the similarities, differences, pros, and cons of Pirate Ship and USPS. By the end, you‘ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision and ship with confidence. Let‘s get started!
What is Pirate Ship?
Pirate Ship is a web-based shipping software that allows users to access discounted USPS Priority Mail rates without any monthly fees or volume requirements. Founded in 2014 by entrepreneurs Bjorn Borstelmann and Kevin Gibbon, Pirate Ship has grown rapidly to become a popular choice for small to medium-sized shippers.
The key to Pirate Ship‘s success is its partnership with USPS, which allows the company to purchase postage at deeply discounted commercial rates. Pirate Ship then passes those savings on to its customers, with no markups or hidden fees. According to the company, users can save up to 89% compared to USPS retail rates.
Here are some key stats that illustrate Pirate Ship‘s growth and impact:
- Over 500,000 businesses use Pirate Ship to ship their products (Source: Pirate Ship)
- Pirate Ship users have saved over $500 million in shipping costs since 2014 (Source: Pirate Ship)
- The company has printed over 200 million shipping labels to date (Source: Pirate Ship)
- Pirate Ship‘s revenue grew by 500% in 2020 amid the pandemic ecommerce boom (Source: Inc. 5000)
But Pirate Ship isn‘t just a discount postage reseller. The company has also built a powerful, user-friendly shipping software that automates many of the tedious tasks involved in order fulfillment. With features like batch label printing, order importing, and customer email notifications, Pirate Ship aims to simplify the shipping process from start to finish.
How Does Pirate Ship Work with USPS?
To understand how Pirate Ship is able to offer such steep discounts on USPS Priority Mail, it‘s important to know a bit about how commercial shipping rates work. Essentially, USPS offers tiered pricing based on volume, with high-volume shippers paying less per package than occasional shippers.
Normally, to access commercial rates, a business would need to ship over 50,000 packages per year and have a dedicated account manager at USPS. But by consolidating orders from thousands of smaller shippers, Pirate Ship is able to hit those volume tiers and negotiate even lower rates.
So when you purchase a label on Pirate Ship, the company is actually buying that postage from USPS on your behalf, at a rate that‘s much lower than what you‘d pay at the post office. Pirate Ship then charges you a slightly marked-up rate to cover its costs and turn a profit, but the final price is still far below retail.
It‘s a win-win-win arrangement: USPS gets a high volume of guaranteed business, Pirate Ship earns a modest margin on each label sold, and small shippers get access to deeply discounted rates that would otherwise be out of reach. And since Pirate Ship doesn‘t actually handle any of the packages itself, delivery is still carried out by USPS as usual.
Pirate Ship vs USPS: Key Differences
While Pirate Ship is built on USPS Priority Mail, there are some important distinctions between the two services that are worth highlighting. Here‘s a quick rundown of the key differences:
Pricing
As we‘ve established, the main draw of Pirate Ship is its discounted Priority Mail rates. But just how much can you save compared to USPS retail? Let‘s take a look at some sample price comparisons:
| Package Weight | Pirate Ship Cubic Rate | USPS PM Retail Rate | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | $3.56 | $7.16 | 50% |
| 5 lbs | $5.95 | $14.35 | 59% |
| 10 lbs | $10.49 | $49.95 | 79% |
As you can see, the savings are most significant for heavier packages, particularly those that qualify for Pirate Ship‘s unique cubic pricing. Cubic rates are based on the outer dimensions of the package rather than its weight, which can lead to huge discounts on dense, compact items.
However, it‘s worth noting that Pirate Ship‘s pricing advantage mainly applies to Priority Mail. If you‘re shipping lightweight items via First Class Package or using specialized services like Media Mail, you may find better rates with USPS directly.
Services and Features
Another key difference between Pirate Ship and USPS is the range of services offered. While USPS has a wide variety of shipping options for different needs and budgets, Pirate Ship deals exclusively in Priority Mail. That means you‘ll get 1-3 day delivery, package tracking, and $100 of built-in insurance, but you won‘t have access to First Class, Retail Ground, Express, or many of USPS‘s other offerings.
What Pirate Ship lacks in service options, though, it makes up for in user-friendly features. The software includes tools for:
- Importing orders from ecommerce platforms and marketplaces
- Creating and purchasing labels in bulk
- Scheduling free package pickups
- Sending branded tracking emails to customers
- Generating customs forms for international shipments
- Insuring packages up to $5,000 through Shipsurance
For many small businesses, these features can streamline the fulfillment process and save valuable time and effort. Pirate Ship also offers responsive customer support via email, chat, and an extensive online knowledge base.
Ease of Use
Signing up for a Pirate Ship account is free and takes just a few minutes. The software is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, with a clean interface and step-by-step guidance for creating labels. Pirate Ship also offers integrations with popular ecommerce platforms and marketplaces, making it easy to import orders and automate your shipping workflow.
In contrast, setting up a USPS business account can be a bit more involved, especially if you want to access commercial pricing tiers. You‘ll typically need to provide more detailed information about your shipping volume and needs, and you may be assigned a dedicated account representative.
Once you‘re set up, though, the process of creating labels and shipping packages is fairly similar between the two services. USPS also offers its own web-based Click-N-Ship platform for purchasing postage online.
Customer Support
One area where Pirate Ship really shines is customer support. The company prides itself on offering fast, friendly, and knowledgeable support to its users through a variety of channels. You can reach out via email, live chat, or phone, and expect a prompt response from a real human being.
Pirate Ship also maintains an extensive library of help articles, video tutorials, and FAQ resources on its website. And if you ever run into an issue with a shipment or need to file an insurance claim, the process is typically quicker and easier than going through USPS directly.
That‘s not to say that USPS customer service is lacking – the postal service also offers support through its website and call center. But with such a large and complex organization, it can sometimes be harder to get personalized attention or quick resolution to issues.
The Bottom Line
So, is Pirate Ship the same as USPS? The short answer is no – while the two services are closely intertwined, they are separate entities with distinct offerings and features.
Pirate Ship is a technology company that has partnered with USPS to offer discounted postage rates and user-friendly shipping software to small businesses and online sellers. It‘s not a replacement for USPS, but rather a complementary service that makes Priority Mail more accessible and affordable for certain types of shippers.
If you frequently ship small, heavy items and want the simplest, most cost-effective way to do so, Pirate Ship is definitely worth considering. The savings on cubic rates alone can make a huge difference for your bottom line, and the software‘s ease of use and customer support are top-notch.
On the flip side, if you primarily ship lightweight packages, need faster delivery options, or prefer the wider range of services offered by USPS, you may be better off sticking with the tried-and-true postal service. There‘s also something to be said for the peace of mind that comes with working directly with a well-established institution like USPS, rather than relying on a third-party platform.
Ultimately, the choice between Pirate Ship and USPS comes down to your unique business needs, budget, and shipping profile. But one thing is certain: in today‘s ecommerce-driven world, having a reliable, cost-effective shipping solution is more important than ever. By taking the time to compare your options and find the right fit, you‘ll be well on your way to shipping success.
