[kevingibbon]

USPS flat rate is actually only the cheapest USPS option if you are shipping > 11 lbs. I guarantee you that if you use us it will be cheaper (even including our $5 pickup fee) than for you to do it yourself with all free packaging materials. Then factor what your time is worth.

UPS ground and fedex ground are actually the best/cheapest option if you are shipping anything > 3 lbs. We choose the cheapest carrier automatically and create a custom box for each item.

btw CEO of Shyp here.

[justinsb]

Interesting - I definitely accept the value-of-time argument (that's why I just use flat-rate, rather than going to the effort of weighing the package). Sounds like I should try Shyp next time!

[spydertennis]

whats the cheapest if you are shipping 1 lb domestically and need a tracking number?

[kevingibbon]

USPS priority. If it is <= 13 oz you could use first class.

Their price point can't be beat for < 3 lb items domestically.

[ChikkaChiChi]

UPS Mail Innovations beats out USPS First Class for us in price and accountability. Because they push through UPS's system all the way to regional facilities, we're seeing less package claims.

UPS SurePost also can be competitive if you put them through the wringer. From 1-9lbs we're saving between $0.08 to over $22.00 across the Contiguous US.

USPS almost retained our business from 10-15lbs, but we got UPS to match them.