Shipping discounts available from UPS, USPS and FedEx

How to get the best shipping discounts from UPS, USPS, and FedEx

Shipping costs keep climbing—and that can seriously squeeze your margins. The good news? You don’t need to be a high-volume shipper to start saving. Platforms like ShipAccel and PitneyShip® make it simple to unlock discounted rates from UPS, USPS, and FedEx—so you can spend less on shipping and more time growing your business. This guide will show you how.

Table of Content:

1. How to Get Discounted Shipping Rates?
2. Do Businesses Get Discounted Shipping Rates?
3. How to Choose the Best Shipping Discounts for Your Business
4. How to Get UPS Discounts?
5. How to Get USPS Shipping Discounts?
6. How to Get FedEx Shipping Discounts?
7. How to choose the best shipping carrier for your business.
8. Access shipping discounts effortlessly with Pitney Bowes.

How to Get Discounted Shipping Rates

Shipping discounts are reductions from a carrier’s published pricing—and they can add up fast. Whether you're managing logistics for an enterprise or running a home office, there are more ways than ever to cut shipping costs. While shipping carriers like UPS, USPS, and FedEx may offer lower rates through contracts or volume deals, platforms like ShipAccel and PitneyShip® give you instant access to discounted rates—without needing enterprise-level volume.

These shipping platforms partner directly with carriers to offer savings usually reserved for big shippers. Both ShipAccel and PitneyShip help you compare prices, manage surcharges, and streamline your process—all in one place. PitneyShip is a flexible shipping software for small business and enterprise users alike. ShipAccel is tailored for ecommerce, offering intuitive tools and serious savings for fast-moving ecommerce shipping software users.

Whether you're printing labels, managing logistics, or just trying to save on postage, these platforms make it easier to ship smarter—and cheaper.

Do Businesses Get Discounted Shipping Rates?

Discounted shipping rates aren’t automatic—but they’re absolutely accessible for businesses of all sizes.

Here’s how it works:

• Most businesses pay retail rates if they ship directly from UPS locations, FedEx locations, or USPS locations without a business account.
• You can get business shipping discounts from UPS and FedEx by opening a UPS account or FedEx account and scheduling packages for pickup.
• USPS discounts are available when using a postage meter or online postage tools.
• The biggest savings come from using a multi carrier shipping platform or multi carrier software that offers better-than-retail pricing and simplified management.

PitneyShip®:

• Access discounted shipping rates from all major carriers.
• Use one platform to manage shipments and track spend.
• Get consolidated billing across carriers—no extra fees, just one simplified monthly invoice.

ShipAccel:

• Built for ecommerce and growing businesses.
• Unlock pre-negotiated enterprise rates without volume commitments.
• Automate rate shopping and gain visibility across shipping operations.

The bottom line: These tools help reduce shipping costs, save time, and simplify fulfillment—no matter how big or small your business is.

How to Choose the Best Shipping Discounts for Your Business

There’s no one-size-fits-all shipping carrier when it comes to the best shipping discounts. What matters most is how well a carrier’s pricing aligns with your shipping needs. From priority mail to international shipping or standard delivery, every business is different.

Here are four key factors to consider when evaluating shipping discounts:

• Shipping volume: Larger shipping volumes can unlock additional savings through direct carrier pricing
• Delivery speed: If your customers expect express shipping, you’ll want discounts in that category.
• Geographic coverage: Do you focus on domestic shipping or need reliable international delivery?
• Customer expectations: Cost sensitivity and delivery preferences matter—so align discounts accordingly.

Instead of guessing, tools like PitneyShip® and ShipAccel simplify the process. These multi carrier shipping software platforms offer:

• Pre-negotiated USPS and UPS discounts on certified mail, priority mail, Ground, and International services
• Real time shipping rates across carriers
• No volume requirements
• Simplified billing and spend tracking

Modern shipping is all about flexibility. Ditch single-carrier deals and switch to a smarter, flexible shipping strategy.

How to Get UPS Discounts

You don’t need to ship hundreds of packages a day to save with UPS. Whether you're fulfilling daily orders or shipping once a week, there are smart ways to unlock UPS discounts that fit your business needs. Here are four proven strategies:

1. Open a UPS Account

Signing up for a free UPS account gives you immediate access to built-in UPS discount rates and tools that simplify how you ship and pay.

• Save up to 50% off retail pricing
• Access pickups, billing controls, and online tools
• Pairing your account with platforms like PitneyShip® or ShipAccel may reduce shipping surcharges and offer even more flexible billing

2. Use Multi-Carrier Shipping Software

Shipping software like PitneyShip and ShipAccel does more than print labels—it opens the door to better UPS rates and smoother operations.

• Access discounted UPS rates (up to 77% off select services)
• Compare carriers and delivery times in real time
• Simplify billing and track shipping spend in one place
• No minimum volume required

3. Work with a Fulfillment Service

If you’re scaling or want to offload logistics, a fulfillment service or 3PL can offer cost savings and convenience.

• Many pass along their negotiated UPS volume discounts
• Gain fulfillment flexibility without managing it all in-house

4. Negotiate Directly with UPS

For businesses with consistent shipping needs, custom rates may be available directly through a UPS rep. Just be sure to review the fine print.

• Contracts may include volume targets and service commitments
• Some perks—like guaranteed delivery refunds—may vary
• Tools like ShipAccel and PitneyShip still offer great benchmarks and backup options

How to Get USPS Shipping Discounts

USPS is a low-cost shipping solution—especially when you take advantage of commercial rates. But here’s the catch: those savings aren’t available at USPS locations. If you’re buying postage at the Post Office, you’re likely overpaying—especially with 2025 rate increases.

The best USPS shipping discounts are accessed through online postage tools, shipping software, or postage meters, such as PitneyShip®, PitneyShip Pro, and ShipAccel.

How to Access USPS Commercial Rates

USPS offers two tiers of commercial pricing:

• Commercial Base Pricing (CBP) – Available to anyone using approved online postage tools.
• Commercial Plus Pricing (CPP) – Available to high-volume shippers or those using qualifying shipping software.

You can access these rates through:

• Online postage vendors
• Shipping platforms like PitneyShip, PitneyShip Pro, and ShipAccel
• Approved postage meters

Eligible USPS services include:

• Priority Mail®
• Priority Mail Express®
• First-Class Package Service®
• Media Mail
• International Mail Services

💡 Savings can range from 20–30% or more off retail Priority Mail rates.

Use Multi-Carrier Shipping Software to Maximize USPS Discounts

Platforms like PitneyShip, PitneyShip Pro, and ShipAccel do more than unlock USPS commercial rates—they streamline your entire shipping workflow.

Here’s what they help you do:

• ✅ Access discounted USPS shipping rates with no volume requirement
• 🔄 Compare rates across USPS, UPS, and FedEx in real time
• 🗓️ Schedule pickups and batch print shipping labels
• 📦 Automate returns, tracking, and label printing
• 📊 Manage billing, addresses, and shipping data in one dashboard

Bonus: USPS is also a popular choice for returns automation, offering affordable, trackable solutions businesses and customers trust.

How to Get FedEx Shipping Discounts

Looking for how to get FedEx shipping discounts that work for your business size and shipping needs? Good news: there are multiple ways to access FedEx shipping discounts, whether you ship occasionally or manage hundreds of packages a month. From account setup to partner programs and integrations with multi carrier shipping software, it’s easier than ever to unlock serious shipping discounts.

1. Open a FedEx Account

The first step is simple: open a FedEx account at fedex.com. This gives you access to base-level FedEx shipping discounts on services like FedEx Ground and FedEx Express, along with reduced rates on surcharges.

• No cost to set up
• Get instant access to discounted rates
• Applies to both FedEx Ground and FedEx Express services

2. Sign Up for the FedEx More Savings Program

The FedEx More Savings Program offers growing discounts as your annual shipping volume increases.

• Requires use of FedEx ShipManager or another approved electronic shipping solution
• Rates improve over time based on how much you ship
• A great way to boost your FedEx discount without needing high-volume contracts

3. Use FedEx Advantage Through Partner Programs

Through the FedEx Advantage Program, you can access savings via business groups, industry associations, or partner brands like American Express and USAA®.

• No minimums or enrollment fees
• Ideal for small businesses looking to reduce FedEx discounts friction-free

4. Get Custom Quotes with the FedEx Great Rates Hotline

For international shipping or U.S. freight over 151 lbs., the FedEx Great Rates Hotline can help you secure custom pricing.

• Call 877-463-7408 with shipment and FedEx account details
• You may qualify for a FedEx international shipping discount
• Especially helpful for large, custom, or cross-border shipments

5. Integrate with Multi-Carrier Shipping Software

Connecting your FedEx account to a multi carrier shipping software or multi carrier shipping platform—like PitneyShip® or ShipAccel—unlocks even more benefits:

• Compare live rates across carriers
• Track surcharges, optimize delivery windows
• Use a modern shipping solution that improves control, efficiency, and savings
• All in one dashboard

Bottom line: If you're searching for how to get FedEx shipping discounts, you have flexible options—from free programs to powerful platforms. With the right tools in place, your business can save time, cut costs, and ship smarter every day.

How to Choose the Best Shipping Carrier for Your Business

There’s no such thing as the best shipping carrier for every package. Each shipment is different—and what works for one order may not be ideal for the next. That’s why it’s smart to stay flexible and choose based on what matters most: cost, speed, and service quality.

When comparing carriers, look at more than just base rates. Review shipping options like express or economy delivery, package tracking, and support for returns. Can your customer re-route a package? Schedule a delivery time? These small details can make a big impact on customer satisfaction.

Rather than locking yourself into a single shipping carrier, businesses benefit most from working with multiple carriers. That flexibility lets you optimize each shipment for both budget and customer needs—without compromise.

The easiest way to do this? Use multi-carrier shipping software. It takes the guesswork out of carrier selection by showing you real-time pricing, delivery timelines, and service features for every shipment—so you can always choose the best option.

Access Shipping Discounts Effortlessly with Pitney Bowes

For over 100 years, Pitney Bowes has helped businesses simplify shipping and mailing—and today, our platforms make it easy to unlock shipping discounts without complicated rate charts or phone negotiations. Whether you’re sending a few packages or managing enterprise fulfillment, we’ve got solutions that scale with you.

PitneyShip® – For individuals and home office users

• Access discount shipping labels and discount stamps
• Compare shipping carrier rates across USPS, UPS, and FedEx
• Print shipping labels and postage from your desktop
• Schedule pickups, track packages, and simplify returns

PitneyShip Pro® – For teams and multi-location shippers

• Compare rates across carriers using our “best match” tool
• Automate mailing, Certified Mail with electronic return receipt, and label creation
• Secure multi-user login with centralized billing and tracking
• Designed for flexibility, cost control, and operational efficiency

ShipAccel – For ecommerce and high-volume shipping operations

• Real-time multi carrier shipping platform with built-in shipping discounts
• Automate fulfillment rules and print shipping labels in batches
• Enable branded tracking, fast returns, and live shipping carrier rates
• Built for scaling with smart integrations across ecommerce stores, marketplaces, and 3PLs

Whether you’re a solo shipper or managing nationwide logistics, Pitney Bowes gives you the tools to ship smarter, faster, and for less.