Cutting short shipping costs is one of the easiest ways to get an edge over your competitors. It’s because customers are in pursuit of orders being shipped in a minimal span and with minimal delivery fees. Businesses can succeed only by maintaining an optimal balance between the two things. However, there’s more that businesses can keep an eye on, such as opportunities.
Certain renowned carriers, like USPS and UPS, offer free shipping supplies, letting businesses save on their shipments. Whether you are a small business owner trying to save every dollar or a large corporation wanting to benefit from free supplies on bulk orders, the opportunity is there for both!
Part 1. Free Shipping Supplies from USPS
Simply pick them up from your nearest local post office or order online with free shipping. However, note that these free shipping boxes are sold in packs of 10 or 25. So, when placing an order, you are actually mentioning the number of packs you want in the quantity section. Here are some of the free shipping supplies offered by USPS:
- Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Legal Envelopes
- Priority Mail Express Sticker Labels
- Priority Mail Express APO/FPO Box
- Priority Flat Rate Boxes
- Registered Mail Envelopes
- Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope
- USPS Tracking Labels
- Priority Mail Tyvek Envelopes
Aside from these, USPS also offers comprehensive services. You can check their website to learn more about the shipping rates for flat-rate boxes and envelopes, track packages, or schedule a pickup with USPS.
Part 2. Free Shipping Supplies from UPS
First on the list is UPS, one of the largest shipping carriers in the US, with numerous locations. With exclusive services, UPS has really made mass shopping simpler for businesses. It also offers free shipping supplies, which you can order online and receive within a few business days or pick up from the nearest UPS location. Here is the list of UPS free shipping boxes and supplies that you can obtain with a UPS account:
- Boxes and packaging
- Shipping forms and labels
- Shipping stickers
- Express envelopes
- HAZMAT supplies
Apart from this, you can also obtain packaging guidelines or info regarding shipping requirements from the dedicated FAQ section on the UPS website. With free shipping in hand, you can also obtain a quote for your shipment and the time it will take for UPS to deliver it. All that info is offered on their comprehensive website.
Part 3. Free Shipping Supplies from FedEx
Well, how could FedEx stay behind when its competitors are offering free shipping supplies? It offers complimentary FedEx packaging, including:
- Standard boxes
- Specialty boxes
- Mailers
- Tubes
- Cushioning and packaging peanuts
- Tape, and more such goods.
You can either order the supplies online or pick them up from the nearest FedEx location. In the case of the former, supplies are delivered within two to five business days.
Aside from the free shipping boxes, you can also order FedEx’s standard brown cardboard box, which costs somewhere between $1.75 and $15. Other goods, like fragile packaging, can also be bought online.
Other things that you can find on the FedEx website include international shipping guides, shipping rate calculations, customs documents, etc.
Part 4. Free Shipping Supplies from DHL
Lastly, we have DHL. What sets DHL apart from others is that its shipping rates are comparatively cheaper. Now, you know why they call DHL the leader of international shipping. With them, you can ship your parcels wherever you want at competitive rates. Coming to the free shipping supplies, the following are the ones that DHL account holders can obtain:
- Tube mailers
- Boxes
- Padded pouches
- Envelopes
- Mailers
- Waybill Sleeves
- Shipping labels
Additionally, you can schedule a pickup with DHL, get a quote for your parcel, or sign up for MyDHL+ to enjoy exclusive features and support on the website.
Part 5. What You Should Consider When Using Free Shipping Supplies from Carriers?
By now, you have explored the different shipping carriers and their free shipping supplies; let’s now explore what you should keep in mind when using these free shipping supplies.
Can be Used for Specific Carriers
Most carriers’ free shipping boxes are destined for use only with that specific carrier. These boxes are mainly offered to streamline the internal procedures of scanning and reading labels. However, if you have picked up or ordered shipping boxes from UPS, you can’t use them to ship goods via DHL; the same is the case with other carriers.
Can be Used for Specific Mailing Services
Aside from the specificity of carrier, the specificity of mailing services must also be considered. For example, if you have obtained supplies for USPS’s Priority Mail service, you can only use them when shipping your goods via priority mail. So, be cautious when getting supplies and predetermine the mailing service you will be relying on.
Consider Shipping Costs
Although the supplies are offered for free, you must pay shipping charges if you place an online order. So, ensure you are using supplies wisely; otherwise, you will end up ordering more and more and incurring shipping costs.
Get the Right Size Supplies
When getting free shipping supplies, keep your parcel’s size and weight in mind. These will help score the right shipping box or packaging. Alternatively, you might end up with charges or complications with your shipments due to inappropriate packaging. Also, don’t forget to inspect the quality of the shipping supplies to ensure your shipment remains safe throughout the journey.
Don’t Stock Up Supplies
Though the supplies are offered for free, you must not stock them up. They can be easily ordered online or picked up from the nearest location each month. Ordering them as needed helps ensure everyone has fair access to the resources. Moreover, some carriers have also placed limits on the number of times you can obtain free shipping supplies from them. So, be sure to check that out, too.
Get Free Shipping Supplies with NextSmartShip
Planning to get free shipping supplies from your desired carrier? Shipping costs might seem like a burden, so partner with NextSmartShip and cut short on them significantly. NSS will help you obtain your desired shipping supplies with minimal shipping charges, much less than the platform’s. But that’s not all! You can rely on this platform to package goods on your behalf or manage the entire order fulfillment process. They also offer inventory management services. So, why not give it a try?
Conclusion
Most renowned carriers offer free shipping supplies, like boxes, mailers, tubes, labels, etc., to streamline the internal label scanning and reading processes. They can also be a form of advertisement in certain cases. However, the thing is, you can get yourself a handful of shipping supplies for free from UPS and USPS, as well as FedEx and DHL.
Simply visit the relevant pages on the official website and order from there. Alternatively, get them from the nearest carrier location. In the case of online ordering, you will need to pay shipping charges. NSS can help you reduce them significantly with affordable shipping services. Visit their website to learn more about them.
