Pirate Ship now offers UPS® labels with instant, pre-negotiated discounts. Here's everything you need to know to get started with UPS on Pirate Ship.
Choosing a Service and Buying Labels
How to Create a UPS Label: Creating a UPS label is no different than USPS; all you need to do is go to your Ship page and click the "Create a Single Label" button.
Once you're there, enter your recipient address information and your package details, then click the green "Get Rates" button to see your different options 😉
You'll be prompted to select a service from the Choose a Service drop-down menu. Here, alongside all the USPS services you're used to, you'll see all the different UPS services available for your shipment, with day-specific delivery estimates for UPS.
Choosing a Service: By default, Pirate Ship will Sort By whichever service is most affordable, but if you prefer using one of the carriers over the other you can change the default on the top right of the Choose a Service menu.
Learn more about choosing a service, including what the "BEST" option means.
The different UPS services
UPS gives you tons of options for shipping your packages fast and affordably 💪
Here's a breakdown of all the UPS services that you get access to whenever you use Pirate Ship:
Domestic UPS services
UPS® Ground - The most competitive service for shippers looking to save money while getting their packages to customers quickly. It's the most affordable domestic service that UPS offers, and features day-and-time specific delivery estimates within 1-5 business days.
UPS® Ground Saver - The cheapest UPS service available on Pirate Ship, specifically designed for low-value shipments that don't require urgent delivery. Delivery occurs one day later than UPS Ground, as UPS hands some of the packages to USPS for last-mile delivery.
UPS 3 Day Select® - A great option if you want to be sure your packages will get to your customers within three business days.
UPS 2nd Day Air® - For packages that need delivery within 2 days, with an earlier delivery option with the UPS 2nd Day Air A.M. service.
2nd Day Air A.M.® - With the A.M. option you can have your package delivered earlier in the day, by 10:30 AM or Noon depending on the shipment.
UPS Next Day Air® - The premier service for packages that need to arrive the next business day, with some destinations qualifying for Early AM or more affordable End-of-Day delivery.
UPS Next Day Air® Early - With the Early option, UPS offers overnight delivery as early as 8:00 AM to most major cities, or by 9:30 AM to other addresses.
UPS Next Day Air Saver® - As the most affordable next-day UPS delivery service, Saver is ideal if you’d like to save money and still have your packages delivered by end-of-day on the next business day.
International UPS services
UPS® Standard - The most affordable international UPS service for shipments going to Mexico and Canada that aren’t as time-sensitive, with delivery in 3-7 business days.
UPS Worldwide Expedited® - The ideal service for non-urgent international shipments with 2-5 day delivery, depending on which country you’re shipping to.
UPS Worldwide Saver® - A cost-effective service for international shipments that require quick delivery, with 1-day delivery to Canada and 2-3 day delivery to other countries.
UPS Worldwide Express® - The fastest international service on Pirate Ship for time-sensitive packages, with 1-3 day delivery by 10:30 AM or Noon depending on the destination.
International UPS labels may incur brokerage fees
Brokerage Fees for International UPS Labels: For international shipments, UPS can act as the customs broker to ensure a package makes it through its destination country's customs department. When this happens, UPS charges brokerage fees that need to be paid for your recipient to get their package.
All International UPS Services Incur Brokerage Fees: Broker fees vary by country and by the level of service you pay for (for instance, you may incur fewer fees if you pay for a more expedited service such as UPS Worldwide Express). However, all international UPS services are subject to brokerage fees.
Learn more about UPS brokerage fees and when they may apply.
Printing labels
No Special Printer Needed: UPS labels look a little different from USPS labels, but you still won't need a special printer to print them! You can use a desktop printer to print any UPS labels, or you can use a 4x6" thermal label printer.
No 2x7" Labels: UPS doesn't support 2x7" label sizes, only the standard 4x6" size. You can use a regular desktop inkjet or laser printer, or check out our label printer recommendations here.
Tracking your UPS shipments
Full Package Tracking: Every UPS label you purchase on Pirate Ship comes with full door-to-door tracking and a UPS tracking number that you and your recipient can follow along with.
Insurance for UPS labels
UPS Carrier Liability Included: All UPS labels come with $100 of carrier liability, no matter which service you purchase* 💰
*Note: UPS® Ground Saver shipments retain UPS carrier liability only during the portion when UPS has the package, not when USPS takes possession. Once UPS tenders a Ground Saver package to USPS for last-mile delivery, UPS carrier liability no longer applies.
How to File a Claim: Claims for any missing or damaged UPS shipments can be filed through the self-service InsureShield Claims Portal. Read how to file a claim here.
Contact InsureShield with Questions: Please note that our crew doesn't have access to claim information, and we can’t assist with the claims filing process. If you'd like to request a claim update, reply to the email you received from InsureShield or reach out to them at insureshieldsupport@ups.com. You’ll receive all claim updates from InsureShield, not us.
Pro Tip: If your item is worth more than $100 you can always purchase additional shipping insurance through Pirate Ship! Learn how to add insurance to your packages.
Dropping off your UPS packages
UPS Drop-Off Points: UPS offers 85,000+ drop-off locations where you can leave your packages for free.
These locations include The UPS Store®, UPS Drop Boxes and Access Point® locations, including CVS Pharmacy, Michaels Stores, Advance Auto Parts, and lots of local independent retailers.
With so many drop-off locations, you'll always have a place to take your pre-paid UPS packages once you've bought the labels here on Pirate Ship 💪
Finding a Location: You can find your nearest UPS drop-off location by clicking this link: https://www.ups.com/dropoff
Scheduling pickups
Schedule a Pickup for UPS Packages: If you don't feel like dropping your packages off yourself, Pirate Ship lets schedule pickups with your local UPS carrier.
Cost of UPS Pickups: UPS pickups aren't free, and the costs will vary depending on your location and the day of the week (Saturdays are more expensive).
Get a Quote for a Pickup: To get a quote, head to the Ship page, click "Schedule Pickup," and then Request Pickup > UPS.
Same-day pickups vs next-day pickups
Pickups Set for Next Business Day: By default, UPS pickups you schedule on Pirate Ship will be set for the next business day after you purchase your shipping label(s).
Next-day pickups cost $4.25.
Schedule a Same-Day Pickup: If you want your UPS packages picked up sooner, you can schedule same-day pickups!
Same-day UPS pickups cost $6, and availability is subject to local conditions, cut-off times, and carrier routes.
Understanding UPS Pickups: Learn more about scheduling UPS pickups.
Refunding UPS labels
UPS Refund Timelines: The refund process for UPS labels is the same as USPS, but faster!
Refunds in One Hour: As long as a label hasn't been used, refunds will be applied to your Pirate Ship Account Balance within an hour.
Transferring Refund Credits: Once UPS approves the refund, you can transfer those funds back to your original payment method. To do so, navigate to your Reports page and click the blue "Refund Credit" button beneath your Account Balance.
Keep in mind that if you end up using a label you've requested a refund for, you will be charged anyway 😉
Prohibited items
Items Prohibited by UPS: There are certain items that UPS prohibits you from shipping, such as bank bills/notes/currency, common fireworks, ivory, shark fins, tobacco, and more.
Pirate Ship-Specific Prohibitions: UPS also prohibits several items from being shipped with Pirate Ship, such as anything containing hazardous materials, firearms, ammunition, and others. Attempting to ship any of these items will void any carrier liability coverage and may result in your Pirate Ship account being restricted.
See All Prohibited Items: To see the full list of prohibited items, including items prohibited by UPS on Pirate Ship, see our article: UPS®: Prohibited Items.
Additional Resources