Does Sendle Use USPS? (All You Need To Know)

Off-setting carbon emissions is hugely important to the environmental movement, but have you ever considered the impact your shipments have? Reducing that footprint is Sendle’s mission, and the Australia-based company is setting up shop in the US.

But who handles Sendles packages? Does Sendle use USPS to attain its company mission? The answer might surprise you, so check out my research!

Does Sendle Use USPS In 2024?

Sendle, an Australian-based carbon-neutral shipping service, maintains a network of shipping partners, including the United States Postal Service, to offer domestic shipping to its customers in the US in 2024. Packages are sent mostly via Priority Mail, though labels are branded by Sendle, not USPS. Postal Service boxes are not usable for shipping purposes.

To learn more about how Sendle works with USPS as its primary carrier, how the pricing compares between Sendle and USPS, what boxes you can use, and much more, keep reading!

How Does Sendle Work With USPS?

If you’re new to Sendle or have never heard of it before, it acts a lot like Pirate Ship, Shippo, Stamps.com, and others – but with a twist.

Overview

Sendle is an Australian company that was able to expand into the lucrative US shipping market.

With that, it has become more popular among small businesses and individuals who value sustainable/green practices, as the company offsets all of its carbon emissions.

To get an idea of how Sendle does that, it calculates the max emissions possible when sending something from one place to another.

Then, the company turns to its partner, South Pole Group, whose projects reduce carbon emissions around the world.

USPS Partnership

Sendle does the legwork of partnering with different shippers, most significantly USPS, while its customers take advantage of Sendle’s great flat rates and reliable service.

Further, instead of Sendle giving its customers discounts on USPS shipping, it “commissions” USPS to deliver for the company while charging customers flat shipping rates.

According to Seller Journal and Shipping School, Sendle is remarkably affordable when the shipments get heavier, nearer the 20-pound range, and have to go farther.

Also, customers can manage their shipments, from start to finish, online, using the Sendle dashboard.

Moreover, you can print labels, arrange a pickup (for Pro accounts), find a drop-off spot, and track packages from the website.

Additionally, Sendle ships to all 50 states, plus territories like Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Is Sendle Cheaper Than USPS?

Is Sendle Cheaper Than USPS?

Sendle certainly can be cheaper than bypassing the third-party shipper and going straight to USPS.

With that, the company can provide low rates because of its flat-rate structure, which starts with three pricing tiers: Standard, Premium, and Pro.

Further, the company does not consider distance as specifically as USPS, designating destination as either local (within 150 miles) or national (greater than 150 miles).

Also, each tier has a package threshold you must send per month to qualify, with Standard at less than 20 packages per month, Premium at more than 20, and Pro at more than 200.

Moreover, the base flat-rate for Standard is $4.39, Premium is $3.99, and Pro is $3.87; these are all for the very smallest shipments.

However, none of these are super exciting compared to USPS, but things get impressive when you start to look at shipping items that weigh, say, 15 pounds.

For example, regular USPS Priority Mail prices are based on weight and distance, so a 15-pound package heading to Zone 8 costs $65.80 to ship.

Just with Sendle Standard, that same package only costs $26.26 to ship – a savings of 60%!

Additionally, even Sendle’s small and medium packages, which could fit the same items that a Priority Mail Flat Rate box, are competitively priced.

That said, you can see for yourself when you compare the Sendle pricing chart listed here and the Priority Mail pricing chart with Zoned pricing here.

Or, you can use the Sendle shipping calculator here and compare it with the USPS shipping calculator on this page.

And remember, despite paying less for some Sendle shipments, you still get the reliable service of the government-backed USPS.

How Do You Find Your USPS Tracking Number From Sendle?

Because you aren’t using USPS when you use Sendle, it does not give you a USPS tracking number.

Instead, you get the Sendle tracking number, which you can find in either the confirmation email or any notification emails you may receive.

With that, you can visit this page and enter your Sendle tracking number to get the information.

What Boxes Can You Use With Sendle Shipping?

One thing is for sure: You cannot use USPS branded boxes to send via Sendle (or any other box branded for a rival shipper, like FedEx or UPS).

However, you can use pretty much any other kind, provided it is sturdy, meets the size requirements, and has all previous shipping labels removed.

That said, you can even use Amazon boxes!

Can You Drop Off Sendle Packages At The Post Office?

You can use your local post office as a drop-off location for your Sendle package, and if it fits into one of those Big Blue Boxes’ openings, those are eligible for drop-offs, too!

Remember, it’s going to enter the USPS system anyway, so this is just to get it into USPS’s hands faster.

But don’t forget, you can also schedule a pickup if you have Sendle Pro.

To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether or not Etsy uses USPS, how to void USPS label, and does Poshmark use USPS.

Conclusion

Sendle uses the Postal Service’s Priority Mail shipping class to give its customers quick delivery while offsetting 100% of the carbon emissions.

Also, Sendle is particularly competitive for packages in the ten to 20-pound range that have to travel long distances and can save its customers a lot of money.

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Cara Suppa

Cara Suppa has been freelance writing for over a decade and holds a BA in English and an MS in Integrated Marketing Communications. Outside of work, she is an avid cook, gardener, and discount shopper.

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