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Is Pirate Ship Legit? Discounted Shipping Service Review

Updated: January 2026

LEGIT

Pirate Ship is 100% legit - it's a free USPS/UPS shipping platform giving you the same commercial discounts as eBay, but without selling fees.

Been around for years, shipped millions of packages. No monthly fees, no catch. Often cheaper than eBay because they offer USPS Cubic pricing. Bonus: pay with rewards credit card for extra 2% savings (can't do this with eBay). Perfect for small sellers shipping outside marketplaces.

Key Findings

What It Is

Free shipping platform (no monthly subscription)

Main Risk

None - it's legitimately free and works as advertised

Best Action

Use for all non-eBay/marketplace shipping

The Pattern

Red Flags

What To Do

  1. 1Use for all non-eBay/marketplace shipping
  2. 2Link rewards credit card for 2% back on shipping
  3. 3Pay off card monthly to avoid interest
  4. 4Check USPS Cubic rates for small heavy items
  5. 5Import eBay orders to use Pirate Ship instead of eBay labels
  6. 6Compare rates - sometimes cheaper than eBay, sometimes same
  7. 7Use for private sales, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace
  8. 8Print labels at home, schedule USPS pickup

What NOT To Do

Copy-Paste Script

Label [tracking number]. Purchased [date]. Issue: [package lost/not scanned/damaged]. Request: Investigation and reprint/refund. Label cost: $[X]. Paid via [card].

FAQ

Is Pirate Ship legit or a scam?

100% legit. Pirate Ship is a free USPS/UPS shipping platform used by thousands of small businesses and flippers. They partner directly with USPS to provide commercial pricing. No scam, no catch, no monthly fees. The name sounds sketchy but the service is professional.

They make tiny margins on shipping label purchases (fractions of a cent per label). Volume business model - they need no monthly fees to attract users, then profit from millions of labels. No subscription means more users. It's sustainable and they've been profitable for years.

Usually the same, sometimes cheaper. Pirate Ship offers USPS Cubic pricing which eBay doesn't always provide. For small, heavy items cubic is significantly cheaper. For most packages, rates match eBay exactly. The real benefit: pay with rewards credit card for extra 2% off.

eBay shipping charges come from your seller balance (no rewards). Pirate Ship charges your credit card directly. Use a 2% cash back card, pay off monthly, earn 2% on all shipping costs. Free money if you're disciplined. Example: $10,000/year shipping = $200 back.

Use Pirate Ship if: (1) You want credit card rewards, (2) Shipping outside eBay, (3) Small heavy items needing cubic rates. Use eBay if: (1) You value convenience, (2) Don't care about 2% rewards, (3) Don't want to manage separate platform. Both are equally legit and safe.

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