Yes, it is wild! I own a shipping store, and honestly, sites like Pirate Ship often get better pricing than I do at wholesale shipping rates. It doesn’t always make sense, but that’s the system we’re working in. The reason some people still choose to ship with us (even if it costs more) is because they value the service and peace of mind. We know how to pack things securely, and if something goes wrong, we’re the ones who go to bat with the carriers to get it resolved. I hear horror stories all the time from people who tried to deal with customer service through third-party resellers and couldn’t get anywhere. Funny enough, they’ll sometimes call us for help with labels they didn’t even buy from us. What’s even more interesting to think about is what happens after you print that 50% cheaper label. Most of the time, the package still gets brought to a small shipping store like mine for drop-off. We accept it, now at no cost to you, smile, and pass it on to the carrier. If we weren’t here, I do wonder what would happen to all those packages... Sure, there are a few drop boxes and carrier pickups, but for a lot of people, their “go-to plan” is still coming to us, without realizing that we are footing the bill to provide them with a free service. For now, I’m incredibly grateful for the customers who stick with us and trust us with their shipping needs, even if it costs a little more. Time will tell whether there are enough of them to keep local stores alive, or if independent shops like mine go the way of Blockbuster while shipping moves entirely to online platforms. Answer from PCStratham on reddit.com