- Compare total dollars per shipment, not the headline discount percentage.
- Keep the promised delivery outcome and shipment inputs consistent throughout the test.
- Use representative shipment history, not one unusually favorable package.
- Verify changes with a pilot and the final invoice.
Comparing Unishippers and The Shipping Savers only works when the inputs match. The analysis should hold weight, dimensions, addresses, service commitment and residential status constant, then compare the complete result.
Shipment-level analysis separates rate problems from operational ones, making it possible to fix the cause rather than only discuss total spend.
How to make a fair Unishippers vs The Shipping Savers comparison
The test should cover parcel and freight pricing, support and total invoiced cost. A single light package to one ZIP code cannot represent an entire shipping operation.
- Review origin and destination ZIP codes so lane and zone effects are visible in the comparison.
- Check the measured package weight and carrier-billed weight for every package in the sample.
- Confirm the real arrival commitment and ship-day cutoff before comparing prices.
- Identify destination and handling accessorials instead of hiding them inside an average.
- Add seasonal, fuel and correction lines when building the comparison baseline.
- The workflow and support differences that matter to the business after comparing Unishippers and The Shipping Savers.
The comparison should not assume that Unishippers and The Shipping Savers are interchangeable. Document the services, workflow steps and support requirements that matter, then price the same shipments. The result may differ by package size, destination, service and monthly volume.
If one option looks lower, inspect why. Confirm that the service commitment matches, that residential and delivery-area status are handled consistently, and that the number includes fees likely to appear on the invoice.
A controlled way to compare the options
Treat the comparison as a small project with a written sample, controlled inputs and an agreed success threshold.
- Build a cross-section of recent orders that covers common cartons, zones, services and both commercial and residential destinations.
- Keep the ship date, addresses, package type, weight and dimensions constant so the comparison is a fair test.
- Break out base transportation plus each recurring fee separately.
- Mark every service change; a lower price is not a valid win when the arrival promise is worse.
- Move only a defined pilot group, review the carrier invoice, and scale the decision after the result is verified.
Write the test plan before pricing. Define the shipment sample, comparison date, permitted services and success measure in advance.
Illustrative shipment review
Consider a business shipping about 450 packages per month. One representative package moves from Phoenix, AZ to Newark, NJ, weighs 32 lb and measures 14 x 12 x 10 inches. The numbers below are only a teaching example, not a carrier quote.
| Cost component | Current example | Reviewed example |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation | $48.00 | $36.24 |
| Fuel and accessorials | $16.68 | $8.14 |
| Illustrative total | $64.68 | $45.92 |
The reviewed example could come from a better eligible rate, a smaller billed size, a different service that still meets the deadline, fewer accessorials or a combination of those changes. The final invoice is the proof point. Label screens are helpful, but adjustments, reweighs and accessorials can change the amount that is ultimately paid.
Where a business should look for savings
Use identical inputs
Price the same packages in Unishippers and The Shipping Savers with matching addresses, dimensions and service commitments.
Compare all-in cost
Include fuel, residential, delivery-area, handling and platform costs instead of recording only the first number shown.
Measure workflow
Record the time needed to import orders, correct addresses, choose services, print labels and resolve problems.
Pilot before moving volume
Test a representative group, verify invoices and keep a rollback plan before changing the full operation.
Keep the savings calculation auditable by reporting baseline cost, reviewed cost, shipment count and the period tested.
What to gather before requesting a review
The review becomes useful when the source file includes these shipment and invoice fields:
- At least four representative weeks of shipment history.
- Origin and destination ZIP codes for every shipment.
- Carrier service, ship date and delivery commitment.
- Actual weight, package dimensions and billed weight.
- Transportation charge, fuel and every accessorial line.
- Residential flags, extended-area exposure and shipment package count.
- Credits, adjustments, voids and claims where available.
- A set of identical test shipments priced in both Unishippers and The Shipping Savers.
- A short record of workflow time, support needs and any additional platform cost.
A practical 30-day action plan
Export normal-volume shipments, attach the billed charges and organize the sample into repeatable profiles.
Sort the largest repeat charges by annual impact, then identify whether each one comes from rate, package or process.
Run a limited pilot of the rate, carton or routing rule while keeping the required service outcome intact.
Verify the final invoice, confirm no service harm and record who owns the rule after rollout.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Comparing prices across different delivery standards and ignoring the service change.
- Failing to compare scale weight, measured dimensions and invoiced billed weight.
- Stopping at the first quoted number and omitting fuel or accessorial charges.
- Testing too narrow a sample to represent the business’s real destination and package mix.
- Rolling the change across all volume before the pilot appears on a final invoice.
Professional shipping decisions come from measured packages, written service rules and invoice verification.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Unishippers or The Shipping Savers?
Neither option is automatically better for every shipper. Test Unishippers and The Shipping Savers with the same shipments, then compare total cost, workflow, support and the services the business actually uses.
How much shipment history should a business review?
Use enough history to capture repeat services, zones and cartons—typically four to eight weeks, plus a peak period when relevant.
Should the comparison use list rates or final charges?
Start with transportation, add expected fees, and reconcile the total with the invoice rather than relying on list or base rates.
Can a lower rate create an operational problem?
Yes. The cheapest option on screen may cost more after labor, failure or customer-service expense. Evaluate the complete operating outcome.
What is the fastest way to start?
Export recent shipment data, gather two recent invoices and identify the five most common package profiles. The Shipping Savers can use that material to build a controlled review of Unishippers vs The Shipping Savers.
Compare your real shipments.
Upload a recent invoice or shipment export for a free comparison. We keep the delivery requirement constant and compare the complete expected charge.