Shipping Rate Comparison (USPS, UPS, FedEx)

Compare shipping rates across USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Find the cheapest, fastest, and best value shipping options for any package.

Features

Real-Time Rate Comparison

• Query all three carriers simultaneously
• Get actual retail or negotiated rates
• Prices include all surcharges and fees

Smart Recommendations

Recommendation	Description
💰 Cheapest	Lowest total price
⚡ Fastest	Shortest delivery time
🎯 Best Value	Best price-to-speed ratio

All Service Levels

Carrier	Services Included
USPS	Priority Mail, Priority Express, Ground Advantage, Media Mail, First Class
UPS	Ground, 3 Day Select, 2nd Day Air, Next Day Air Saver, Next Day Air
FedEx	Ground, Home Delivery, Express Saver, 2Day, Standard Overnight, Priority Overnight

---

Quick Start

{
  "input": "your input here"
}

Demo Mode

Set demoMode: true to test with sample data (no charges). When you're ready for real results, set demoMode: false or omit it.

{
  "demoMode": true,
  ...
}

Input Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
originZip	string	Yes	-	Sender's ZIP code
destinationZip	string	Yes	-	Recipient's ZIP code
weight	number	Yes	-	Package weight
weightUnit	string	No	lb	Weight unit (lb, oz, kg)
length	number	No	10	Package length in inches
width	number	No	8	Package width in inches
height	number	No	6	Package height in inches
carriers	array	No	All	Carriers to query
demoMode	boolean	No	true	Use sample data

---

Output Format

{
  "origin": {
    "zipCode": "78701",
    "country": "US"
  },
  "destination": {
    "zipCode": "90210",
    "country": "US"
  },
  "package": {
    "weight": 2,
    "weightUnit": "lb",
    "length": 10,
    "width": 8,
    "height": 6,
    "dimensionUnit": "in"
  },
  "rates": [
    {
      "carrier": "USPS",
      "service": "Ground Advantage",
      "serviceCode": "GROUND_ADVANTAGE",
      "price": 5.25,
      "currency": "USD",
      "deliveryDays": 5,
      "deliveryDate": null,
      "guaranteed": false,
      "trackingIncluded": true,
      "insuranceIncluded": false,
      "signatureRequired": false
    },
    {
      "carrier": "USPS",
      "service": "Priority Mail",
      "serviceCode": "PRIORITY",
      "price": 8.95,
      "currency": "USD",
      "deliveryDays": 2,
      "deliveryDate": null,
      "guaranteed": false,
      "trackingIncluded": true,
      "insuranceIncluded": false,
      "signatureRequired": false
    },
    {
      "carrier": "FedEx",
      "service": "FedEx Ground",
      "serviceCode": "FEDEX_GROUND",
      "price": 11.85,
      "currency": "USD",
      "deliveryDays": 5,
      "deliveryDate": null,
      "guaranteed": false,
      "trackingIncluded": true,
      "insuranceIncluded": false,
      "signatureRequired": false
    }
  ],
  "cheapest": {
    "carrier": "USPS",
    "service": "Ground Advantage",
    "price": 5.25,
    "deliveryDays": 5
  },
  "fastest": {
    "carrier": "USPS",
    "service": "Priority Mail Express",
    "price": 26.95,
    "deliveryDays": 1
  },
  "bestValue": {
    "carrier": "USPS",
    "service": "Priority Mail",
    "price": 8.95,
    "deliveryDays": 2
  },
  "queriedAt": "2025-01-14T12:00:00.000Z"
}

---

Pricing

This actor uses pay-per-event billing:

• data_point: $0.01 per result

Use Cases

E-commerce Checkout

Show customers the cheapest and fastest shipping options at checkout. Let them choose based on price vs. speed.

Shipping Cost Calculator

Build a shipping calculator widget for your website. Help customers estimate costs before buying.

Order Management Systems

Automatically select the best carrier for each order based on delivery requirements and cost.

Dropshipping Optimization

Compare rates for every order to minimize shipping costs and maximize margins.

3PL and Fulfillment

Route shipments to the most cost-effective carrier while meeting SLAs.

---

---

Common Problems & Solutions

"Invalid API key" error

Cause: Your API key is wrong, expired, or doesn't have the right permissions. Fix: Double-check your API key. Make sure you copied it exactly without extra spaces.

"Rate limit exceeded" error

Cause: You've hit the API's rate limits. Fix: Wait a few minutes, then try again. Consider reducing the number of concurrent requests.

Empty or incomplete results

Cause: The target may have anti-scraping protection or the data doesn't exist. Fix:

• Check if the URL/search query is correct
• Try with different parameters
• Some sites may block automated access

Demo data showing instead of real results

Cause: demoMode is still set to true. Fix: Set demoMode: false and provide your API key(s).

---

Built by John Rippy | Actor Arsenal