Shipping Product Samples: A PR Agency’s $99,710 Estimated Savings
Some sample kits can ride Ground. Others have a date to hit. Here’s where 5,312 labels found their savings.
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No credit card needed at signup.
No paid plans or monthly fee. There's no label fee on your first 200 labels, then 5¢ per label (as low as 1¢ with Rollo Rewards). Postage still applies.
Discounted postage is paid directly to the carrier through a funded account.
This is for agencies and brands that ship sample kits. Kits go to salons, retailers and media on set dates.
5,216 outbound kits + 96 return labels
What Does a PR Agency Ship, and Where?
This boutique public relations (PR) agency also does lifestyle branding. It ships sample kits from one Virginia address. Kits go to salons, retailers and media outlets.
Until Aug 2026, it bought 5,312 labels in Rollo Ship. Kits reached 43 states. 97% of labels went to business addresses.
Shipping product samples means matching each kit to a service. Until Aug 2026, the agency bought 5,216 kit labels. UPS® Ground carried 70% of its labels.
Air carried 29% of labels but 69% of estimated savings. The biggest savings sat in expedited kits, not Ground.
Shipping Product Samples — At a Glance
- Vertical: boutique public relations (PR) and lifestyle branding agency.
- Origin: one Virginia address (U.S. origin).
- Labels: 5,312 total: 5,216 outbound kits and 96 returns.
- Service mix: Ground for 70% of labels, air for 29%.
- Available in Rollo Ship: UPS® and USPS labels built in, FedEx® on your own account.
- Data window: Sept 11, 2023 until Aug 2026.
Labels bought in Rollo Ship
Rollo Ship is shipping software with no monthly fee. It compares discounted UPS® and USPS rates before every label. PR agencies pay no software bill between launches.
Available in Rollo Ship: UPS® Ground, UPS 2nd Day Air® and UPS Next Day Air®. Up to 75% off UPS 2nd Day Air®.*
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The shipping profile
Ground carried the volume. Air carried the savings.
Why Do PR Kits Need Two Shipping Speeds?
PR kits need two speeds because their dates differ. Kits without a fixed date can ride UPS® Ground. Launch-dated or story-dated kits often need air.
Here, Ground carried 70% of labels. Air carried 29%, yet earned 69% of estimated savings.
So the question changes. It stops being “Which service costs less?” It becomes “Which discounted service fits each kit?”
Ground carried the volume, air carried the savings
Ground carried most kits. Air carried most of the estimated savings.
| Service group | Labels | Share of labels | Share of savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS® Ground | 3,729 | 70.2% | 29.8% |
| Air services | 1,518 | 28.6% | 69.5% |
| Other services | 65 | 1.2% | 0.7% |
| Total | 5,312 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
5,312 labels on Rollo Ship, with savings weighted toward air.
Air services: 2nd Day Air® and Next Day Air® options. Early, Saver and Saturday options are included. Other services: 3 Day Select®, Ground Saver®, USPS and international.
UPS® Ground carried 3,729 labels, about 70% of the total. Air services carried 1,518 labels, about 29%. Yet air produced $69,274, or 69% of estimated savings.
Kits reached 43 states from one Virginia address. 97% of labels went to business addresses, not homes. Two kits went abroad, via international labels in Rollo Ship.
Top destination states, from one Virginia address
| Destination state | Labels |
|---|---|
| Virginia (in-state) | 852 |
| Texas | 649 |
| North Carolina | 524 |
| Tennessee | 424 |
| Massachusetts | 322 |
See what your own sample kits cost to ship.
Check what your next kit costs →
Rates vary by weight and can change.
Was Box Size the Main Shipping Cost Driver?
No, service level moved cost far more than box size. UPS® Ground labels averaged $7.43 paid. UPS Next Day Air® labels averaged $41.96.
Most kits are small sample boxes, not cartons. The median UPS label bills at one pound.
Two box sizes covered 2,684 labels, about half the total. Repeat sizes like these suit saved presets for grouped orders. Grouped orders let you buy many labels in one go.
| Box size (inches) | Labels | Share of labels |
|---|---|---|
| 2.25 × 6.75 × 6.25 | 1,605 | 30.2% |
| 2 × 6 × 6 | 1,079 | 20.3% |
| All other sizes | 2,628 | 49.5% |
Box size can still change what you pay. Check yours with the dimensional weight calculator. Saved presets for grouped orders are available in Rollo Ship.
Where Was the Biggest Savings Opportunity?
The biggest savings sat in expedited kits. Air labels saved $69,274 across 1,518 labels. That is 69% of all estimated savings.
UPS 2nd Day Air® averaged $34.47 saved per label. UPS® Ground averaged $7.97. Faster services start from higher UPS daily rates.
Rates vary by weight and can change. The Rollo shipping calculator prices a kit against current rates.
| Service | Labels | Est. savings per label |
|---|---|---|
| UPS® Ground | 3,729 | $7.97 |
| UPS 2nd Day Air® | 947 | $34.47 |
| UPS 2nd Day Air®, Saturday | 15 | $35.12 |
| UPS Next Day Air® options | 556 | $64.93 |
Estimated savings per label, by UPS® service, until Aug 2026.
UPS 2nd Day Air® delivers within two business days. Its total savings were $32,647. Ground’s were $29,709, on four times the labels.
So the question was never “Can every kit ride Ground?” It was “Can faster kits cost less?”
At 1,518 air labels, that decision repeats often. The savings compound with every dated send.
This is a comparison against UPS daily rates. It is not a comparison with past shipping costs.
UPS® and USPS Rates Available in Rollo Ship
Ground options include UPS® Ground and UPS Ground Saver®. Air options include 2nd Day Air® and Next Day Air®. UPS 3 Day Select® is available too.
The data shows discounted UPS® rates across those service levels.
The answer wasn’t “ship everything faster.” It was “buy each speed for less.”
Rollo Ship is multi-carrier shipping software with no monthly fee. It serves U.S. and Canadian shippers. Rollo Ship is not a carrier.
From the U.S., UPS® and USPS labels are built in. FedEx® labels work on your own FedEx account.
Three capabilities support a workflow like this one.
Rates compared before purchase
Rollo Ship compares carrier rates before you buy. It sorts them by best value, price or speed.
Saved presets for grouped orders
Repeat box sizes can be saved once. Grouped orders let you buy many labels in one go.
No monthly platform fee
No paid plans or monthly fee. There's no label fee on your first 200 labels, then 5¢ per label (as low as 1¢ with Rollo Rewards).
- Save your most-used kit boxes as presets for grouped orders.
- Group similar kit orders and buy labels in one go.
- Compare Ground and air for each kit, then buy.
UPS 2nd Day Air® kits saved $34.47 each on average. The label fee is 5¢ or less.
Your expedited kits may hold your biggest savings too.
Compare your next label before you buy it.
No credit card needed at signup.
No paid plans or monthly fee. There's no label fee on your first 200 labels, then 5¢ per label (as low as 1¢ with Rollo Rewards). No contracts or volume minimums. Discounted postage is paid directly to the carrier through a funded account.
This agency’s busiest month was December 2025, with 429 labels. UPS® adjusts some transit times in December. Check the official UPS holiday schedule before you promise dates.
Free USPS® pickups can be scheduled in Rollo Ship for shipments from the USA. UPS® pickups can be scheduled in Rollo Ship in the US and Canada; UPS sets the pickup fee (Rollo adds no markup), and it depends on the pickup date you choose. Canada Post, FedEx® and Purolator® pickups can’t be booked in Rollo Ship; book them directly with the carrier.
What Does the Data Show?
Until Aug 2026, the agency bought 5,312 Rollo Ship labels. It paid $67,410.57 for labels and postage. Estimated savings reached $99,709.64 versus UPS daily rates.
That averages $18.77 saved per label. Air carried 69% of the savings. Ground carried 70% of the labels.
Discounted UPS® rates, including UPS® Ground and UPS 2nd Day Air®, are available in Rollo Ship.*
Sample kits mix speeds. Ground carried 70% of labels here.
Air carried 29% of labels but 69% of estimated savings.
UPS 2nd Day Air® saved $34.47 per label on average.
Two box sizes covered about half of all labels.
Labels averaged 182 a month in 2025, 259 in 2026.
Rollo Ship is shipping software, not a carrier. It changes the rate you pay.
Every Service the Agency Used
The full service mix, until Aug 2026. Savings compare amounts paid with UPS daily rates.
| Service | Labels | Paid | Est. savings | Saved per label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS® Ground | 3,729 | $27,713.57 | $29,708.89 | $7.97 |
| UPS 2nd Day Air® | 947 | $12,531.57 | $32,646.72 | $34.47 |
| UPS Next Day Air® | 281 | $11,790.99 | $18,750.29 | $66.73 |
| UPS Next Day Air® Early | 116 | $8,164.21 | $8,178.16 | $70.50 |
| UPS Next Day Air Saver® | 108 | $3,378.30 | $5,874.99 | $54.40 |
| UPS Next Day Air®, Saturday | 51 | $2,764.02 | $3,296.90 | $64.65 |
| USPS Priority Mail® | 24 | $206.90 | $30.44 | $1.27 |
| UPS 2nd Day Air®, Saturday | 15 | $448.90 | $526.86 | $35.12 |
| USPS Ground Advantage® | 14 | $88.44 | $24.72 | $1.77 |
| UPS Ground Saver® | 13 | $76.61 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| UPS 3 Day Select® | 12 | $169.79 | $431.23 | $35.94 |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited® | 2 | $77.27 | $240.44 | $120.22 |
| Total | 5,312 | $67,410.57 | $99,709.64 | $18.77 |
A good fit
PR and branding agencies sending press kits. Brands mailing samples to salons and retailers. Teams mixing Ground and air for dated sends.
Not a fit
Freight, pallets or oversize cartons. Shippers who need a customer returns portal. Shippers who need a branded tracking page.
Questions about shipping product samples on Rollo Ship
What is a PR package?
A PR package is a product box sent for publicity. Brands and agencies send them to media and creators. Salons and retailers receive them too.
Many include samples and a press note. In this case study, most kits were small boxes.
The median UPS label billed at one pound. Nearly all went to business addresses.
What should I consider when choosing a shipping provider for bulk orders?
Check carrier choice, service speeds and price per label. Look for grouped orders to buy many labels at once. Check fees beyond postage, like monthly plans.
Rollo Ship has no paid plans or monthly fee. From the U.S., UPS and USPS labels are built in. FedEx labels work on your own account.
What is the best software for multi-carrier shipping?
The best fit depends on your carriers, volume and budget. Look for side-by-side rates across several carriers. Check for monthly fees and per-label fees.
Rollo Ship is multi-carrier shipping software with no monthly fee. It sorts carrier rates by best value, price or speed. Rollo Ship is rated 4.8 stars on Capterra.
What should I consider when choosing packaging for sample shipping?
Choose the smallest box that protects the product. Carriers can bill by box size, not only weight. That is called dimensional weight.
Standard box sizes also make labels easier to repeat. Here, two box sizes covered half of all labels. Check billable weight with Rollo’s dimensional weight calculator.
How Do You Ship Your First Sample Kit?
Use the right service for each kit, at discounted rates. Compare rates on your next shipment. Then buy the label that fits the date.
You keep your carriers and your box sizes. You only change where you buy labels. There is no paid plan or monthly fee.
UPS 2nd Day Air® kits saved $34.47 each on average. The label fee is 5¢ or less.
No credit card needed at signup.
No paid plans or monthly fee. There's no label fee on your first 200 labels, then 5¢ per label (as low as 1¢ with Rollo Rewards).
Discounted postage is paid directly to the carrier through a funded account.
Rollo is a shipping system that combines Rollo Ship, Rollo label printers, Rollo Design and Rollo Shop.
Rollo Ship is rated 4.8★ on Capterra. · Rollo has 500,000+ users across the US and Canada.Related: a craft chocolate brand on UPS 2nd Day Air®. Or see a merch brand’s campaign sends. Also: a supplement brand saving with Rollo Ship.
*Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice.
UPS, the UPS brandmark, UPS Ground Saver, UPS 3 Day Select, UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS Next Day Air, UPS Next Day Air Saver and UPS Worldwide Expedited are trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved. USPS, Priority Mail and Ground Advantage are trademarks of the United States Postal Service. FedEx is a trademark of FedEx Corporation.
The business featured here is a boutique public relations and lifestyle branding agency in Virginia whose name has been withheld. The analysis is based on its Rollo Ship account data from September 11, 2023 until August 2026. It covers 5,312 labels: 5,216 outbound kits and 96 return labels. The data shows label purchases, not transit times or on-time delivery.
How the savings figure was calculated. Estimated savings compare the amounts the agency paid with UPS daily rates for the same labels, across all 5,312 labels. The 38 USPS labels, $55.16 of the total, are compared with USPS retail rates. UPS® and USPS labels used Rollo Ship rates. It is not a comparison with the agency’s previous shipping costs, and savings versus another shipping setup may differ.
Shipping figures reflect the business’s specific products, packaging, destinations, service selections, and shipping profile; individual results vary.
Capterra rating shown as of the last update to this page. Capterra is a trademark of Gartner, Inc. and its affiliates.
