When you’re looking at your options for shipping domestically in the U.S., it’s hard to beat FedEx Ground® Economy (FGE). This is especially true when you’re using this service through Shippo.

Paying little to no shipping costs is top of mind for online shoppers. However, today’s online consumers have come to expect much more than just that. They expect reliable, affordable shipping, 24-hour visibility, and more.

FedEx Ground® Economy checks all of these boxes. Before you start packing your boxes to ship via FedEx, you should know the rules for using this service and what your business can expect from incorporating this service level into your shipping strategy.

What Is FedEx Ground® Economy

Formerly known as FedEx SmartPost, FedEx Ground® Economy is a cost-effective solution for e-commerce merchants shipping packages domestically in the U.S. that weigh under 70 pounds, contain lower-value items, and arrive at their customer’s doorstep in a few days.

FGE packages can measure up to 130 inches in length plus girth making it a solid choice for merchants selling a wide variety of products.

Keep in mind that the following options are not included for FGE shipments:

• Address correction
• Date-certain delivery
• Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
• Collect on Delivery
• Money-back guarantee
• Delivery redirects
• Holds at a FedEx location
• Declared Value

However, even without these value-added services, the value of shipping with FedEx Ground® Economy with Shippo is still high, which you can see below.

Where Can I Ship With FedEx Ground® Economy?

FedEx Ground® Economy includes full U.S. residential coverage.

How Long Does Shipping FedEx Ground® Economy Take?

FedEx Ground® Economy Packages can take anywhere from 2-7 business days. The exact time it will take for parcels to reach their final destination depends on where you’re dropping off the package, and the total distance to your customer's location.

One important thing to remember is that longer delivery times are common for states and territories outside the contiguous 48 states.

How Much Does FedEx Ground® Economy Cost?

FedEx Ground® Economy is one of the most affordable service levels available for e-commerce merchants using Shippo. That’s because in our latest agreement with FedEx, merchants in 2023 using FGE have not been affected by rate changes this year and are still, in fact, able to take advantage of deeply discounted 2022 FedEx rates.

Here are some other discounted rates you can expect to see:

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How to Ship FedEx Ground® Economy Packages

Shipping FGE packages is easy and convenient for Shippo users since you are not required to create a FedEx account or connect your existing one to select discount rates for FedEx Ground® Economy. You can even use your own custom boxes in order to best protect your items and further promote your brand.

To ship FGE packages, you’ll simply need to:

1. Input your customers delivery address (be sure to double check)
2. Input the weight and size of your package (be sure to measure the outside dimensions)
3. Select FedEx Ground® Economy and click print
4. Attach the label to your package and drop it off at any FedEx retail location, drop box, or partnered retail location such as Office Depot, Walgreens, Dollar General, grocery stores and more.

There are thousands of options available for dropping off your FedEx packages. To find a dropoff location near you, visit their site here.

How Does FedEx Ground® Returns Work?

Today’s online shoppers expect a free and easy returns process. In fact, according to our latest Returns Report, 91% of customers say the ease of the returns process affects their willingness to shop with a retailer again. Thankfully, FedEx Ground® Returns is an affordable and speedy delivery option that allows you to receive products back fast, process customer refunds quicker, save on return shipping costs, and streamline your process.

With FedEx Ground® Returns, you can keep your return shipping costs low, to the point where you may consider offering free returns. Even if free returns aren’t financially feasible, you can still provide a convenient returns experience with FedEx Ground® Returns since shipments have a transit time of just 1-5 days. This can help set your business apart and meet today’s consumer expectations to keep your customers coming back.

For web-app users, you’ll simply have to select “create a return label” under package options when creating your shipping label. Once you select FedEx Ground® Economy as your shipment service level of choice, a FedEx Ground® Returns label will automatically be selected and printed at the same time as your shipping label.

You can then include this return label inside of your package to make return shipping easier for your customer and ensure you keep return costs low for your business. Best of all, you won’t be charged for the return until a FedEx rep scans the return label.

You can also print FedEx Ground® Returns labels after you’ve sent a shipment, no matter what service level you originally chose to ship the package.

To do so, you’ll need to go into your shipments page, select the shipment your customer wants to return, select the three dots at the bottom right of the side panel, and click create return label. Once you’ve done so, you’ll need to ensure the weight and dimensions of the package are correct and then select FedEx Ground® Returns as your return label.

Overall, keep your customers happy with a seamless returns experience!

Benefits of Shipping FedEx Ground® Economy With Shippo

Shippo has always remained committed to providing the best possible carrier services for our merchants, and that commitment remains the same when it comes to FedEx Ground® Economy.

Some of the biggest benefits of shipping with FedEx Ground® Economy via Shippo include:

• Deeply discounted rates for all domestic shipments
• No volume requirements to access discounted rates
• Residential and fuel surcharges waived
• Ship Monday through Sunday* (Sunday shipping not available to all areas)
• Use your own branded shipping boxes
• Liability of up to $100
• 24-hour package tracking for you and your customers

To start getting the best experience possible when shipping FedEx Ground® Economy packages, sign up to Shippo today.