Tech

After trying Shyp, I'm convinced the app is the future of shipping

Alex Heath

2015-10-29T19:16:00Z

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I'm a firm believer that no one should have to endure the nightmare that is interacting with the United States Postal Service.

In New York City, a trip to the local post office can mean long waits, unpleasant interactions with other people, and lugging whatever you're trying to mail through the subway and streets.

So when I heard about an app called Shyp, I had to give it a try.

For a flat fee of $5 plus normal shipping costs, Shyp will send a courier to your front door, pick up whatever you want to mail, package it, and send it on its way for you.

After trying Shyp, I'm convinced it's the future of shipping. And I plan on never setting foot in the post office again.

Shyp currently operates in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. My apartment in deep Brooklyn was too far out for its couriers to do a pickup, so I waited to request one from my office in Manhattan.

Anyone can receive mail you send with Shyp, but its courier service is only available in the aforementioned cities. Shyp operates its own packaging facilities in those areas.

You can choose to send a new shipment or an online order return through the app. I had to send back a suit jacket that was too small, so I selected the return option.

Shyp integrates directly with a bunch of online retailers, like Amazon, Banana Republic, Bloomingdales, and more, to help automate the return process.

Since most retailers give you a prepaid label for returns, the app confirms you have it printed and ready to give to your courier.

You take a photo of what you want to ship so couriers know the size of what they need to pick up.

Since I was making a return with a prepaid label, the app told me my shipping cost would be free. Normally, Shyp finds the cheapest shipping option (whether it be UPS, FedEx, or the USPS) and selects it for you. It also adds a $5 service fee to every order as well.

To request a pickup, you enter your payment info and and confirm your address.

Shyp promises pickups in under 20 minutes. The app told me a courier would arrive at my office within 15.

You can cancel at any point during the pickup process. You can also see how Shyp handles shipping costs.

Here's the pricing breakdown.

When a Shyp courier says yes to your pickup, you get a text message.

Then you see a map with your courier's name, picture, and location.

Hello, Orlando!

So close...

When Orlando arrived, he greeted me with a smile, took my suit, and bagged it. He told me I'd be getting a text that my order was being processed and another when it had shipped out.

Within 60 seconds, Orlando re-entered the busy New York City streets, my cargo in tow.

Here's the text I got immediately after he left saying my item was being "professionally packaged."

That evening, I received an email that my item had been shipped.

The total turnaround time from requesting a pickup to having it successfully sent on its way was under four hours, and I never had to leave my office, much less set foot in a post office and worry about packaging.

That's an experience I'd gladly pay for again.