USPS STILL the least expensive to ship off island

[terracore]

If you're not a major shipper you can get a negotiated rate by joining whatever program you can get into. My negotiated rate is 38% off. I get the rate because I'm a USAA member. I think you can get it by holding certain credit cards too (like certain American Express cards). If you do some googling you can find out what group, club, bank, or whatever you are a member of and jump through the hoops. I think anybody can get a 16% discount just by signing up for a fedex account number, and maybe even a higher rate for signing up for a business account. The USPS has lower retail rates that I get but the savings are only like 5%. If you're shipping flat rate or first class you won't be able to beat the USPS pricing but if you are shipping non flat-rate parcels the only bargain is media mail. FedEx is a cargo airline with trucks. UPS is a trucking company with airplanes. The USPS backbone was essentially engineered to ship documents and that's where their best price point is at. FedEx Ground is a separate company from the airline. When the FedEx MD-11 used to fly into Hilo the FedEx Ground packages didn't even fly on the FedEx plane, they used a competitor. There is a third FedEx branded company "FedEx Freight" you can use for shipping surface and for items over 150 pounds. The negotiated rate is "up to" 70% off but that doesn't apply to things like the Hawaii wharfage fees.

ETA: If you know any airline employees (including retired, anybody with flight benefits), they get 75% off at FedEx but they have to present their shipment in person. It's worth asking them for a favor if for example you need to ship a ton of boxes somewhere. I know a gal who has helped people move their households this way.