FedEx offers a variety of flexible shipping options for everyone, from individuals sending a single gift to massive fulfillment centers shipping thousands of orders a day.
For individuals and small businesses, the FedEx Drop Off network provides a convenient way to send packages on your own schedule. This guide covers exactly what FedEx Drop Off is, how to use it, and where to find locations.
We’ll also look at how this process differs from the high-volume shipping operations used by professional 3rd-Party Logistics (3PL) providers and how they leverage powerful software to manage their relationship with carriers like FedEx.
Contents
What Is FedEx Drop-Off?
FedEx Drop-Off is a service that allows you to bring your fully packed, sealed, and pre-labeled packages to a wide range of authorized retail locations or FedEx Drop Boxes.
It’s the perfect solution for when you’ve already created and paid for your shipping label online and simply need to get the package into the FedEx network without waiting for a pickup or standing in a full-service line.
How Does FedEx Drop-Off Work?
The process is simple and designed for speed.
- Pack and seal your package: Ensure your item is securely packed in a sturdy box. Tape all seams to prevent opening during transit. If you’re reusing a box, make sure to remove or completely black out any old labels, barcodes, or addresses.
- Create and attach your shipping label: You must have a valid FedEx shipping label attached to your package. You can create this online at FedEx.com or through any shipping software. Affix the label to the largest, flattest side of the box, making sure it’s clear and not covering any seams.
- Drop it off at a convenient location: Take your pre-paid package to any authorized FedEx drop-off location. Figure out how much it will cost to send your package with a shipping cost calculator. There are no extra fees for this service.
Where can I drop off a FedEx package?
This is where the convenience really shines. You are not limited to just FedEx Office locations. The network includes thousands of retail partners, many with evening and weekend hours:
- FedEx Office & FedEx Ship Center® locations
- FedEx® Drop Boxes (Note: These have size restrictions, typically for packages 20″ x 12″ x 6″ or smaller)
- Walgreens
- Dollar General
- Office Depot / Office Max
- Participating grocery stores (like Kroger and Albertsons)
- FedEx Authorized ShipCenter® locations
What if I Don’t Have a Printed Label?
FedEx also has a solution for this. If you are shipping or returning an item and received a FedEx-issued QR code in your email, you don’t need to print anything.
Simply bring your unsealed package and the QR code on your phone to a participating FedEx Office or Walgreens location. A team member will scan your code, print the label for you, and even help you pack and tape the box if needed.
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Why is FedEx Drop-Off important?
FedEx drop-off is an important element of FedEx’s shipping services because it allows smaller businesses or individuals to send out a lot of shipments without having to wait in a long line with other customers. When you decide to use FedEx drop off, you can simply walk into whichever location you choose, and drop your package off.
FedEx drop off also lightens the load for FedEx employees. When a package is dropped off, the employee only has to scan it, then send it on its way, rather than inputting a bunch of information with the customer before the package can be sealed and sent off.
Also, if you want more security, you can always get your packages scanned and receive a receipt that will prove when you dropped off the package and the tracking number(s) for the package(s).
FedEx drop-off allows people to have more freedom and to customize their schedules so that they’re not beholden to specific timeframes and opening/closing times of FedEx shipping services.
When you outgrow the Drop Off counter
The FedEx Drop Off service is a fantastic, convenient option for individuals and small businesses.
But what happens when you’re no longer shipping 5 packages a day, but 500? Or 5,000?
High-volume shippers, especially 3rd-Party Logistics (3PL) providers, operate on a completely different scale. They can’t stop operations to run boxes to Walgreens. Instead, they rely on a fully integrated and automated process.
For a 3PL, the shipping process isn’t a manual task—it’s the automated part of a sophisticated warehouse operation.
How 3PLs use FedEx: Automation, Pickups, and WMS
While 3PLs and fulfillment centers trust FedEx as a core shipping partner, their relationship looks very different. They don’t use drop-off locations. They use scheduled bulk pickups, where FedEx trailers or trucks arrive at their warehouse dock daily to load pallets of outbound orders.
This entire process is powered by a Warehouse Management System (WMS), like Logiwa.
Logiwa IO acts as the central brain for the warehouse and integrates directly with carriers like FedEx. This integration transforms shipping from a manual chore into a seamless, automated workflow:
- Automated Rate Shopping: As an order comes in, the WMS automatically “rate shops” to find the best shipping price and speed from all available carriers, including the 3PL’s negotiated FedEx rates.
- Batch Label Printing: Instead of printing one label at a time, the system generates hundreds or thousands of compliant FedEx labels in a single batch, organized by order, so warehouse packers can work at maximum speed.
- Address Verification: The WMS automatically validates shipping addresses to reduce errors and failed delivery attempts.
- Real-Time Tracking: The moment a label is printed in the warehouse, the tracking number is sent to the 3PL’s client and the end customer, providing instant visibility long before the package even leaves the building.
For a 3PL, there is no “dropping off.” There is only picking, packing, and automated shipping, all managed from a single platform.
From manual drop-offs to automated shipping
Whether you’re an individual using a drop-off location or a high-volume 3PL scheduling a daily pickup, FedEx is a trusted carrier that connects businesses and customers.
When your shipping needs grow, your technology has to grow, too. Logiwa’s Cloud Fulfillment Platform is designed for 3PLs and brands that need to automate their shipping, connect their carriers, and manage their entire warehouse from a single system.
Are you shipping more than you can carry? If your business is outgrowing the drop-off counter, it might be time to look at a professional solution. Schedule a demo with one of our fulfillment experts to discover how Logiwa can help you fulfill brilliantly!
FAQs about FedEx Drop Off
Where can I drop off a FedEx package?
You can drop off a pre-labeled FedEx package at any FedEx Office, FedEx Ship Center®, FedEx® Drop Box (for smaller items), or at thousands of retail partners, including Walgreens, Dollar General, and Office Depot.
Can you drop off a FedEx package at the post office (USPS)?
How do I contact FedEx?
Is FedEx slow?
Is FedEx Drop Off free?
FedEx isn’t necessarily considered slow! It, of course, depends on which shipping service and the shipping speed you choose for your package, but FedEx shipping speeds are pretty average across the board. They might even be faster than USPS, depending on the distance. If you’re looking for fast shipping, FedEx is a great candidate to check out.
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