71lbs

71lbs is a shipping refund service for businesses that ship with FedEx, UPS, Amazon FBA and the USPS. It audits carrier invoices and claims refunds for late deliveries, incorrect charges and lost or damaged packages.

Customers connect their carrier accounts and the company tracks shipments and files claims automatically. Refunds go back to the customer's carrier account, and weekly reports show what was recovered. The firm works on a contingency basis, sharing in the savings it finds.

What 71lbs offers

• Late delivery refunds — monitors shipments and files claims when carriers miss delivery commitments.
• Lost and damaged claims — filed on the customer's behalf.
• Invoice audits and surcharge checks — spot incorrect charges.
• Contract negotiation — benchmarks the discounts a shipper should get and helps negotiate better carrier agreements.
• Group programmes — discounts usually reserved for larger shippers, opened to smaller businesses.
• Tracking tools — package tracking and proof of delivery.

Who it works with

Small and mid-sized businesses, plus larger shippers.

Key facts

• Method: algorithms developed with data scientists from Carnegie Mellon University
• Support: human shipping advocates alongside the software