mzalez
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posted on December 5, 2000 07:09:01 PM
The postal clerks today informed us customers that the USPS officially announced that their new rates will go into effect on January 7th.
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luvmy2bears
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posted on December 5, 2000 07:13:25 PM
New rates??? Is it just the postage stamp going up?
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mzalez
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posted on December 5, 2000 10:48:58 PM
It's been going back and forth, but so far all that is concrete it the date, First Class is going from .33 to .34, and Priority from 3.20 to 3.50. That Priority is a headache already.
The clerk says it's not so bad...the Post Office actually wanted even HIGHER rates than what was allowed...
[ edited by mzalez on Dec 5, 2000 10:49 PM ]
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ploughman
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posted on December 5, 2000 11:01:48 PM
Read the press release with info on the new.usps.com site. The media is picking up on the first-class-letter hike (one cent, ho-hum), but the others will hurt more. I usually offer first-class and priority, with most items fitting the under-1 lb. Priority category (up from $3.20 to $3.50 now). Booksellers will encounter the $3.95 a lot more, though.
As sellers we can expect more demands to offer first class (or book rate) to keep postage costs down, but these services could mean more lost mail, or claimed lost mail. And the new INTERNATIONAL rates really look gruesome.
The Postal Service is in a tough spot because it has lost most of the personal correspondence to e-mail and soon will lose a lot of the bill business to electronic bill presentment. Which leaves mostly junk mail, which people won't want if that's all they get. And packages, a business where FedEx and UPS have skimmed the cream.
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toomanycomics
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posted on December 5, 2000 11:23:00 PM
thanks for the heads up
now I have to change the shipping rates in each in every one of my auctions in my AMPro
oh joy
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outoftheblue
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posted on December 6, 2000 12:34:01 AM
2 pound priority rate goes from $3.20 to $3.95. That's a $0.75 increase.... Ouch!
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mindreader747
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posted on December 6, 2000 12:36:01 AM
Ploughman:
One major point has escaped you;
Yes, many personal letters have been replaced with e-mail, BUT due to the explosion of online shopping, the amount of packages handled by USPS has gone up (so far)28% in just the last 2 years!
That figure is only growing.
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CAgrrl
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posted on December 6, 2000 01:25:25 AM
yes, but it may only be shrinking after the rate hike. Think about it- haven't you already spent a lot of time trying to convince customers that $3.20 for shipping is a BARGAIN? I have.
With the rates increasing it will be $1.10 to insure anything, so most customers will be looking at a total cost of $5.05 just to ship their item, as opposed to $4.05. And that's just actual cost, no "handling fees". YIKES! It better be a pretty special item, or I'll be buying it at the mall/store instead of online...y'know?
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thedewey
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posted on December 6, 2000 01:57:57 AM
New Rates for Priority Mail:
Up to 1 pound = $3.50 (was $3.20)
Up to 2 pounds = $3.95 (was $3.20)
Up to 3 pounds = $5.15 (was $4.30)
Up to 4 pounds = $6.35 (was $5.40)
Up to 5 pounds = $7.55 (was $6.50)
Insurance = $1.10 for up to $50 of coverage. $50.01 - $100 = $2.00. $100.01 = $5,000 = $2.00 plus $1.00 per hundred. (was $.85 for up to $50, and $1.80 for up to $100)
Delivery Confirmation = $.40 (was $.35)
New Rates for First Class:
$.34 for the first ounce
$.21 for each ounce afterwards (this is a decrease -- it was $.22 per additional ounce)
Priority Mail is definitely taking the biggest hit. 
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humber2
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posted on December 6, 2000 02:22:57 AM
Can someone post the website URL for the "new" rates for International please.
I can only find the current rates at
http://postcalc.usps.gov/
TIA
Peter
Ooops Wrong URL
[ edited by humber2 on Dec 6, 2000 02:25 AM ]
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kerrydaway
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posted on December 6, 2000 05:47:06 AM
Does anyone know how much book rate is going up? I'm in the process of trying to figure out the amounts for my TOS. TIA
kerrydaway here and there......
kerrydaway1 at that other place 
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neville
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posted on December 6, 2000 07:07:14 AM
I had a talk with my local postal guy about postal increases a couple of months ago. He told me something I didn't know. The post office is not allowed to make a profit. They can only charge what it costs to move the mail. They have a system figured out that after they increase rates, they make a profit the first year, break even the second, and loose money the third. The increase is probably related to keeping all us ebay sellers in priority mail boxes.
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unknown
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posted on December 6, 2000 07:22:01 AM
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE NEW PRICING FOR THE MOST COMMONLY USED SERVICES
First-Class Mail
Letter Rate First Ounce $0.34
Additional Ounce $0.21
Card Rate (post cards) $0.20
Single-Piece Letter Rates
1 ounce $0.34
2 ounces $0.55
3 ounces $0.76
4 ounces $0.97
5 ounces $1.18
6 ounces $1.39
7 ounces $1.60
8 ounces $1.81
9 ounces $2.02
10 ounces $2.23
11 ounces $2.44
12 ounces $2.65
13 ounces $2.86
Priority Mail
Up to 1 lb. $3.50
2 lbs. Flat Rate $3.95
Over 2 lbs., up to 3 lbs. $5.15
Over 3 lbs., up to 4 lbs. $6.35
Over 4 lbs., up to 5 lbs. $7.55
(Rates available up to 70 lbs.)
Express Mail
Up to 1/2 lb. $12.25
Over 1/2 lb., up to 2 lbs. & Flat Rate $16.00
Over 2 lbs. up to 3 lbs. $18.85
Over 3 lbs. up to 4 lbs. $21.70
Over 4 lbs. up to 5 lbs. $24.50
(Rates available up to 70 lbs.)
Express Mail Insurance
Up to $500 Included
$500.01 to $5,000 $1.00 per $100
International Airmail
1 ounce, Canada & Mexico $0.60
1 ounce, other countries $0.80
International Postcards
Canada & Mexico $0.50
All other countries $0.70
Aerogrammes
All countries $0.70
Certified Mail $1.90
Certificate of Mailing $0.75
Return Receipt $1.50
Return Receipt for Merchandise $2.35
Receipt Requested After Mailing $3.50
Money Order
Domestic $0.75
APO/FPO $0.25
International $3.25
Inquiry Fee and Copy of Paid Money Order $2.75
Delivery Confirmation
Priority Mail $0.40
Package Services $0.50
Signature Confirmation Used in Conjunction with Priority Mail
Electronic $1.25
Manual $1.75
Signature Confirmation Used in Conjunction with Parcel Post, Bound Printed
Matter, Library Mail, and Media Mail
Electronic $1.25
Manual $1.75
Insured Mail
Up to $50 $1.10
$50.01 to $100 $2.00
$100.01 to $5,000 $2.00 plus $1.00 per $100
Pickup Fee $10.25
for Express Mail, Priority Mail and Package Services
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azcap
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posted on December 6, 2000 07:56:23 AM
Here is the link to the USPS new rates
http://new.usps.com/cgi-bin/uspsbv/scripts/category.jsp?C=-10148&B=Get_Info&A=B&U=X&U1=B&U2=H
It is already cheaper to ship UPS on many items but the problem for companies on eaither end of the country is that coast to coast UPS is 5 days and the Priority mail usually beats it by 2 or 3 days. For long distance shipments the service is just not comparable.
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humber2
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posted on December 6, 2000 10:36:35 AM
http://new.usps.com/cgi-bin/uspsbv/scripts/category.jsp?C=-10148&B=Get_Info&A=B&U=X&U1=B&U2=H
Thanks, this is the official "spin" page.
I can't seem to download the International section from it.
I'm an International buyer who regularly asks sellers to use Global Priority Flat Rate Mailers to send my purchases.
I need to know their new cost
We are all on a budget buying and I like to know the costs I can expect to meet
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mzalez
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posted on December 7, 2000 10:13:33 PM
Thanks for posting that link. I looked at their new rates (the Acrobat pdf file), and I'm trying to figure out which are the book rates.
There's 3 possible options:
Bound printed matter
Library mail
Media mail
Does anyone know which books will fall under? Also, is the media mail for video tapes, CDs, etc?
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costa
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posted on December 7, 2000 10:34:08 PM
Do they have adequate insurance cover for my fragile goods.
Also will they insure to the value of my 'sale' price or will they only provide cover up to my cost price.
If these questions are also relevant to you and you don't know the answer then perhaps you SHOULDN'T be using them, also an answer from any of their rep's regarding the policy wording means nothing as I'm sure that somewhere in their policy you will find that they will not be bound to any representations or promises that anyone makes INCLUDING their empoyees.
So if you haven't bothered to read their policy and understand it then don't bank on it.
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borgt
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posted on December 7, 2000 10:39:26 PM
mzalez: Media Mail is the new name for Special Standard Mail (book rate), and like it does currently, it includes books, video and audio tapes, CDs (although 1st class is about the same cost for CDs), sheet music, etc. Magazines are not included, but I won't tell if you won't.
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mzalez
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posted on December 8, 2000 12:25:39 PM
Thanks borgt. I was just asking again this morning at the post office. The clerk said DEFINATELY not 'library' (only for libraries and schools' libraries), and not 'bound printed matter' for our books. However, he did not have a clue on the 'media' rate--he said it must be a new category. So you must be correct. Thanks, I sell lots of books.
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mzalez
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posted on December 8, 2000 06:40:20 PM
Here are the new Media Rates (for books, tapes, CDs, etc.)
Weight not over... (single piece)
1 lb. $1.30
2 lbs. $1.75
3 lbs. $2.20
4 lbs. $2.65
5 lbs. $3.10
6 lbs. $3.55
7 lbs. $4.00
8 lbs. $4.30
9 lbs. $4.60
10 lbs. $4.90...
It goes on up to 70 pounds after than in 30 cent increments.
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Collegepark
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posted on December 8, 2000 08:12:41 PM
What about the flat rate Priority envelopes, are they $3.50 also?
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mzalez
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posted on December 9, 2000 03:05:13 AM
collegepark, the new rate booklet (35 pages long...ugh!) says the Priority flat rate envelope will now cost the 2 pound $3.95, no matter the weight.
It seems to me that abuse of Priority materials may have something to do with this stiff increase.
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surrrfurtom
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posted on December 9, 2000 06:26:13 PM
While I think the PO has been doing a good job, that's a stiff increase for Priority. It doesn't seem that long ago they increased it to $3.20.
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jhf2662
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posted on December 10, 2000 01:06:21 AM
Yup it wasn't that long ago, it was right after my first Christmas on Ebay... Rate went from $3.00 to $3.20.. Sheeshh to think I was saddened then... & I had no idea at that time, that I'd have done SO MUCH in the next 2 years... $3.95 OUCH!! $5.45 to ship something INSURED/Delivery Confirmation.. COME ON it now costs $4.40... I can see this will be cutting into my SALES... Of course this is the GOVT so, it's not like they will care...
All that & a Bag of Chips Too!!
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argh
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posted on December 10, 2000 02:53:23 AM
Phoughman wrote:"As sellers we can expect more demands to offer first class (or book rate) to keep postage costs down, but these services could mean more lost mail, or claimed lost mail."
I mail most of my packages first class and I bet I've mailed well over 400 now. I have not had even one package get lost, and only one took an excessively long time (over two weeks). I've never had a buyer claim that they didn't receive their package either.
I think how many dishonest people you find on eBay depends on what category you're talking about.
I have had occasion to mail (and get) several Priority packages in the last two weeks. I am finding that the Priority is taking longer to arrive than the first class packages! The only reason I can think of is that first class packages tend to be smaller. The routine is to fit them in whenever, so maybe when things get busy there's sometimes room for a couple small packages and not another Priority box? Beats me, but I'm curious to know if anyone else has had this happen. In general, my first class packages are making it from one coast to the other in three to five days presently (during non-holiday times it's usually three days), and the priority boxes have been making the trip in a week.
One last point: I believe that U-Pic Insurance suggests that you not mark packages as insured. It kind of makes sense; in effect, you are letting everyone know that there may be something in the package that is worth stealing. The only drawback is trying to convince buyers that the insurance they paid for really was purchased. I bet with the steep hike in USPS insurance rates, that U-Pic is going to look even better.
Argh
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liabijou
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posted on December 10, 2000 03:35:16 AM
Can anyone tell me of a business that will deliver a letter anywhere in the US for $.35? If so, I'd like to call them.
Does anyone know of a country that has postage rates lower than the USA?
I haven't found one yet.
Our neighboring postal service in Canada delivers mail Monday through Friday. What if USPS decided to do the same?
Overall, I think the United State Postal Service is one of the best bargains around. What would we do if there were no USPS?
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ultraman187
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posted on December 10, 2000 10:47:08 AM
OH MY GOD!!!!! Not only did the priority mail went up .75 cents, now the postal insurance went up .15 cents. It worst as it is I hardly make any handling fee on my items (I only make .10 cent per item on handling), now I have to find boxes and offer book rate or first class (if it's under 13 ounce). United States Postal must be making money, this raise in rates is going to hurt our business. I for one can no longer put insurance on every item anymore. I sell video games, and I get one loss a month (I think they are mostly little kids claiming they are lost). But I guess I have to eat one video game up a month because of this rate thing. USPS is sending me to garbage can in search of boxes. ): Anyone know a good place in the net who sells cheap boxes, cardboards and mailer?
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humber2
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posted on December 10, 2000 10:44:32 PM
International rates.....
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2000_register&docid=00-30809-filed
Stay with or start using Global Priority Mailers
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trinchgirl
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posted on December 10, 2000 11:24:23 PM
I worked briefly at an encoding center for the post office. It's true that the post office can't make a profit BUT they still make WAY more than they need to move postage. According to the Postal Worker's Union guy, the "higher-ups" in the USPS get REALLY big bonuses to "get rid of" the excess. So why are they continuing to raise rates? I guess someone is struggling to pay off their yacht. Hmmmm...
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TheRedCircle
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posted on December 11, 2000 02:50:34 AM
Perhaps there was an increase in the cost of handguns and ammo that we are not aware of? That would explain things.
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TRC
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