posted on December 28, 2005 03:12:41 PM new
I just got to looking at the new rate schedule that kick's in on Jan 8. I thought it was a straight across the board percentage increase. WRONG. Below is a list of the increases. Take note that Media Mail is going up 12 to 13.9 percent!!! Yikes, I ship alot of books (vehicle service manuals) Looks like some services are going up a sizable amount. Oh well, will just get passed on to the buyer, again. And joy to the world, there are from what I hear going to be postage increases the next two coming years.
EXPRESS MAIL
The average increase is 5.4 percent. Increases for individual rates range from 5.3 percent to 5.6 percent as rates are always rounded to the nearest $.05 increment. The rate for the USPS-provided flat-rate envelope, as well as the half-pound (Post Office to addressee) will be $14.40.
FIRST-CLASS MAIL
The average increase is 5.36 percent, with most rates at or near the average.
- Single-piece (consumer) 1-ounce letter rate will be $.39.
- Single-piece nonmachinable surcharge will be $.13; and the presorted nonmachinable surcharge will be $.058.
- Additional ounce rates — single-piece will be $.24; and presorted and automation rate will be $.237.
- Single-piece card rate will be $.24.
Priority Mail
The average increase is 5.4 percent, with most rates at or near the average.
- The rate for the USPS-provided flat-rate envelope, as well as the 1 pound (unzoned) rate will be $4.05.
- The rate for USPS-provided flat-rate boxes will be $8.10.
STANDARD MAIL
The average increase for Standard Mail is 5.3 percent and Nonprofit Standard Mail is 3 percent.
- Nonmachinable surcharge — Standard Mail letters will be $.042 and Nonprofit will be $.021.
- Residual shape surcharge (parcels) will be $.242.
- Machinable parcel barcode discount remains $.03.
- Fee for bulk parcel return service will be $1.90.
- Weighted fee for all Standard Mail returns remains 2.472 times the applicable single-piece First-Class Mail rate.
PACKAGE SERVICES
Machinable parcel barcode discount for all Package Services mail remains $.03.
Bound Printed Matter
The average increase for flats and parcels is 5.5 percent.
- Single-piece increases 5.2 to 5.6 percent.
- Presorted and Carrier Route increases 5.2 to 6.0 percent.
Library Mail
The average increase is 12.6 percent.
- Single-piece increases 11 to 13.9 percent.
- Presorted increases 11 to 14.5 percent.
Media Mail
The average increase is 12.7 percent.
- Single-piece increases 12 percent to 13.5 percent.
- Presorted increases 12.5 to 13.9 percent.
Parcel Post and Parcel Select
The average increase for Parcel Post is 5.4 percent. Intra-BMC/ASF and Inter-BMC/ASF increased 5.3 to 5.4 percent. Parcel Select increases vary from 5.1 to 5.7 percent. Nonmachinable surcharges will be:
- Intra-BMC $1.42.
- Inter-BMC $2.90.
- Parcel Select $1.53.
EXTRA SERVICES AND
MAILER SERVICES
Certificate of Mailing
- Individual pieces (Form 3817) fee will be $.95 each, and three or more items listed on Form 3877 remains $.30 for each item.
- Bulk (Form 3606) fee for up to 1,000 pieces will be $4.75, and the fee for each additional 1,000 pieces (or fraction) will be $.55.
Certified Mail
- Certified Mail will be $2.40.
Delivery Confirmation
- First-Class Mail parcels, electronic option will be $.14; retail option will be $.60.
- Priority Mail, electronic option remains “no charge,” retail option will be $.50.
- Standard Mail parcels, electronic option will be $.14.
- Parcel Select, the electronic option remains “no charge.”
- All other Package Services parcels, electronic option will be $.14, retail option will be $.60.
Express Mail Insurance
- Up to $100 included with Express Mail service. Over $100 will be $1.05 per each additional $100 of merchandise insurance coverage up to $5,000.
Insurance
- Less than $50 (unnumbered) will be $1.35.
- $50 up to $100 will be $2.30.
- Over $100 will be $2.30 plus $1.05 for each additional $100, up to $5,000.
Registered Mail
- No declared value will be $7.90.
- Values between $.01 and $100 will be $8.45.
- Over $100 will be $8.45 plus $.90 per each additional $100 up to $25,000.
Return Receipt
- Requested at the time of mailing (Form 3811) will be $1.85.
- Requested at the time of mailing (electronic option) will be $1.35.
- Requested after mailing will be $3.45.
Signature Confirmation
- Priority Mail and all First-Class Mail and Package Services parcels, electronic option will be $1.35, retail option will be $1.90.
OTHER SERVICES AND FEES
Address Correction Service
- Manual notification will be $.75.
- Electronic notification (address change service) will be $.21.
Pickup Service
- Pick up on demand service — available for Express Mail, Priority Mail and Parcel Post — will be $13.25 per pickup.
- Carrier Pickup Online Notification remains no charge.
Post Office Box and Caller Service
- Increases on average 4.2 to 8.3 percent, with most Post Office box fees at or near the average.
- Caller service (for each separation provided), a semiannual period will be $434.
- Caller service reserved number per calendar year will be $34.
Mailing and Permit Fees
- All annual mailing fees, as well as the annual fees for: bulk parcel return service (BPRS), Business Reply Mail (BRM) permit, merchandise return service (MRS) and Parcel Return Services (PRS) will be $160.
- All annual accounting fees, BPRS, BRM, MRS and PRS go to $500.
- Permit imprint application fee will be $160.
[ edited by mikes4x4andtruckrepair on Dec 28, 2005 03:55 PM ]
posted on December 28, 2005 04:08:13 PM new
Could someone let me know what the letter mail rate will be from US to Canada, I always tell my US buyers. It was 60 cents. If I don't tell some of them, they put the regular domestic rate stamp on, and it is returned to them.
posted on December 28, 2005 05:39:05 PM new
I'm with Amber and would like to know the letter rate for Canada (and isn't that the same for most foreign countries?).
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[ edited by roadsmith on Dec 28, 2005 10:42 PM ]
posted on December 28, 2005 08:11:27 PM new
International Global Priority will be $4.25 to Canada and Mexico, $5.25 elsewhere (Small envelope) - Large is increasing to $7.50 and $9.50
As far as 1 ounce letter, 63 cents to Canada (up from 60 cents) and 84 cents worldwide (up from 80 cents)
Media Mail increase has nothing to do with fraud, it has to do with keeping the price in line with the cost. One can argue that more fraud increases costs, but my guess is overall it has a pretty negligable affect as so many people aren't even aware of what media mail is, nor do the postal employees think to offer it when asking the customer how to ship.
posted on December 28, 2005 08:14:48 PM new
I had my Post Office run me off a copy of the new rates.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on December 28, 2005 10:15:28 PM new
Lucy and Fluff: I apologize. I sure didn't mean to offend with political garbage--I honestly thought the quote I used today in my signature line was fairly apolitical and actually somewhat astute. But I'm removing it now. Adele
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[ edited by roadsmith on Dec 28, 2005 10:15 PM ]
posted on December 28, 2005 11:17:57 PM new
I to agree that fraud is probably not the reason for the higher increase for Media Mail. As stated earlier most people don't even know what it is. When I do go to the post office and stand in line I never hear a counter clerk offer Media Mail as a shipping option, usually it's just Parcel Post, Priority or Express. Kind of like the little known M Bag's (international media mail sack's), few people have even ever heard of them. I think the main reason for the larger increase in MM is due to overall transportation cost. MM packages on average I would think are rather heavy since many of them are books. I guess the USPS big wig's finally realized how much we the customers were getting over on them. It was good while it lasted though.
posted on December 29, 2005 05:18:56 AM new
Thanks ebayvet, I will change my replies to 63 cents. Canada Post letter mail is increasing, but not package mail thankfully, it went up a lot in Jan. 2005.
posted on January 2, 2006 10:51:26 AM new
Priority Mail
The average increase is 5.4 percent, with most rates at or near the average.
- The rate for the USPS-provided flat-rate envelope, as well as the 1 pound (unzoned) rate will be $4.05.
- The rate for USPS-provided flat-rate boxes will be $8.10.
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I haven't used USPS in so long, I cannot recall, can you put a "lumpy" item in a flat-rate envelope, and ship it in this manor instead of going to a box?
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WHAT if one uses a flat envelope lined with bubble wrap, (9”X6”) and adds a priority sticker, and ships it Priority - is such still equal to using the USPS envelope, as far as costs is concerned?
Wishes for a Blessed 2006!
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
posted on January 2, 2006 11:10:58 AM new
As far as the flat rate envelopes are concerned I think it tends to depend on your post master. I have gone through 3 different post masters at my post office. 1 of which said that when the flat rate envelope was used it should not be buldging so it can go through the automated mail machines, but the others do not seem to care.
I don't quite understand your question about using the envelope though. You mention puting a priority mail sticker on it. They are already marked USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope, these are the envelopes you get for free from the postal service. Puting buble wrap in the envelope is no problem though.
posted on January 2, 2006 12:19:40 PM new
kenzy - Nice site. Just wanted to let you know you also need to update the insurance chart you have when you click the Priority Mail link. The insurance chart on the home page is correct for the new rates but when you click on the Priority Mail link the insurance chart below that is still the old rates.
posted on January 2, 2006 12:41:13 PM new
Yep, you're right! Same problem on the MEDIA Mail page. Also the Delivery Tracking/Confirmation rates were the old values.
Thanks for the "heads up", I think that I've fixed the problems!
posted on January 8, 2006 03:25:30 PM new
I don't think some of the counter employees have any idea what to offer, except the most expensive thing they can think of.
I've been helping a friend get started in online selling (at fixed-price sites like amazon/half) and she has been overcharged twice now at the USPS counter.
Once, she brought in a printed label from the USPS shipping API that said "e/Delivery Confirmation" right on it in large print above a barcode, and they didn't scan that, attached an evil GREEN label, filled it out, and charged her 55 cents instead of 13 (now 14, but this was when it was still 13).
Again, a similar package, and she brought the bottom half of the API label that has a place for a round stamp that says "USPS Postmark Here" - and they sold her a Certificate of Mailing for 95 cents, and refused to round stamp where it said the above.
Yahoo ID: grantje
posted on January 8, 2006 04:14:43 PM new
Did you or your friend complain to that post offices post master? If you did and got no satisfaction I would drop the Post Master Generals office a email and complain there.
Problem with many small post offices (like the one I deal with) is they just don't know their own regulations and mailing standards. Luckily I just take in a copy of the reg in question and show them "what the scoop is" and from then on I'm usually fine. If you have a idiot for a post master on the other hand the note to the PMG's office should set thing's straight. It's amazing what can happen when their boss call's them to investigate complaints about their office.
Just another white mouse in the ebay maze looking for some cheese. --- Mike
posted on January 8, 2006 06:37:16 PM new
It looks like International airmail rates aren't going up much. I don't understand why 1 oz to Australia is 80 cents and 2 oz is $1.70. Huh?
posted on January 8, 2006 08:21:42 PM new
pixiamom said: "It looks like International airmail rates aren't going up much. I don't understand why 1 oz to Australia is 80 cents and 2 oz is $1.70. Huh?"
1 oz. to AUSTRALIA is now 84 cents (was 80 cents). 2 oz. is now $1.80 (was $1.70).
Please see my Online Auction Links page at http://www.kenzy.com/auctions.htm
posted on January 8, 2006 08:58:53 PM new
FWIW, had I been there with this friend, I would have immediately corrected them in the most tactful way possible.
On the second visit, alas, I was there, but at the next counter, attempting to buy $1 worth of 2 cent stamps from the one counter that did not have any and in fact had to go open the safe to get more.
I did encourage her, that if she wants to pursue the matter, the best idea is to start by writing a letter to the local postmaster detailing the problems she's had with the counter clerks. I also suggested she could call them (800-ASK-USPS) and file a complaint that way.
FWIW, I would not consider where I live to be a small town, but we certainly do have counter clerks that aren't aware of what USPS offers and for how much.
Therefore, my new favorite postal clerk is the Automated Postage Machine, open 24/7, never talks back, and will always sell me a stamp at any price I want, to attach to my preprinted label. I can then deposit my package in the nearby opening - a "drum" for lack of better words.
The downsides:
* Cheapest stamp my APM will sell is 50 cents, unless I want to buy a book of 1st class.
* Doesn't scan my eDC barcode.
* Doesn't have any way to automatically add the right amount of postage for eDC on Package Services (i.e. Media Mail).
(To use the APM's scale, I must initiate a transaction, weigh/price the item, then start over and buy a custom stamp for the weight-based rate plus the eDC rate.)
Yahoo ID: grantje
posted on January 8, 2006 09:07:07 PM new
Tonight I've been calculating priority shipping for my buyers by going to the USPS site, assuming it's been updated, since it's now 1/8. Does anyone have info to the contrary? I'd hate to be off by several dollars on some of the items I'll have to ship.
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posted on January 8, 2006 09:11:32 PM new
I have been printing shipping labels through both PayPal and USPS website and both are up to date on the new fee schedule. So far so good.
Just another white mouse in the ebay maze looking for some cheese. --- Mike
Looks like some services are going up a sizable amount. Oh well, will just get passed on to the buyer, again. And joy to the world, there are from what I hear going to be postage increases the next two coming years.