Big Changes in US Postal Service Come January

[+AtlantaGal]

There are a bunch of changes coming to the US Postal Service beginning in January 2012 and none of them are good ones. Not only will there be a 5% postage increase on packages & Priority Mail services, but half of the mail sort facilities in the entire US will be closed by March.

 

I know the facility in Florence, SC that I use will be closing by the end of January. My mail will now all be handled by Columbia, SC. In addition numerous postal centers will be shut down. I found out today that the post office I use is slated to be closed by mid-January and I'll have to drive 5 miles more to use the next closest one.

 

You can read some of it here: http://news.yahoo.com/u-postal-seeks-end-next-day-mail-185946030.html

 

What this essentially means for shipping geocoins is that delivery will cost more and take longer.

Edited December 6, 2011 by AtlantaGal

[+tsunrisebey]

Yup, Helena lost their postal mark Our sorting facility is headed to Great Falls. We were told to expect about a 2 day delay for mail. Shoot what was once delivered by pony express has now been outsourced to a goat

 

tsun

[+rsfish1]

Here is some more general information and a link to see the rate increases. The good thing is that the prices for 1-12 ounce parcels are not going up. That is what a lot of geocoins are being shipped under. But I fear the deliver time is going to radically change for some people.

 

New pricing for most everything USPS, except Priority and Express Mail, effective January 22, 2012. Details(price links on left side of page)

 

A few key differences in prices:

First Class stamp - increase of $0.01, from $0.44 to $0.45

 

13 oz. First Class Parcel (retail) - increase of $0.24, from $3.41 to $3.65

 

2 lbs. Parcel Post (retail, Zone 1) - increase of $0.15, from $5.15 to $5.30

 

2 lbs. Parcel Post (retail, Zone 8) - increase of $0.16, from $8.67 to $8.83

 

4 lbs. Media Mail - increase of $0.09, from $3.64 to $3.73

 

Priority mail, small box, $5.35.

 

Priority mail, medium box, $11.35.

 

Priority mail, large box, $15.45.

 

Priority mail, regular envelope, $5.15.

 

Priority mail, legal-size and padded envelope, $5.30.

 

Delivery Confirmation will be $0.75 to $0.85 retail, an increase of $0.05, no change for electronic postage (online labels), except DC for First Class Parcels will be free.

 

Signature Confirmation will be $2.10 electronic, $2.55 retail, an increase of $0.10.

 

Insurance will start from $1.85, an increase of $0.05

[+AtlantaGal]

The good thing is that the prices for 1-12 ounce parcels are not going up. That is what a lot of geocoins are being shipped under. But I fear the deliver time is going to radically change for some people.

 

I was told my first class "package" rate mailers would be going up. Are you sure it's not "letter" rate that has no increase?

 

Delivery times are going to be terrible. Less people handling current volume.

[+rsfish1]

I hate trying to read the USPS charts. For retail sales, Letters are going up .01 and parcels are going up .24. But I do not see any sepecifics for purchasing online. I was going by online since I do not buy at the post office.

 

After looking a little deeper, here is what I see as the big jump in price. It appears they have changed the First Class Mail International Package rates significantly. Right now you can send 2 ounces for $2.59. If I am reading this right, 1 ounce will cost $3 and 2 ounces will cost $3.15. It will go up .15 for every ounce. This is bad if most of the packages you send are 2 ounces or under, like a single geocoin. It will be good though if you send 4 ounces since then it will start saving money.

 

Of course until the rates officially take affect and the distribution centers close, we will not know how bad it is.

[+goosefraba1]

The great thing about America is that there is socialism right under our nose in the form of the USPS.... and we don't care because it isn't broadcasted in that light. Really the only thing that it competes against is UPS and FedEx. Taking this into consideration, the rates really aren't that bad now... and honestly, rate jumps still do not make shipping to insanely expensive. Just think, most the time packages are being sent they are being driven on diesel or flown with jet fuel. Diesel is running around $4.00 a gallon and Jet-A is running around $6.00. Honestly, it amazes me that shipping prices aren't stiffer in the US is all.

[+Jayman11]

I saw today that they were comparing the speed back to 1775. Right now it takes 1-3 days roughly. Apparently it will take a little longer at 2-5 days. That was how long it took to deliver mail on horse back then within a few states. The rates don't look like they will be all that bad. Yeah it stinks to have to pay more but it could be worse. If the USPS were to go away and we had to ship those small packages through UPS or FedEx I think it would be quite a bit more for such light packages.

[+Eartha]

I saw today that they were comparing the speed back to 1775. Right now it takes 1-3 days roughly. Apparently it will take a little longer at 2-5 days. That was how long it took to deliver mail on horse back then within a few states. The rates don't look like they will be all that bad. Yeah it stinks to have to pay more but it could be worse. If the USPS were to go away and we had to ship those small packages through UPS or FedEx I think it would be quite a bit more for such light packages.

 

What's the rush? Isn't anticipation part of the fun of collecting?

[avroair]

What's the rush? Isn't anticipation part of the fun of collecting?

 

Not when you get 1 ratings on shipping when it has nothing to do with you.

[+Eartha]

What's the rush? Isn't anticipation part of the fun of collecting?

 

Not when you get 1 ratings on shipping when it has nothing to do with you.

 

Promise them to arrive within 1 week and when they arrive in 4 days, people will love you!

[+The Moop Along]

What's the rush? Isn't anticipation part of the fun of collecting?

 

Not when you get 1 ratings on shipping when it has nothing to do with you.

 

Promise them to arrive within 1 week and when they arrive in 4 days, people will love you!

 

Wish we could Once you drop the parcel off at the Post Office, it can take a day to 2 months (or more) for it to arrive. If the buyer doesn't like the shipping time, they ding your ratings. Too many dings, and you get charged 20% more in fees! And it's up to a totally different entity to keep you in good standing. no one cares to look at the post mark date, just that it took 4 weeks to arrive.

 

TMA

[+Lieblweb]

I work in the printing industry and everything we produce is mailed. We've been feeling the crunch for years!!! You have no idea how the industry has changed over the years to produce and mail items while trying to stay competitive and keep customers so we can all keep our jobs (so to speak).

 

You gotta do what you gotta do. I feel bad for those folks who will lose their jobs.

[+Joe the Mailman]

Don't like the upcoming changes with the USPS - contact your do nothing Politician to take action.

[+rsfish1]

Now that the rates are in place, I thought I might update everyone with some rates they need to know about.

For inside the US, first class parcel actually dropped 11 cents. So that was nice to see. $1.75 online to $1.64.

For International it really jumped.

Canada for shipping a 2 ounce coin went from $1.72 to $3.15. 15 cents an ounce after that.

To Germany for shipping a 2 ounce coin used to be $2.59. It is now about $3.78. And 78 cents for every ounce after that.

 

Just wanted to give a heads up to everyone that is shipping out of the US before you had a heart attack at the post office.

[+Bamilbis]

Not for nuthin but I won't miss the USPS one bit.

 

I can't remember the last time I got something I wanted from the Post Office. Bills? Online. Notes from loved ones? e-mail. Deliveries of stuff I bought? UPS or FedEx.

 

Remember that Seinfeld episode where Cramer tried to return his mail box? That show was ahead of the times. If you want to get ahead of the wave buy FedEx and UPS stock. Five years from now you'll be able to pay for your parcels to be shipped with them and have a profit to boot. I feel bad for the thousands and thousand who are going to lose their jobs, but buggy whip manufacturers lost their jobs too. It's the way the world works...adapt or die.

[+WRITE SHOP ROBERT]

I saw today that they were comparing the speed back to 1775. Right now it takes 1-3 days roughly. Apparently it will take a little longer at 2-5 days. That was how long it took to deliver mail on horse back then within a few states. The rates don't look like they will be all that bad. Yeah it stinks to have to pay more but it could be worse. If the USPS were to go away and we had to ship those small packages through UPS or FedEx I think it would be quite a bit more for such light packages.

 

What's the rush? Isn't anticipation part of the fun of collecting?

I agree. with all the time, care, and planning that goes into each minting, 1-7 days delay in delivery is hardly an issue. Of course, I spend weeks waiting on Postcards from all over, so my opinion is a little off.

[GregsonVaux]

I am doing a lot of shipping these days and the changes are mixed. International is getting more painful, but with free delivery conformation, my domestic costs have gone down a lot.

[+LadyBee4T]

I just sent a bubble mailer to Germany today. 2.1 oz was $4.56 and when I checked the website to Great Britain it was the same. BUT I sent a coin within the US and what used to cost $1.75 was $1.64. That was sent through paypal shipping so it included delivery confirmation.

[+AtlantaGal]

Postage rates went up about $.25 on average across the board for my US domestic shipments yesterday, which is about what I expected. Overseas was $1.00-1.38 higher for just a regular, single coin shipment to Germany, UK and Australia.

[+Toojin]

When I go to usps.com and "calculate price" for a first class package, the price for 1 2 or 3 ounces is $1.95, at four ounces it goes up to $2.12.

 

Is this happening to anyone else? (Paypal charges differently, as noted above)

 

If I am not the only one, does anyone know why the difference?

[+rsfish1]

When I go to usps.com and "calculate price" for a first class package, the price for 1 2 or 3 ounces is $1.95, at four ounces it goes up to $2.12.

 

Is this happening to anyone else? (Paypal charges differently, as noted above)

 

If I am not the only one, does anyone know why the difference?

They changed it last year so that the first 3 ounces of First Class Mail were all the same rate. It was the last rate increase I believe last May.

[+Toojin]

When I go to usps.com and "calculate price" for a first class package, the price for 1 2 or 3 ounces is $1.95, at four ounces it goes up to $2.12.

 

Is this happening to anyone else? (Paypal charges differently, as noted above)

 

If I am not the only one, does anyone know why the difference?

They changed it last year so that the first 3 ounces of First Class Mail were all the same rate. It was the last rate increase I believe last May.

 

But paypal doesn't do it that way? And actually I am pretty sure that the last time I verified prices on usps.com (like maybe October?) the ounces were different...

 

Oh well, whatever gets stuff to people is the way it works. I am a curious person. Thank you rsfish1 for responding.

[+Eric K]

Well thanks again to the US Postal service to sticking it to small business. While they may have only raised the letter rate by 1 cent have any of you shipped International since the rate change.

 

Seems like darn near a $2 jump in the starting rate to ship First Class International.

[+AtlantaGal]

Canada is really bad compared to the old prices. Used to be Canada was cheaper than sending in the US. Not anymore. Cost me $3.15 for one coin!

[+Ashallond]

if the USPS gets it's way the entire state of Arkansas will be processed from ONE station in Little Rock, instead of the three that we have now.

 

whee.

[GregsonVaux]

Well thanks again to the US Postal service to sticking it to small business. While they may have only raised the letter rate by 1 cent have any of you shipped International since the rate change.

 

Seems like darn near a $2 jump in the starting rate to ship First Class International.

 

I am a true believer in capitalism, so I like efficiency and I think that the USPS could be more efficient. That being said, I want to point out that private companies such as UPS and FedEx are more expensive. Also keep in mind that the US has about the least expensive mail anywhere. My final point is that the USPS has been going broke for a while. If they don't raise rates, they will go bankrupt.

 

Again, I love efficiency and I hate the poor service that can develop in monopolies, but ask yourself this, if you were in charge of the postal service could you deliver the same service for the price? My feelings about the USPS are mixed, but as I learn more about international shipping, I grow to respect them more.