2017 USPS Rate Increases...get the lube ready!

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djsports

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As if this hobby hasn't had enough difficulties in the past year, I found this on a stamps.com blog.

http://blog.stamps.com/2015/10/22/usps-announces-postage-rate-increase-starts-january-17-2016/

Rate changes for the US

FCM packages (small padded mailer with one to four cards in it)
1-3 ounces used to cost $2.04 no 1-8 ounces costs $2.60

They have a nice little chart for domestic orders because there are some red numbers on there which means that the price actually went down.

They did a pretty good job hiding this in the small print:

First Class Package International Service postage rates will increase by an average of 21.6% in 2016, however Commercial Base and Plus prices will remain the same next year. The average price increases by pound are:

– Up to 1 lb. – Average Increase of $5.17
– Up to 2 lbs. – Average Increase of ($1.77)
– Up to 3 lbs. – Average Increase of $1.63
– Up to 4 lbs. – Average Increase of $11.58

I could not find a nice little chart, but to put that into perspective, sending one card in a bubble mailer has the potential to go from $7.10 to $12.27!!!! (based on the "average" increase from above). They do say that Commercial Base pricing will not increase in 2016, but I find that very hard to believe. Commercial Base pricing is basically Stamps.com, Ebay, Pitney Bowes ect.

I know that there are some members based in the US, myself included, who offer international buyers a safe space from international postal fees. I currently offer this service to 13 people, and have no problem helping out more international buyers.

I do not charge any fees for you to send something to my house. Just have the card(s) sent to my house, they go into the card house with your name on it, and when you are ready I ship the cards to you.

If you are interested in my help please PM me.

Shawn
 
Ridiculous, just ridiculous!

What is the reason behind their unreal prices jacking past 3 years now?
Absolutely mindblowing if it's true that with $7.10 to $12.27, how is that even possible with a such tremendous raise?

Shockingly that we swedes are able to sending letters/mails up to 100grams for about $5 worldwide and even less if in europe or domestic.....

It's no idea to continue with the hobby if those rates are for real, can't justify to spending astoundingly $12.27 for just one stupid $0.99 card!

Even if I got help from a certain member here with like 15-20 auctions because of non-outside-NA-shippers but this is a whole another matter, not that practical to get help from others for EVERY auctions for just saving $.....sigh.....
I really changed my perspective for the hobby for just 2 months ago and ended to complaining for mostly but if this gets for real so I don't know anymore.....

It was indeed not that long time ago since it was fairly cheap to ship from USA to overseas but now almost impossible to importing like DVD/BD/games/comics/antiques etc since just one stupid game cartridge or disc (without case+manual) can cover $25 in just shipping for now.....especially when I was able to just pay like $50 in shipping for 2x amazing japanese satsuma vases from end of 1800's from San Francisco for 5-6 years ago and I don't even dare to thinking about how much it would costs me for now instead for $50 which I paid for those vases in just shipping, considering when they're quite big and heavy!

I really hope that it's not true....+$5 raise for just one card is just......xxxCENSOREDxxx!!!
 
I wonder if Canada Post is putting pressure on them to increase their rates?

The reason being, for $7.10, the bubble mailer coming from Los Angeles to Nova Scotia shows up on my doorstep with full ExpressPost tracking. Meanwhile, it costs me $20.00+ to ship a card with ExpressPost to Ontario. Even with the exchange rate being as bad as it is, Canada Post is charging its citizens more than double the amount they are charging to our neighbours to the south for the exact same service. I'm betting CP has told USPS they want a bigger cut, and as such, USPS is rasing their rates significantly to accommodate?
 
The raise is partially due to the pension that needs to be funded 75 years in the future. If this is indeed only for walk up customers, I can see the increase due to the fact it takes close to 5 minutes for an employee to type in the address to their online system. :)

That is the reason why I don't like sending reigistered.
 
djsports said:
The raise is partially due to the pension that needs to be funded 75 years in the future. If this is indeed only for walk up customers, I can see the increase due to the fact it takes close to 5 minutes for an employee to type in the address to their online system. :)

That is the reason why I don't like sending reigistered.
Click to expand...

5 minutes? You must have one of the fast workers. Just the thought of going to the post office to mail something makes me shudder. The best is when they tell you an address doesn't exist and you pull it up on Google Maps on your phone and show them the house/building it is going to.
 
If you live in the US and are paying $7.10 to ship bubble mailers you are throwing away $5 everytime you send one.

Paypal.com/shipnow. Its around $2 for large envelope rate, which is what a bubble mailer is. Stop using the ebay shipping. Print the label from paypal, and drop the package in the blue box.
 
huskies3 said:
If you live in the US and are paying $7.10 to ship bubble mailers you are throwing away $5 everytime you send one.

Paypal.com/shipnow. Its around $2 for large envelope rate, which is what a bubble mailer is. Stop using the ebay shipping. Print the label from paypal, and drop the package in the blue box.
Click to expand...

I guess your post office doesn't like returning the padded envelopes back to you like mine does. Heck even flats are getting sent back to me now.
 
djsports said:
I guess your post office doesn't like returning the padded envelopes back to you like mine does. Heck even flats are getting sent back to me now.
Click to expand...

Same here. It's hit or miss. I'll send something, it'll get returned saying it needs more postage, and then I'll just throw it right back in a mailbox and it makes it to its destination no problem.
 
Nothing rigid is supposed to go through with regular bubble mailer.
MY main PO will take the envelope - look at me , and ask if they can bend it on the counter .
The answer is , of course no, which means it does not pass the test.

The real answer is that anything that does not get small packet at $6.92 on Ebay goes through the high speed sorters. And I do not want cards going through them. They also no longer accept PWE with rigid cardboard.

huskies3 - as we all know Paypal does not give a rip, and will not protect you for anything sent in this manner. I am not throwing money away, I am insuring that things are done correctly and as such I have never had any issues. On eBay or HI.
 
I'm very close to being done with the hobby/collecting so it won't effect me much. An exchange rate of 1.33ish and double the rate for first class? Peace.
 
Sorry, but that just about ends any dealings I have with US sellers. It was hard enough to swallow paying $7-$8, but $12+ not a chance. I'm not really sure how this is going to help USPS, because they are going to lose a ton of business, or volume from international customers. Sure some will still pay for it, because they may not have a choice for whatever reason (cards, or whatever), but those of us who do have a choice, here's the middle finger. To ask your customers to bend over, and fund a company that has been mismanaged, and run into the ground, posting billions of dollars in debt each year is insane.
 

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