They're Back.....Postal Surcharges
djm
Posts: 1,563 ✭✭✭✭✭
Starting October 3, 2021 The USPS will be charging a postal surcharge of .30 per first class package and a minimum of .75 per Flat Rate Package.
1
Comments
Is this different than simply raising prices? Sounds like ~10% increase...?
OK? EVERYTHING is going up now.
Shouldn't be surprised, especially with the new flunkie that took over.
Holiday surcharge, will be rolled back after the holiday rush.
Not to be confused with rate hikes.
In any case, we have serious inflation going on in case no one noticed. The USPS is not immune.
On top of "shrinkflation". They just announced that they will deliberately slow(er) all deliveries. So we will pay more for less.
(l8-)>>
Am I missing something or have they done this before?
"The extra charges will apply to both individuals and corporations. The USPS rolled out the surcharges last year for commercial customers."
"UPS and FedEx also started putting surcharges on shipments during the holiday season in 2020."
Source
Looks as if this will become an annual process. Likely an attempt to compensate for added labor hours/employees. Cheers, RickO
Thank you.
I think it's a little more involved than just "deliberately" making the mail slower.
They are not going to sit on a letter for a day or two just for the sake of doing it. They are changing the way the mail is moved (less air travel).
When faced with increased operating costs, options are:
1) cost cutting and raising rates
2) Congress funding the USPS
Take your pick.
Just about everything, my paycheck has not gone up to cover these increases.
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
Did the surcharges apply to ebay labels? I don't recall paying a surcharge last year but maybe my mind is growing more feeble!
Yes, the rates go back to normal on 12/26/2021
Yes they did.
The post office does a fine job.
You made me go look at my last years records. I see no surcharges added to my shipping purchased through ebay! Perhaps it didn't apply to 1st class packages as I rarely need to use priority.
The 2020 details can be found here.
The latest on 2021 can be found here.
Yeap, I didn't look far enough back. That camel's back is getting closer and closer to the ground.
if you think the mail is slow now, wait until November. i don't even try selling things under 100 dollars anymore, simply not worth it
Does the slower mail fundamentally change the margins?
no, but the stress of slow mail gets to the point where you don't even like selling, usps gets so backed up, that's when packages get lost
Yeah, and then you have to decide whether to insure the low value stuff, due to delays and added risk. Gotcha.
Trust me, it won't be nearly as bad as last November!
Actually, I think they may be doing just that, at least for First Class packages. In the last few months, such items do not always get scanned at my local distribution center the same day as I drop them off, but they always did previously.
I could believe that, but I don't think they are doing it just to do it. There may be staffing issues, or transport issues, like what we saw last holiday season.
I agree. There's no advantage in intentionally allowing mail to pile up. They are probably just scheduling fewer transports to make sure trucks are full.
I guess people getting fed up with delays and spending extra money for Priority doesn't constitute an advantage to USPS. In your universe, anyway...
Domestic Mail & Shipping Services
Service - Shipping Time
Priority Mail® - 1–3 Days
First-Class Mail® - Estimated 1–3 Days
From here:
https://www.usps.com/ship/
I take it you didn't take @MFeld IM to heart.
I'm not one for conspiracy theories. People who want speed already opt for priority in most cases. But, I'll listen to any actual postal workers in the crowd. I mean, postal workers who work in my universe.
I suppose in your universe frustration in slow mail delivery doesn't cause people to use UPS or FedEx instead. But I guess that might be considered an "advantage" in your universe.
There is no fact that you can throw out that will ever disprove a conspiracy theory.
There's no shipping time guarantee on either 1st class or priority.
Figured I would toss this in as this had a bearing on how I missed it. Anyone notice the rates are a tad higher now than the surcharged prices of last year? I bet come before spring the same thing will happen.
No, I did. I've been trying even harder to ignore you, but it's difficult when you directly reply to my post.
Good to know that the postal workers in your universe are privy to the motivations of top brass and always tell you and other customers the unvarnished truth.
No, in my universe people are intelligent and rational. Since UPS and FedEx cost more than Priority for small parcels (you know, the ones that might have been eligible for 1st Class), people here wouldn't throw money away for no good reason.
Actually, I was referring to postal behavior not administrative mind reading. The people who work there know what they were told to do and what they are actually doing.
FedEx SmartMoney is generally cheaper than priority. That said, if you are upgrading from 1st class to priority, money is not as important as speed.
It's funny that you complain about my mind reading postal workers while at the same time engaging in your own administrative mind reading. Then again, I guess the rules are different.
Sorry @MFeld, there is apparently no hugging it out possible.