With the 2012 USPS rate increase, all Stamps.com postage printed on or after January 22, 2012 will reflect the new rates. No action is required of customers. Stamps.com mailing and shipping solutions are designed to reflect up-to-date USPS pricing and will transition to the new rates in real time, enabling customers to print postage without any service disruptions.  

Stamps.com Software Customers

• Stamps.com Software will automatically reflect the new rates. No action is required.
• To utilize the new 2012 USPS products such as the Express Mail Flat Rate Box or the Regional Rate Box C, Stamps.com Software customers will need to upgrade to Version 9.5.  Download Version 9.5 for FREE!
• If shipping Media Mail and/or Parcel Post, Stamps.com Software customers will need to upgrade to Version 9.5 in order to incorporate the new Intelligent Mail Package Barcode. Download Version 9.5 for FREE!

Stamps.com Online Customers

• Stamps.com Online will automatically reflect the new rates. No action is required.
• Stamps.com Online will automatically incorporate the new 2012 USPS products. No action is required.

 New 2012 USPS Products

• Express Mail Flat Rate Box — It’s priced at $39.95 and can be used for overnight delivery anywhere in the country for one price regardless of weight (up to 70 lbs).

Express Mail Flat Rate Boxes come in 2 versions – top loading and side loading. Both boxes hold up to 70 pounds.

• Priority Mail Regional Rate Box C — It’s the U.S. Postal Service’s largest and deepest box at 15” x 12” x 12” and can hold up to 25 lbs.

Priority Mail Regional Rate Box C is 15″ x 12″ x 12″ and holds up to 25 pounds

• First Class Package Service (formerly known as First Class Mail Parcels) — This mail class will now include the Intelligent Mail Package Barcode to provide FREE Delivery Confirmation.

Free Delivery Confirmation is now included with First Class Package Service

 New 2012 USPS Commercial Base (Online Postage) Rates

We’re pleased to introduce a video highlighting the new features of Stamps.com Version 9.0. The software offers new time-saving tools to help e-commerce shippers maximize their mailing, shipping and much more.

The video focuses on four key features of Version 9.0 that consist of:

• New Packing Slip capabilities
• Insuring packages up to $10,000 in value
• New Etsy Integration (Watch “How To” Set Up Etsy Video)
• USPS Flat Rate Legal Envelopes

Stamps.com Version 9.0 is free to download at http://www.stamps.com/download/

I’m pleased to announce Stamps.com’s new integration with Etsy.com, giving Etsy sellers the power to print USPS® shipping labels for any mail class, even First Class Mail International. How do Etsy Sellers integrate with Stamps.com and start printing shipping labels? It’s easy, and we show you all the details in this new how-to video.

Stamps.com Etsy Integration Features:

• Import orders from your Etsy account, eliminating the need to copy and paste
• Easily print USPS shipping labels for any mail class including international
• Once labels have printed, Stamps.com will post-back detailed order information back to your Etsy account including Delivery Confirmation numbers, shipping dates and mail class
• Save time by using an integrated USB digital scale and automated customs forms for international packages
• Receive discounted rates for First Class Packages, Priority Mail and Express Mail

For e-commerce retailers, the holiday season can often be the most profitable time of the year. Savvy e-commerce sellers are offering more and more promotions to further increase profits and stay competitive, and this year’s Stamps.com survey shows that free shipping promotions can do just that.

In this, our second e-commerce shipping survey, free shipping shows a surge with 68 percent of sellers planning to offer the promotion on more products during the coming 2011 holiday season — a 15 percent increase from the 2010 holiday season. Also, 54 percent of sellers plan to offer free shipping promotions on 50 percent or more of their holiday collection, up from 43 percent in last year’s holiday season.

What’s the benefit of offering free shipping? Of survey respondents, 52 percent said the promotion increases their average revenue per order by $8 or more.

SECOND ANNUAL STAMPS.COM E-COMMERCE SHIPPING SURVEY RESULTS
The survey was conducted from October 31 to November 4, 2011 and was sent to current Stamps.com customers who operate an e-commerce store. Read on to learn more about the significant findings.

E-commerce sellers say free shipping increases average revenue per order
Stamps.com reports that 52 percent of e-commerce sellers who use free shipping as a promotion see their average revenue per order increase by $8 or more.

E-commerce sellers are offering free shipping on more products in 2011 vs. 2010
Of survey respondents, 68 percent of e-commerce sellers are planning to offer the promotion on more products during the 2011 holiday season, up from 53 percent in last year’s holiday season.

 In fact, 54 percent of respondents will be offering free shipping on more than 50 percent of their holiday catalog — an 11 percent increase from the 2010 holiday season.

Approximately 1 out of 2 customers expect free shipping
Of survey respondents, approximately half find that customers expect free shipping during the holidays.

The holiday sales rush slows the productivity of shippers
Of survey respondents, 20 percent of e-commerce sellers are able to process and ship orders the same day during the holiday season, displaying a 5 percent decrease from non-holiday periods.

The free shipping trend hasn’t affected product return policies
Of survey respondents, 66 percent said the customer is 100 percent responsible for shipping costs on returns.

International markets contribute to profits
Of survey respondents, 82 percent project that at least some of their holiday revenue will come from international purchases, while 11 percent project international sales to account for more than a third of their holiday sales.

Why do e-commerce sellers choose not to offer free shipping?

Of survey respondents who are not offering free shipping, 44 percent said they lose money from the promotion, while 11 percent said the promotion does not increase sales.

Are customers required to reach a minimum order amount to receive free shipping?
Of survey respondents, 51 percent said they do not require customers to reach a minimum order amount, while the remainder was unevenly split between e-commerce sellers who do require it of customers and those who require it on only on select products.

How Much Do Customers Have to Spend to Get Free Shipping?
Of survey respondents who require a minimum order amount to qualify for free shipping, 55 percent require an average order size of $50 or more.

Competitiveness plays a small role in free shipping
Of survey respondents, less than half (43%) said their competitors’ free shipping promotions affect when they decide to offer free shipping.

Seller’s own websites are king when it comes to holiday sales
Of survey respondents, a seller’s own website is the leading source of online sales during the holidays at 39%.  Second was eBay at 31%, followed by Amazon at 17%.

Update:  Here is the recording from the Nov 9 International Shipping webinar with Frank Cebello of the USPS.

Stamps.com is offering a free webinar for e-commerce sellers featuring the best practices in international shipping through the eyes of an expert.

In this installment, the guest speaker is Frank Cebello, Executive Director of Global Business Management for the U.S. Postal Service®. Mr. Cebello is an industry expert and will discuss the impact of 2011 holiday mailing dates, the rising potential of international sales, and the competitive global solutions offered by the USPS. Additionally, the webinar will cover proven best practices including adhering to the shipping regulations and restrictions imposed by different countries, implementing online postage software, utilizing the low-cost international services of the USPS, and opening up your shipping program to international buyers — all of which can increase global sales during the holiday season.

What: Free webinar on international shipping best practices

When: Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET

Where: Register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/630635250

Topics Covered:

• USPS international shipping deadlines for 2011
• International market potential
• Understanding Customs Forms
• Details on USPS Global Alliances
• International shipping best practices

Frank Cebello, Executive Director, Global Business Management, USPS

About the Presenter – Frank Cebello Mr. Cebello joined the Postal Service in January of 2007. During his tenure, he has developed the Global Business Sales organization into a specialized and highly successful team that has had great success in growing international Commercial revenues. Prior to joining the Postal Service, Mr. Cebello had a long career with DHL Express where he was the District Sales Manager. Previous executive sales experience at DHL includes several years as an Area Sales Manager and District Sales Manager where he built and led several successful sales teams and negotiated global service agreements for several large clients. Prior to DHL, Mr. Cebello worked for TNT Express Worldwide where he also held several executive sales positions. Mr. Cebello holds a B.A. in Managerial Studies from Rice University.