The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the governing body that approves U.S. Postal Service rate increases, has approved a special “exigent” rate increase for USPS market dominant products. Market dominant products include First Class Mail letters, First Class Mail flats/large envelopes, postcards, Standard Mail (bulk mail), periodicals, Media Mail and Library Mail. The new rates will go into effect on Sunday, January 26, 2014.
Important! The “exigent” rate increase DOES NOT impact Competitive shipping products such as First Class Package Service, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and Parcel Select. Get more info on the 2014 USPS Postage Rate Increase for shipping services.
By statute, the USPS can only raise mailing prices in accordance with the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – currently 1.7%. This “exigent” increase approved by the PRC allows the USPS to raise the rates on market dominant products over the 1.7% CPI. The price of a First Class Mail 1 oz. letter will increase by 3 cents (6.0%) – to $0.49 from $0.46.
New for 2014! One Cent Discount for Metered Mail!
USPS has approved a one cent discount for First Class Mail 1 oz. letters if the postage was printed using metered mail (Stamps.com online postage or postage meters). The price of a First Class Mail 1 oz. letter will be $0.48 – one cent lower than the $0.49 rate if purchasing postage at the Post Office or other retail outlets.
New 2014 USPS Rates to be Automatically Updated in Stamps.com on January 26, 2014
Stamps.com will automatically apply these new rates starting on Sunday, January 26, 2014. If you are a Stamps.com customer, you will not need to take any action – the program (software or web version) will automatically be updated with the new USPS rates.
Stamps.com wishes you a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year. We look forward to serving all of your mailing and shipping needs in 2014!
Post Offices Close Early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Post Offices nationwide will be open on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, and New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31. Most Post Offices will shorten retail lobby hours and close at noon on these days. Regular mail delivery for December 24 and 31 will be unaffected by the change. (Holiday hours will be posted at each Post Office.)
Post Offices will be closed Wednesday, December 25 and Wednesday, January 1. Only Priority Mail Express will be delivered on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. All Post Offices will be open and regular mail delivery will resume on Thursday, December 26 and Thursday, January 2.
Mail from Blue Collection Boxes May Be Collected Early
Be sure to deposit your mail into all blue collection boxes by noon on December 24 and 31, regardless of the final collection times posted. This means if the final collection time is already before noon (12 p.m.), there will be no change. However, if the final collection time is normally after noon (12 p.m.), mail may be collected early.
IMPORTANT! Stamps.com Customer Care telephone support will be closed Wednesday, December 25 in observance of the holiday. We apologize for any inconvenience.
If you need additional information on local Post Office closures during the holiday period, please call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).
Need some last minute tips to help get your holiday e-commerce orders shipped? Watch this video to learn the secrets to simple order fulfillment.
Happy Holidays!
The U.S. Postal Service recently announced their 2013 mailing deadlines to ensure delivery by December 25. If you are planning to use the USPS to send any mail or packages this Holiday season, be sure to mail by these deadlines.
USPS Holiday Mailing Facts!
The USPS is expecting to deliver 15 BILLION letters and packages between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve in 2013.
- Busiest delivery day for letters will be Wednesday, December 18
- Busiest delivery day for packages will be Thursday, December 19
Follow these simple tips to maxmize your shipping just in time for the holidays.
#1 Ship Products as Fast as Possible
During the holidays, expectations for delivery are high and tolerance for delays is low. Try to ship products out the same day the order was placed to keep customers happy! Maintain an accurate list of shipping carrier pickup times to ensure your shipments are mailed at the earliest possible opportunity.
#2 Pre-Pack Your Orders During Downtime
Survive the holidays by pre-packing orders during the calm before the storm. Fulfill orders for commonly shipped items and write package weights on the surface of boxes. This way, you’ll be ready for an unexpected rush.
#3 Keep a Healthy Inventory of Shipping Supplies
The last thing you want is a lot of holiday orders and nothing to package them with. Keep a good inventory of supplies and order enough necessities and free USPS packaging to last you throughout the holidays.
#4 Eliminate Trips to the Post Office
If you are shipping with Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express, save time by scheduling a free USPS Pickup online. There’s absolutely no additional charge for home or office pickups, no matter how many packages you have.
#5 Always Update Your Customers
Use Email Notifications for Package Tracking: When a purchase is made online, customers want to know that their packages are in transit. Make sure your shipping system can automatically send out a shipment notification email that includes a link to the tracking number. It will help eliminate Customer Support calls and make for happier customers.