Get the latest information on the mailing and shipping industry.
Getting through all of your tasks can be hectic, but the Stamps.com Mobile app adds flexibility to your day by making it easy to ship packages or mail letters from anywhere at any time. Our mobile app now allows you to conveniently print discounted USPS® stamps and USPS® and UPS® labels, enabling you to send letters and packages of any weight and any size. Learn how to efficiently manage all your shipping and mailing needs directly from your phone with the new and existing features included with the Stamps.com Mobile app.
With the Stamps.com Mobile app, you can now print USPS postage on NetStamps®, print stamps directly onto any envelope, or effortlessly generate shipping labels straight from your phone. This way you don’t have to put off your mailing and shipping tasks until you’re at home or the Post Office™.
Stamps customers are always on the go. Over half of the traffic to Stamps comes from a mobile device, and now these visitors can mail and ship on their preferred device.
The Stamps.com Mobile app offers a wide range of advantages, making it an essential tool for all your mailing and shipping needs. Here’s why you’ll love using it:
Time-Saving Convenience: Say goodbye to the inconvenience of repeated trips to the Post Office™. With the Stamps.com Mobile app, you can handle all your mailing and shipping tasks from the comfort of your home, office, or on the go. No more wasted time or energy on unnecessary errands.
Significant Shipping Discounts: Take advantage of discounts on postage and savings up to 89% on labels. You’ll be able to compare carrier rates, ensuring you always get the best deal on your shipments.
Easy Printing: Printing stamps and labels for any type of mail or package has never been simpler. The app streamlines the process, eliminating the need for manual calculations and handwritten labels.
Flexible Account Management: Managing your account is a breeze. You can easily add funds, keeping your account topped off for uninterrupted service. This is especially useful for business owners and individuals who rely on consistent mailing and shipping.
Mobile Accessibility: The app’s mobile accessibility lets you track and manage your mail and shipments on the go, at any time. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or on the move, you’re always in control of your mailing and shipping activities.
Enhanced Multitasking: We understand that multitasking can be a challenge. You can now focus on your tasks without the constant back-and-forth between your computer and supply area.
In a nutshell, the Stamps.com Mobile app provides time-saving, cost-effective, and user-friendly solutions to streamline your mailing and shipping processes. Say hello to simple and wave goodbye to the hassles of traditional mailing methods.
With the latest enhancements to the Stamps.com Mobile app, the busiest mailers and shippers can take their first printing step while they’re on the move.
How does the Stamps.com Mobile app work?
Stamps.com is the simplest way to mail letters and ship packages from home, work, and now your phone. Download the app today and start sending.
Welcome to our United States Postal Service Updates blog, the hub for staying in the know about the ever-changing postal realm. Here, we’re your source for the latest news and rate revisions direct from the USPS. Join us as we unpack the nuances of the 2023 updates.
Effective November 18, 2023, the USPS will roll out new rate adjustments that might affect your shipping costs. Here’s a breakdown of the upcoming changes:
So, which shipments will undergo the most significant shifts? In short, those covering shorter distances. Specifically, Ground Advantage™ packages weighing 1-2 lbs destined for Zones 1-5 could see a price drop ranging from 10-18%.
Additionally, users of Priority Mail Flat Rate® boxes should expect an approximate 5% price increase.
Keep in mind that precise rates will vary based on package details and travel distance. As always, we advise thorough comparisons of rates and services to identify the most suitable option for your business.
USPS Ground Advantage is a new service that combines domestic Parcel Select Ground, Retail Ground, and the domestic iteration of the First-Class Package Service. USPS Ground Advantage can be used for packages up to 70 pounds and 130 inches in length + girth but will compare actual and DIM weights like other USPS services. Other USPS Ground Advantage features include up to $100 in free insurance and a delivery window of 2-5 business days.
Please note that if you have any outbound or return labels connected to the services that will no longer be available, USPS will continue to accept and process those labels until September 30, 2023.
Back in April, we originally reported that some USPS HazMat changes would take effect in the spring. However, the Dangerous Goods Service Type Code (STC) updates and the new barcode banner text will now be implemented with the upcoming July 9th changes. As a reminder, USPS considers hazardous materials to be anything that can cause harm to people, property, or packages/mail. More information on USPS hazardous materials can be found on their website.
USPS HazMat labels will include updated Dangerous Goods STCs, which are numerical sequences that categorize a package’s mail classification and attributes. This helps your package be handled properly and efficiently by the USPS. Additionally, the banner barcode text will now indicate that the package contains hazardous goods.
For more information on the upcoming USPS changes, visit the Learning Center.
Also, if you missed the January 2023 USPS rate and service changes, you can find them below!
The United States Postal Service’s 2023 rate and service changes have been approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), and the updates will take effect on January 22, 2023. We’re going to address all of the upcoming changes, so you’ll have time to adjust accordingly and prevent negative shipping experiences for your customers.
More detailed highlights of the upcoming changes are:
Flat Rate envelopes and boxes will be included in the 3.6% increase for Priority Mail services. USPS will continue offering Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes and boxes through their website. Also, you’ll be able to order some of these supplies directly from your Stamps.com account.
Previously, Local, Zone 1, and Zone 2 all had the same shipping rates. Moving forward, there will no longer be a Local Zone, and Zones 1 and 2 will have two different shipping rates. If your business ships to customers who live close by or in the same state, you’ll see the impact of this change. The changes will be more noticeable when you’re shipping to customers in Zone 2, which is a 51-150 mile radius.
Regional Rate A & B Boxes, used for 15-20 pound shipments traveling a short distance, will be discontinued. If your business uses Regional Rate Boxes after January 23, 2023, USPS will accept your shipment, but the cost won’t be calculated in the same way Regional Rate Boxes were. For this reason, USPS recommends using these materials by January 22. Additionally, check the automation rules currently running on your Stamps.com Online account to ensure this service isn’t applied to any of your shipments.
Priority Mail® Cubic will still be an option for shippers, as it has seen a rise in popularity, and sometimes even offers a lower rate than what was seen with Regional Rate Boxes. The biggest difference with Priority Mail Cubic is that supplies aren’t free. Parcel Select Ground offers:
The biggest change to international shipments will involve your Canadian packages. Similar to the US Zones, Canada was previously broken down into 8 different pricing groups. Now, all of Canada will fall under Pricing Group 1. Also, USPS will change Turkey to Turkiye, so don’t be alarmed if the spelling of the country is updated on your labels to reflect this update.
In our recent study, 30.3% of customers stated that delivery costs were the most important factor in deciding whether or not they’d purchase from a business; the second most important factor was the speed of delivery. Rising USPS costs could mean raising shipping costs for your customers. However, you can still enjoy the discounted shipping rates included with your Stamps.com account to help offset these costs.
Start your free 30-day trial today on Stamps.com.
Everyone at Stamps.com wishes you a happy holiday season! As you’re preparing for the holiday shipping season, we want to share our holiday support hours as well as information about USPS and UPS holiday closures and changes in services.
Stamps.com Support: Open for normal business hours (6 AM – 6 PM PST) with limited support for basic troubleshooting and support needs.
USPS: Regular hours and operations
UPS: UPS Express Critical® is available.
Stamps.com Support: Normal business hours (6 AM – 6 PM PST)
USPS: Regular hours and operations
UPS: Regular hours and operations
Stamps.com Support: Closed
USPS:
UPS:
Stamps.com Support: Open for normal business hours (6 AM – 6 PM PST) with limited support for basic troubleshooting and support needs
USPS:
*Note: This applies to limited locations. For more information, visit USPS’s website.
UPS:
Stamps.com Support: Closed
USPS:
UPS:
Stamps.com Support: Open for normal business hours (6 AM – 6 PM PST) with limited support for basic troubleshooting and support needs
USPS:
UPS:
Ship and mail from anywhere at any time with the help of the Stamps.com mobile app.
International shipping should be an option for every business, and our partner GlobalPost is working to simplify the process. GlobalPost partners with over 200 carriers globally to find the best route for your packages and better support the last mile of your package’s journey. GlobalPost Plus is an additional solution aimed at simplifying international shipping to eligible countries, and it is currently accessible to all Stamps.com merchants.
GlobalPost Plus is available for shipping to Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, and the UK. GlobalPost directly coordinates with your destination country’s customs office to pre-clear your shipments. This expedites the process, which helps your shipments be quickly delivered to customers. GlobalPost Plus also enables you to pay the taxes and duties in place of your customers, preventing any surprises for customers and/or returned packages.
When shipping to Canada, Stamps.com customers can use Canada Delivery Duty Paid or DDP. Canada DDP allows you to prepay the taxes and duties on a shipment for a flat fee. This way, your customers don’t have to pay these fees when their packages arrive. Canada DDP can be used for shipments weighing up to four pounds that are shipped using First-Class Mail International®, Priority Mail International®, and Priority Mail International Express®. The flat rate fee for First-Class Mail International® is $7.95, and the flat fee for Priority Mail International® and Priority Mail International Express® is $9.95.
Considering international shipping for your business is valuable, as it exposes your products to a broader audience. In fact, our recent study with Retail Economics found that 53% of merchants use online marketplaces to reach a broader audience; imagine what could happen if you also offer shipping to international customers. Additionally, international holidays lead to more sales and promotional opportunities to build your audience.
Not only can Stamps.com merchants use GlobalPost Plus, but selecting the service is easy. To select GlobalPost Plus as a carrier service, you’ll
*Note: The Ship-To address will show a domestic address because shipments are sent to the closest GlobalPost Domestic Shipping Center for distribution.
International shipping is only a matter of clicks away. Expanding to a larger market is an option for your business, and services like GlobalPost Plus prove that gaining more customers doesn’t have to mean your business gains more work. GlobalPost supports merchants by adding HS codes to your customs forms based on the information provided, and their support team is available to help with any questions you may have along the way. Start shipping around the globe with the help of GlobalPost and Stamps.com.
Start shipping internationally with the help of Stamps.com and GlobalPost today.
In order to keep your customer satisfaction high during the busiest time of the year, it’s crucial to communicate holiday shipping deadlines to your customers. As a quick reminder, holiday shipping deadlines are the last dates to send a package with your chosen carrier for it to reach its destination by the holidays.
Applying these holiday shipping deadlines to services allows carriers to account for the higher shipping volume, ensuring your customer’s orders are under the tree and into stockings on time. The earlier you let your customers know, the better the customer experience…and the better the chance of getting great customer reviews and engagement during the holiday season.
Shipping deadlines will vary by the carrier and service, but most carrier deadlines range from 6-12 days before December 25th. It’s also important to note that domestic and international services each have their own set of shipping deadlines, so keep this in mind when preparing your holiday shipments. The domestic shipping deadlines for USPS, UPS, and FedEx can all be found below.
As a commitment to Stamps customers, UPS will not apply the recently announced Demand Surcharges†. Take advantage of discounts of up to 78% off on UPS® Ground shipments, up to 73% for UPS Next Day Air® and UPS 2nd Day Air® service, and up to 82% off on international services, with rates that include Fuel Surcharge and Residential Surcharge for all services and Delivery Area Surcharge for domestic services.*
*Discounts off UPS® Daily Rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice. Terms and conditions apply.
†Demand Surcharges are not applied to accounts opened on Stamps.
In addition to these dates, USPS has confirmed that there will be no additional surcharges during the upcoming holiday season. This means that customers can fully enjoy the benefits of USPS services without worrying about unexpected costs.
All of the wonderful individuals who sort, handle, and deliver our mail and packages deserve a break during the busy holiday season too! Shipping holidays are designated days where postal workers, delivery drivers, and other people within this field are given time off and most or all services are suspended for the day. The shipping holidays for USPS, UPS, and FedEx are all outlined in the lists below.
*Note: We’re only including the USPS holidays for the holiday season. A full list of USPS shipping holidays can be found on their website.
*Note: We’re only including the UPS holidays for the holiday season. A full list of UPS shipping holidays can be found on their website.
✝Some of The UPS Store® locations may have modified business hours. Check with your local store for specific hours of operation.
You’ve communicated shipping deadlines to your customers. How else can you continue to improve customer satisfaction during the busiest shipping season of the year? Stamps.com merchants can enable branded ship notifications and branded tracking to give customers a personalized experience.
Branded ship notifications allow your business to customize emails with your logo, preferred color scheme, and more. Additionally, your business can add social media links and promo messages to give customers access to special deals. Similar to branded ship notifications, branded tracking is a more personalized alternative to a traditional carrier tracking page. Our branded options can be enabled and customized throughout the year, so you aren’t limited to one specific message. Create shipping notifications in advance and cross another item off your to-do list, all while keeping the holiday season merry and bright for your customers.
Make the holidays merry and bright with a 30-day trial to Stamps.com.
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