As of Sunday, July 28, the USPS has made some significant changes to Priority Mail.  These changes DO NOT include any postage rate increases — they are operational changes only.

We’ve listed some FAQs below:

#1 Has the delivery service changed for Priority Mail?  I now see “Priority Mail 1-Day,” “Priority Mail 2-Day” or “Priority Mail 3-Day” listed on the label.

Delivery service for Priority Mail is exactly the same as before — 1 to 3 day delivery. Keep in mind that Priority Mail is not a guaranteed date-specific delivery service. Since most Priority Mail packages are delivered within 2 days, the USPS has added estimated delivery dates on the shipping label to help communication between the shipper and the package recipient. Delivery date estimates are based on where the package is being shipped from and where it is being delivered to.

#2  Can I choose 1, 2, or 3-day delivery for Priority Mail?
No, you will not be able to choose 1, 2 or 3-day delivery.  The scheduled delivery date will be automatically determined by the zip code your package is being shipped from and the zip code where the package is being sent to.  If you need overnight delivery, you can use Priority Mail Express (formerly called Express Mail), which provides overnight delivery to most addresses in the U.S.

#3 Does Priority Mail now include insurance?
Yes, Priority Mail now includes package insurance.  You will receive $50 of coverage if you print your labels online through an approved PC Postage vendor that offers Commercial Base Pricing (such as Stamps.com).  If you are approved for Commercial Plus Pricing, you will receive $100 of free coverage.

#4 How do I know how much insurance I receive with my Priority Mail package?
By default, Stamps.com prints all shipping rates using postage discounts known as Commercial Base Pricing.  Rates for Commercial Base Pricing includes rate discounts for the following mail classes:

• Priority Mail Express: Save up to 63% off retail rates on all Priority Mail Express shipments.
• Priority Mail: Save up to 20% of retail rates on all Priority Mail shipments, depending on weight and distance.
• First Class Package Service: Save up to 18% off retail rates on all First Class Parcels.
• International Shipping: Save up to 9% on Priority Mail International shipments, up to 10% for Priority Mail Express International and up to 10% on First Class Package International Service.

Commercial Plus Pricing is a program offered by the USPS that provides highly discounted postage rates for high volume shippers that meet a required number of shipments annually.  For Priority Mail, the minimum number of shipments starts at 75,000.

#5 What is Priority Mail Express?
Express Mail was renamed Priority Mail Express on July 28, 2013. Also, Express Mail International has been renamed Priority Mail Express International. Other then the name change, the Priority Mail Express service remains exactly the same as Express Mail.

The reason for the name change was due to USPS research showing that customers often got confused between Priority Mail and Express Mail.  So the USPS changed Express Mail to Priority Mail Express, bringing everything under the Priority Mail brand umbrella.

#6 I still have old Express Mail boxes.  Can I still use them to ship my packages?
Yes, you can still use your Express Mail boxes through January 2014.  The USPS will be introducing new packaging for Priority Express Mail in the coming weeks, but the old boxes will work with Priority Mail Express.

The U.S. Postal Service is making operational changes to select shipping services starting Sunday, July 28, 2013.  The changes being made include the following:

IMPORTANT! USPS postage rates are NOT INCREASING on Sunday, July 28, 2013 – these changes are operational only!!!

Express Mail Renamed to Priority Mail Express
Express Mail is being renamed Priority Mail Express and Express Mail International is being renamed Priority Mail Express International. USPS research shows that having two shipping product names is confusing to customers, and so the USPS will simplify everything under the Priority Mail brand name.

Example of the new Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Box

Delivery service for Priority Mail Express will remain the same (overnight for domestic, 3-5 day for international).  Also, older Express Mail boxes can still be used with the newly named Priority Mail Express through January 2014.

Estimated Delivery Date Included on Priority Mail Shipping Labels
The USPS will be printing the estimated delivery date on all Priority Mail shipping labels. The date will be displayed at the top of the shipping label in bold text and will contain either “Priority Mail 1-Day,” “Priority Mail 2-Day” or “Priority Mail 3-Day.”

This is only an estimated delivery date and package shippers will not be able to choose a date-specific delivery service for Priority Mail.  Delivery dates will be determined by where you’re shipping your package from and where you’re sending it.

Example of new Priority Mail shipping label. Note the "Priority Mail 1-Day" in the top section, and the Carrier Route Code next to the delivery address.

Additionally, Priority Mail labels will now include a four-digit Carrier Route Code to help speed up package delivery.  The four-digit code will be printed just to the right of the delivery address.

Electronic Delivery Confirmation Now Available to 14 Countries
Along with Canada (added in January 2013), the USPS will be adding Electronic Delivery Confirmation to 13 additional countries for First Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Boxes.  This service will be available for no additional cost.

New countries offering Electronic Delivery Confirmation include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland.

Package Insurance is Being Added to Priority Mail
Priority Mail is now going to include $50 of insurance for FREE if you print postage online (Commercial Base Pricing).  If you are approved for Commercial Plus Pricing, you will receive $100 of insurance coverage. This insurance coverage is provided automatically by the USPS and claims will be to protect shippers against loss, damage or missing contents.

Stamps.com Will Automatically Update on July 28, 2013
As a Stamps.com customer, you will not need to do anything — the Stamps.com software and website will automatically be updated with all necessary changes for this USPS update.

Recently, the U.S. Postal Service officially changed the name of Delivery Confirmation to USPS Tracking. With the goal of providing end-to-end tracking info including confirmation of delivery, the USPS feels the new name more accurately describes the scanning info provided about packages as they move to their final destination.

Important Facts about USPS Tracking

• As of January 2013, the USPS has changed the name of Delivery Confirmation to USPS Tracking
• USPS Tracking is included for FREE when you ship with Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select or First Class Package Service using Stamps.com.
• If purchasing postage at the Post Office, USPS Tracking is included for free when you use Express Mail, Priority Mail or Standard Post (formerly known as Parcel Post).
• USPS Tracking can be added to Media Mail packages for $0.20 when using Stamps.com. At the Post Office, USPS tracking can be purchased for Media Mail as well as First Class Package service for a cost of $0.90 (tracking is included for free for First Class Package Service when you print postage online, but a charge is required for First Class Package Service at the Post Office).

USPS Tracking name change – Do I need to do anything?

• If you print postage online via Stamps.com, you will not need to do anything! Stamps.com has already changed the name on the shipping label from Delivery Confirmation to USPS Tracking.
• If you buy postage at the Post Office, you will no longer see the familiar green Delivery Confirmation labels as they are being phased out. Replacing those labels is a new white label titled USPS Tracking. The tracking number will be printed right on your receipt and you can track your package on the USPS.com website.

Today is Tax Day!  As long as your return is postmarked by April 15th, the IRS considers your return to be filed on time. Some Post Offices will be open late today to help get your tax return postmarked by the April 15th deadline.

USPS Post Office Locator Tool
The USPS has created a Post Office locator tool to help find a Post Office near you that has extended hours!

Click Here and input your Zip Code to find a Post Office in your area open later than 6 p.m.

Image: Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

No time to drive to the Post Office™? Good news! The USPS® offers a service called Carrier Pickup™ that allows you to get your packages picked up by your letter carrier at the same time your mail is delivered.

To qualify for free USPS Carrier Pickup service, you simply need one or more domestic Priority Mail or Express Mail shipments printed and ready to ship.  Mailpieces using other mail classes will be collected as well, but only as long as there is one of the qualifying mail classes in the shipment.

Scheduling a USPS Package Pickup
Before you get started make sure you have a Priority Mail, Express Mail or International Mail mailpiece printed and ready to ship.

Step #1 Click “USPS Pickup” under the View History menu, which is located in the left navigation bar when using the software or in the top navigation bar for the website. This page only will show packages whose mailing date is tomorrow or greater.

Step #2 Choose the packages you want to be included in the pickup by checking the corresponding check box and you will notice that the “Schedule Pickup” button activates. However to proceed, one of the selected mailpieces must qualify as described earlier.

Step #3 Click the “Schedule Pickup” button

Step #4 Make sure that all the contact and package info is correct

Step #5 Select the location that the packages will be placed for the carrier pickup

Step #6 If necessary, enter in any special instructions for the carrier

Step #7 Click “Submit”

You will be taken to a confirmation screen that includes a confirmation number. It’s important that you print out or otherwise record this number, as you will need it if you later need to change or cancel your reservation.