Stamps.com has released the “Ultimate Guide to the 2012 USPS Postage Rate Increase” to help small business owners understand the postage rate increase that went into effect on January 22, 2012.  The FREE guide contains detailed information on postage rates for each USPS mail class, including special services.

The guide contains info on the 2012 USPS postage rate increase including details on each mail class.

The guide is free and can be downloaded at:
http://www.stamps.com/whitepapers/Ultimate-Guide-2012-USPS-Postage-Rate-Increase.pdf

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

The U.S. Postal Service has proposed new 2012 shipping rates that are expected to start on January 22, 2012.   The average increase for all shipping classes is 4.6%.  Private carriers such as UPS and FedEx have already announced price increases for 2012.  UPS announced last week they are increasing prices on ground and air shipments by an average of 4.9%.  In September, FedEx announced it would increase rates by an average of 5.9%. 

The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) must review and approve the new rates before they become effective January 22, 2012.  This is the same day the new USPS mailing service prices will take effect. 

New USPS Shipping Products for 2012

• A new, larger Priority Mail Regional Rate Box C will be introduced that will hold up to 25 pounds.  Box size is expected to be 12” x 12” x 15”.
• A new Express Mail Flat Rate Box will be introduced that holds up to 70 pounds.  Cost will be  $39.95 for domestic mailings.
• Package Intercept will be introduced for commercial mailers.  Customers can request mail be intercepted before final delivery is attempted to the initial delivery address. The shipment can be returned to sender, held for pick up at a Post Office, or redirected to an alternate address.
• First Class Package Service (aka First Class Parcels) will now include the Intelligent Mail package barcode and will provide free visibility to these parcels.

Priority Mail
Priority Mail retail (Post Office) prices will increase an average of 3.1% in 2012. 

Express Mail
USPS retail rates for Express Mail will increase an average of 3.3% in 2012. 

Parcel Select
Prices for Parcel Select, the U.S. Postal Service’s bulk ground shipping product, will increase an average of 8.5%.

First Class Package Service (formerly known as First Class Parcels)
First Class Parcels were recently transferred to the “competitive product list” which allows the mail class to be eligible for Commercial Base pricing. The mail class was renamed First Class Package Service and will see an average increase of 3.7% in 2012.

International Mail
The overall increase for Priority Mail International will be 8.7%. 

Express Mail International will increase by 11.6% and will introduce a two new Express Mail International Flat Rate Boxes with a maximum weight of 20 pounds.  Customers will pay a flat rate of $59.95 to Canada and $74.95 for all other countries. 

Global Express Guaranteed prices will rise by 6.0%.

Stamps.com Will Automatically Include New Rates on January 22, 2012
Stamps.com makes it easy to prepare for the postal rate change by automatically applying these new prices starting on January 22, 2012.  Additionally, Stamps.com customers will continue to receive Commercial Base pricing discounts to help lower your shipping costs in 2012.

The U.S. Postal Service®  has requested permission to implement “exigent” postage rate increases in January 2012 averaging more than 4% on most classes of mail.

In a filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) last week, the USPS asked for the ability to implement the special rate increase. By statute, the USPS can only raise mailing prices in accordance with the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. Any so-called “exigent” rate increase above that level requires the approval of the PRC.

The USPS made a similar “exigent” request in 2010 to increase rates an average of 5.6%, but the PRC rejected that request since the 5.6% proposed increase exceeded the rate of inflation. However, the PRC is reconsidering that ruling at the direction of a federal court.