Continuing with the annual rate increases that began in 2020, USPS has announced its proposed Peak Season Temporary Rate Adjustments. The adjustments serve to cover extra holiday handling costs. In accordance with years prior, the following services will be impacted: Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select Ground, and USPS Retail Ground rates. Pending favorable review by the Postal Regulatory Committee, the USPS Peak Season Temporary Rates would go into effect at 12 a.m. Central on Oct. 2 and remain in place until 12 a.m. Central on Jan. 22, 2023.
Note: There are no planned rate adjustments on International Services, parcel return rates, or Parcel Select Lightweight rates.
2022 Holiday Shipping Rate Increases
Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express – 2022 Holiday Shipping Rate Increase (Commercial Base)
Commercial:
$0.75 increase for PM and PME Flat Rate Boxes and Envelopes
$0.25 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-10 lbs
$0.80 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-10 lbs
$0.75 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs
$2.80 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs
$3.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs
$6.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs
The most notable changes for the Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express rates from 2021 to 2022 are in Zones 5-9, with 26-70 pound shipments seeing a $1.50 increase over last year’s rate increase.
Similarly to the previous set of rates, the most notable changes for First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select Ground, and USPS Retail Ground rates are found within Zones 1-9 for 26-70 pound shipments with a $.50 increase over last year’s rates.
Save on shipping costs with Commercial USPS Rates and sign-up for a Stamps.com account today.
Here are answers to common questions regarding Stamps.com and the ability to print USPS postage:
Are USPS Services being removed from Stamps.com? Absolutely not! Nothing changes in Stamps.com services and features that we offer, including USPS postage printing. Stamps.com will continue to operate as an officially licensed PC Postage vendor, and all USPS services will be available for our customers.
Will Stamps.com continue to offer USPS rate discounts? Yes! Stamps.com customers will be able to access all existing USPS rate discounts (Commercial Base Pricing) when they print postage. And those discounts include access to the Metered Mail rate for First Class Mail letters – paying only $0.50 for a one-ounce letter vs. $0.55 at the Post Office.
USPS rate discounts that Stamps.com offers include:
USPS Shipping Rate Discounts
Priority Mail Express® – Save up to 14% off Post Office rates on all Priority Mail Express shipments.
Priority Mail® – Save up to 40% off Post Office rates on all Priority Mail shipments, depending on weight and distance.
First Class Package Service – Save up to 28% off Post Office rates on all First Class Parcels.
International Shipping – Save up to 5% on Priority Mail International shipments, up to 5% for Priority Mail Express International and up to 5% on First Class Package International Service.
USPS Mailing Rate Discounts
First Class Mail Letter – Save five cents and pay only $0.50 for a one-ounce First Class Mail letter compared to $0.55 at the Post Office.
Can I still print labels for USPS First Class Package Service with Stamps.com? Yes! Nothing is changing to the Stamps.com service and USPS First Class Package Service will remain the best low cost shipping option for packages under 15.999 ounces among all shipping carriers.
Are any of the e-commerce integrations with marketplaces (eBay, Amazon, etc.) or shopping cart integrations (Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, etc.) going away from Stamps.com?
Nothing is changing – e-commerce sellers and online retailers will continue to be able to import their orders directly into Stamps.com to print USPS shipping labels. See a full list of Stamps.com E-commerce Integrations.
Will there be any additional costs to use Stamps.com? Most customers will see no change in costs to use Stamps.com. For a limited group of high volume customers that have specialized negotiated rates with the USPS (also known as Negotiated Service Agreements or “NSA”), we will look at implementing surcharges as needed so that we are compensated for the technology and services we provide.
How does Stamps.com’s relationship with the USPS impact me as a customer? For most customers, there will be no change to the Stamps.com product – the solution will continue to print USPS postage as it always has. In the future, you may see additional shipping carriers as an option to print shipping labels.
Will the Stamps.com shipping API change? The Stamps.com API is the #1 USPS postage API in the industry. Customers will continue to be able to rate, ship, print and track USPS packages from our SOAP based web services API. Get more info on our USPS Shipping API program.
IMPORTANT UPDATE! On March 27, the USPS announced they will delay the implementation of the 2015 rate increase and classification changes scheduled to start on Sunday, April 26, 2015. USPS rates WILL NOT be changing on April 26, 2015.
The U.S. Postal Service has announced a postage rate increase for select mail classes and services for 2015. The new postage rates will start on Sunday, April 26, 2015.
First Class Letters & Postcards
The cost to send a one ounce First Class Letter will NOT BE INCREASING and will remain $0.49. Additional ounces will cost $0.22, a one cent increase from 2014. Postcard rates will increase by one cent to $0.35, from $0.34 in 2014.
If you print postage online or use a postage meter, the “Metered Mail” rate for a one ounce First Class Letter will be increasing by $0.005 to $0.485 from $0.48. The Metered Mail rate is a discount provided to users who print postage online and through a postage meter.
Priority Mail Express
For Priority Mail Express packages, rates will NOT BE INCREASING in 2015.
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Boxes & Envelopes
For Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelopes and the Flat Rate Box, rates will NOT BE INCREASING in 2015.
Priority Mail
For Priority Mail packages, rates will NOT BE INCREASING in 2015. As a reminder, Priority Mail rates were reduced in September 2014. With 2 day delivery to over 90% of U.S. addresses and improved tracking, Priority Mail is a great shipping option for e-commerce sellers.
Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes & Envelopes
For Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes and Envelopes, rates will NOT BE INCREASING for 2015.
Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes
For Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes, rates will NOT BE INCREASING for 2015. Regional Rate Boxes provide shippers a low cost option for packages traveling shorter distances.
First Class Package Service First Class Package Service will see an average increase of 5.1% in 2015. For packages that weigh 13 ounces or less, First Class Package Service remains the lowest cost option to ship a package to a U.S. address.
Parcel Select (nonpresort)
Prices for Parcel Select (nonpresort), the U.S. Postal Service’s ground shipping product, will increase an average of 9.8% in 2015. While the average rate is increasing, the USPS did lower Parcel Select prices in some shipping zones. In Zones 1 to 4 for packages weighing between 6 lbs. through 24 lbs, rates are decreasing by as much as $9.35 per package (15 lb., Zone 4). There are no price increases for Zones 1 to 4 for packages weighing 25 lbs. through 70 lbs.
Media Mail Media Mail rates will see an average increase of 6.2% in 2015. For books, videos and other products that qualify, Media Mail remains a great low cost shipping option.
First Class Letters & Postcards – International The cost to send a one ounce First Class Letter to an international destination will increase five cents, to $1.20 from $1.15. Postcard rates will increase by five cents, to $1.20 from $1.15 in 2014.
First Class Package International Service The overall increase for First Class Package International Service will be 7.2% in 2015. The average price increases by pound are:
Up to 1 lb. – Average increase of $0.66
Up to 2 lbs. – Average increase of $1.29
Up to 3 lbs. – Average increase of $1.65
Up to 4 lbs. – Average increase of $2.01
First Class Package International Service remains the cheapest option among all carriers to ship internationally. It also includes tracking for the most popular countries including the U.K., Australia and Canada.
Priority Mail International
The overall increase for Priority Mail International will be 5.5% in 2015. Additionally, the USPS is introducing Zone-based pricing for Priority Mail International packages traveling to Canada. Canada will be split into 7 zones with rates ranging from $30.75 to $37.50 for a 1 lb. package.
Global Express Guaranteed
The overall increase for Global Express Guaranteed will be 7.2% in 2015.
Stamps.com Will Automatically Update to the New USPS Rates on April 26, 2015
Stamps.com will automatically update all USPS rates inside the software and web-based version (Stamps.com Online) on Sunday, April 26, 2015. If you are a Stamps.com customer, no additional actions are needed and you will see the new USPS rates automatically.
Stamps.com recently compiled an infographic revealing new data on how UPS, FedEx and the USPS compare in package tracking events, delivery times and overall costs. Stamps.com staff shipped 144 packages to all eight shipping zones across the U.S. from three separate locations.
USPS to Resume Overseas Shipping of Lithium Batteries
As of November 15, 2012, the USPS will resume shipping packages that contain lithium batteries to many international destinations, including APO/FPO locations. Lithium batteries are included in many popular electronic devices such as iPads, Kindles, smartphones, cameras and other electronic devices.
In March 2012, the USPS banned the shipment of lithium batteries in order to comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU). The batteries can explode or catch fire in certain conditions during overseas transport.
The USPS is still prohibiting lithium batteries that are not installed in the equipment they are intended to operate.
Get more info on the International Acceptanace of Lithium Batteries from the USPS.
Battery Image: Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
As of November 15, 2012, the USPS will resume shipping packages that contain lithium batteries to many international destinations, including APO/FPO locations.
Lithium batteries are included in many popular electronic devices such as iPads, Kindles, smartphones, cameras and other electronic devices.
In March 2012, the USPS banned the shipment of lithium batteries in order to comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU). The batteries can explode or catch fire in certain conditions during overseas transport.
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