ahc3
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posted on September 25, 2001 09:40:56 AM new
This USPS just published their rate request. Note these would not go into effect for about a year, and they do need to be approved.
The first class rate goes up to 37 cents, and the additional ounces stay at 23 cents. Not too bad.
The VERY disturbing news to me is the proposed change in priority mail. According to what they want, 1 pound priority mail goes up from $3.50 to $3.85. Over 1 pound, it will depend on the zone you are shipping to. A package that weighs between 1 and 2 pounds will now cost under these proposed rates between $3.95 and $5.75 depending on where you ship to!
For 3 and more pounds, it could actually cost less (again depending on the zone) but it could cost much more. The current rate is $6.45, that will then be between $4.75 and $8.55
Again, I don't know about you, but I ship all over the country. This will make it very difficult not only to quote a shipping rate, but you might lose business because it would make more sense to buy from someone who is closer to you, it could literally cost half as much to ship the smaller packages. What do you all think? I don't like it at all
If you want to see for yourself, view it at
http://www.usps.com/ratecase/html_rates/R100.htm#Xac98716
Look at 9.0 - Priority Mail and see for yourself
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kidsfeet
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posted on September 25, 2001 09:48:09 AM new
Well, if this were to happen, it is a good reason to get yourself a UPS account!!
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paintpower
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posted on September 25, 2001 10:33:28 AM new
Hope that doesn't fly! Sure won't give the economy a boost in the arm with those rates.
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hwahwahwahwa
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posted on September 25, 2001 10:40:30 AM new
we dont need to ship usps priority,the difference sometimes is one day,first class mail is just as good.
unless it is states like alaska.
unless you like the free boxes.
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ahc3
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posted on September 25, 2001 10:53:07 AM new
...Except that once you reach one pound, currently the rate is basically the same for standard and priority - It is not until you get into very heavy packages that there is acutally a difference. The rate between a 4 pound package is only a 5 cent difference between standard and priority. This should be interesting to follow...
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BJGrolle
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posted on September 25, 2001 11:48:43 AM new
Yikes!
And since I've been quoting both Priority Mail rates along with Media Mail, at least half of my buyers are opting for Priority Mail.
So, after the rate hike, if you offer only Priority, you'll have to send out an initial email asking the buyer for their zip code before you can even send out their EOA notice!
Either that, or charge everyone the maximum for the weight of the item and risk ticking off the buyers who wind up overpaying significantly.
Not only that, but it sounds like the postal clerks will have to take longer to process the packages since they'll have to enter the zip codes for most of them now. I'm glad I don't have to stand in line anymore now that I'm hearing this.
Sounds like they're trying to kill the Priority Mail business off without actually coming out and saying they don't want to offer it anymore or something.
http://bjgrolle.freehomepage.com
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sadie999
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posted on September 25, 2001 11:52:47 AM new
"Sounds like they're trying to kill the Priority Mail business off without actually coming out and saying they don't want to offer it anymore or something."
And may it rest in peace. I for one would be happy if I never again had to explain that 2-3 days isn't a guarantee. That it's not my fault it took longer, etc.
Also, maybe once they're not under the gun to get our packages across country in 72 hours, they can throw them around more slowly thereby breaking fewer. ( I can dream can't I? )
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vargas
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posted on September 25, 2001 12:07:04 PM new
hwahwahwahwa
First Class ends at 13 oz. Anything over that has to go Priority (or Parcel Post).
So, free boxes aren't really the issue for a whole lot of us.
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luculent
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posted on September 25, 2001 12:07:12 PM new
Maybe the hike in priority mail has something to do with the rash of books I've been recieving lately.
I pay for media mail rates, they are mailed at media mail rates. All in new, never-used priority boxes turned inside-out.
I kept track last week. I recieved 10 different packages of books in boxes. Of those 10, seven were priority boxes inside-out.
Lucy
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jwoodcrafts
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posted on September 25, 2001 12:15:23 PM new
I just went to UPS on-line and checked the rates for the size and weight of the package that I send the most of. The UPS rate was 10.05.
So even is the USPS goes up to 5.75 for a 2 pound package, it is still cheaper to ship it through the post office than it is through UPS.
http://julieswoodcrafts.50megs.com
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bidsbids
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posted on September 25, 2001 12:29:33 PM new
"Not only that, but it sounds like the postal clerks will have to take longer to process the packages since they'll have to enter the zip codes for most of them now. I'm glad I don't have to stand in line anymore now that I'm hearing this. "
-------------------
The new computer systems at the PO windows have had the clerks entering the zip codes since they were installed. The info is on the recpt that is given to you. No change there unless some rural POs are still without the new computer setups.
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kidsfeet
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posted on September 25, 2001 12:30:06 PM new
Jwoodcrafts:
Did you check it with a daily pickup account, or the regular rates?
Unless you are sending it from NY to CA, 2 pounds is not that expensive.
I ship many 3lb packages all the time. The MOST it has been is $7.30, and that is with the rural residential fee tacked on. Most of the time, it is $4.58 or thereabouts.
And, UPS gives you a tracking # and the first $100.00 of insurance free.
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packer
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posted on September 25, 2001 12:37:00 PM new
Well we don't have any computers in our little PO and we still lick regular postage stamps to come up with the $ amount needed to ship packages.
I just returned from the PO and Denny said its just a proposal and wouldn't go into effect until next July.
Also its very upsetting to him and me because of no automation, we have to look-up the zone and fee. You just get use to it being one way then you got to learn it all over again.
I think like anything else they may price themselves right out of business.
To many other options are available now a day.
packer
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ahc3
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posted on September 25, 2001 12:40:15 PM new
Packer - This might force the unautomated post offices to automate. Can not imagine looking up manually to find a zone. This is going to confuse people a lot, can you imagine the buyers claiming you are ripping them off because you are charging them $8 on postage when someone else charged $4 on the same thing (not even going to go into the handling charges here, just the postage)
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BJGrolle
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posted on September 25, 2001 01:35:42 PM new
I stand corrected and thanks.
http://bjgrolle.freehomepage.com
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gravid
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posted on September 25, 2001 04:32:50 PM new
FedEx Ground has been treating me real well.
I like them a lot better than UPS.
I have found the rates better than UPS and they have yet to destroy anything at all.
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vargas
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posted on September 25, 2001 06:51:51 PM new
jwoodcrafts
I take my occasional UPS packages to the UPS counter at Office Depot and I've yet to pay the rates listed by the UPS online calculator.
The online rates generally are 25% to 35% higher than what I end up paying at the counter.
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jwoodcrafts
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posted on September 25, 2001 07:36:14 PM new
The example that I typed in at the UPS site was to ship a 2 lb package from Arkansas to Mississppi. Which is not very far.
In all honesty, I don't know much about UPS shipping, but I called and asked the same questions and they referred me back to the web site.
I used the one time pickup method of calculating the rate.
http://julieswoodcrafts.50megs.com
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vargas
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posted on September 25, 2001 07:58:14 PM new
One-time pick-up is more expensive than the customer counter rate (which is what I use -- Office Depot is near much of my other shopping anyway, so dropping off a package is no big thing for us).
Example:
From Georgia to West Texas, 2 lb package, residential destination (according to the online calculator):
One-time pick-up: $9.28
Customer Counter: $6.89
I'm sure if I took that package to the OD counter, it would cost a decent percentage less than the online calculator indicates for customer counter.
Perhaps Office Depot got smart and is passing along its own UPS rates.
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jhf2662
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posted on September 25, 2001 08:09:59 PM new
Vargas,
Is office Depot a REAL UPS counter?? I usually avoid places that offer UPS (MBE & other packaging stores) cuz of the HIGH markup on UPS rates there. Let me know...
I am considering offering FEDEX ground on all my auctions over 4lbs & see what happens, the buyer will of course have to send me their ZIP or I will list weight & my zip in the auction & direct them to the site.
Anyone know a good online calculator (like ISHIP.com that supports FedEx Ground rates)??
Thanks..
Jon
All that & a Bag of Chips Too!!
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twinsoft
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posted on September 25, 2001 11:56:16 PM new
Our post office just finished building a new two-story complex and are switching to a new computerized system. Looks like they're putting the last two fee hikes to good use. Though they still haven't issued stamps for the current rates!? Duh. If they raise rates again, I will definitely stop using PM and find a cheaper method to ship.
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ilene
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posted on September 26, 2001 03:22:13 AM new
I mail 50 to 100 packages per week. I send everything regular mail (or medial mail if applicable.) (The clerk always tells me if the difference is .10 or less--then I go priority.) If the package is heavy, I send it ups. I have never has a complaint from a customer. (I go to the post office every day on the way to my day job and stop at ups on my way home about twice per week.) Priority mail is not worth the cost.
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jwoodcrafts
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posted on September 26, 2001 05:17:16 AM new
I don't live near a drop off UPS place. So it would be really time consuming for me to drive 25 miles to the nearest one just to mail a package or two.
Is the cost really high if the UPS truck that comes by everyday picks it up for me?
I can't seem to find an answer anywhere to this question, or maybe I just don't know where or how to find the answer.
Can anyone tell me?
http://julieswoodcrafts.50megs.com
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kidsfeet
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posted on September 26, 2001 05:27:05 AM new
Just give them a call at 1800pickups
It is dependent upon the dollar amount of shipping.
I pay $10.00 per week. It is $15.00 per week, if you ship less than $100.00 in shipping fees.
I also have an arrangement with my driver that he comes only MWF, instead of every day.
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vargas
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posted on September 26, 2001 06:44:24 AM new
jhf2662
All I know about Office Depot is that UPS comes by a couple of times a day to pick up the packages. The actual cost of shipping there has consistently been much lower than the online UPS calculator rates for "customer counter" shipping.
When OD first started offering UPS service, it tried to mark-up the rates by 35 or 60 cents or so. It flopped miserably. I've been using OD for UPS for a few months now... it's so much more convenient than driving to a really crappy part of the city (or another county) to go to the UPS offices.
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bobarrett
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posted on September 26, 2001 07:00:47 AM new
After using the PO exclusively,I am pleasantly shocked everytime I send something Fed Ex GROUND.
Shipped a metal beer keg,A STEEL BEER KEG... for 8.25!
You can track online,and the first 100.00 of insurance is covered too.
I am lucky that I live 2 miles from both the airport and a Fed Ex center though.
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Eventer
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posted on September 26, 2001 07:20:01 AM new
Note these would not go into effect for about a year
Oh, yippee...something to look forward to. 
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MrsSantaClaus
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posted on September 26, 2001 09:01:34 AM new
Earlier thi year I checked into being a UPS drop off place. I was told that I could do it - that they do not discount their rates but I certainly could add on whatever profit margin I wanted.
I have UPS Daily pickup service.
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jaymark9
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posted on September 26, 2001 09:25:34 AM new
RE; using Priority mail boxes turned inside out. Beware - a seller (who shall remain nameless...) once too used this tactic. One day at a buyer's post office, the postal clerk asked the buyer to open the box because of a suspected postal violation. When the clark saw that the box was actually a priority box turned inside out - a report was filed. USPS regs state that Priority Mail boxes can ONLY be used for Prioirity Mail - any other use of the boxes (apparently even when turned inside out) is a violation. On the other hand. I personally know a postmaster who says they see the inside-out-priority-box shiment method EVERY day, but don't do anything about it. I guess it's one of those rules that is only occassionally enforced....but thought you might like to know.
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