The United States Postal Service has announced upcoming changes that may affect sellers who ship with USPS at retail counters. The USPS will update rates for their First-Class Package Service, and will also make slight modifications to their Priority Mail International services. These changes will go into effect on August 28. Read on for specifics on both of these changes and how they may affect your business.
+What are the rate changes?+
The USPS First-Class Package Service rates for packages that weigh 1-3 ounces will increase at USPS retail counters. The USPS retail rate will increase from $2.45 to $2.62
+Who will be impacted?+
The USPS rate changes will impact sellers who:
- Purchase postage at USPS retail counters (sellers who purchase USPS postage online and elsewhere may be impacted as well)
+What else is changing?+
The USPS has also modified their Priority Mail International services. Below are details on these changes:
- Priority Mail International packages sent to any country may now be tracked by sellers and buyers.
- All Priority Mail International services containing merchandise are now insured by USPS against loss, damage, or missing contents up to $200 at no additional charge.
- Sellers can now ship items that are more expensive to buyers via less expensive Priority Mail International shipping services! Specifically, sellers may now mail items valued over $400 with all Priority Mail International services (including Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Boxes), subject to individual country limitations.
- Shippers in the US will now pay return postage fees for undeliverable packages sent via Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes. Previously, when a foreign postal administration returned undeliverable-as-addressed Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes to a U.S. sender, there were no return charges.
For more information regarding any of these updates and others, visit the USPS services update page at about.usps.com/news/service-alerts/welcome.htm