OUCH! My experience with the new postal rates

[Cynamom]

Hello,

Thought I'd share my Day One experience with the new postal rates. OK. I had received 26 sheets of SU white cardstock, stamped with images. I was sending back replacement cardstock, plus a small thank you card. So, in essence, I sent back the same thing that was sent to me. On the envie that came to me last week there was $3.41 in postage. Not sure how much it really cost, but whatever it was, $3.41 took care of it, for sure. I went to mail mine back to the person that did this for me, using the exact same envelope size and weight. When she put it on the scale at the PO, she said I was over such and such ounces (14? 15? ... I forget) so she said it MUST go Priority. That means it cost me $4.60 to send back the cardstock, when it was no more than $3.41 to get it to me. What a difference a day makes! Ouch. Seems like everything is going up leaps and bounds! Not fun.

[jranagel]

Quote:

Seems like everything is going up leaps and bounds!

Yea, everything but salaries!

Sorry about the PO rates, that really does suck, what a difference.

[sltch]

My MIL works for the PO , we went to visit yesterday for Mother's Day and she was "studying" the changes. She said there isn't any rhyme or reason and even she was confused. Hope that makes you feel a bit better. LOL

[SkyesMom]

Yep the new prices vacuum for sure. I went to mail a flat rate box this morning and forgot that the postal increase meant everything not just stamps (D'oh) and it was $8.95. The post master said they were going to be $9.15 but they lowered it slightly.

[banana.cream.pie]

YUP!!! Lots of changes in the USPS World effective today. Try going on the Calculator Postage page on usps.com, it'll take a good 5 minutes before you see the rate calculations appear!

Lots of discussions on the EBAY boards about the new rates too. I would not want to be at the PO today...I can only imagine!

[jtax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by banana.cream.pie

YUP!!! Lots of changes in the USPS World effective today. Try going on the Calculator Postage page on usps.com, it'll take a good 5 minutes before you see the rate calculations appear!

Lots of discussions on the EBAY boards about the new rates too. I would not want to be at the PO today...I can only imagine!

I tried several times to use the USPS calculator and waited and waited and waited and gave up! Darn! Also tried to download so I could print the new documents, but after waiting and waiting, I got the dreaded page not found! GRRRRR!

[jor]

I had ordered 2-cent stamps online but haven't received them yet. When I went to the post office today I expected a madhouse. It wasn't too busy AND they were all still in a friendly, happy mood. Wonder what they gave them to eat or drink today? I want some! I couldn't be paid enough to be dealing with all those changes today -- the first day.

[Lissasmom]

I just mailed a 5x7 card that had one brad in a regular envelope. It cost me the 41 cents, plus an addition 17 cents since the brad could be felt through the envelope. Kind of hits us card senders hard now, doesn't it????

[robynstamps]

Thanks for the heads up. I need to send some cards out today and I don't have the 2 cent stamps yet either.

Robyn

[stampinsweeney]

I heard about the "forever" stamps. Why would you buy anything, unless you plan on using them all right away, other than the Forever stamps? I am always finding one or two old stamps laying around when I am looking for stamps.

[wenchie]

ughhhhh . . . this is so discouraging for me as a Canadian. It's difficult enough to participate in swaps, going to the bank, buying US money in order to furnish return postage. I wonder now if $5 will be enough, and if not, then is it reallky worthwhile. grrrrrrrrr

OK, I'm done my vent. Thank you for tuning in LOL

[sassybee]

My experience with the postage increase was interesting this morning----I arrived at the post office, saw the line extending OUT of the building, and didn't even bother waiting in line with my 3 y.o. ds. I figured I would just do online postage---WRONG!!!! Apparently everyone else had the same idea because the site was so BUSY and SLLOOOOOOOW! ARRRRGHHHH!

[Mindykid]

All the postal rates went up, and there are new guidelines for envelope sizes too! If you use envelopes with metal brads, expect to pay more - I plan to rip them off and just use a strip of tape across the seam.

When I went to mail off a ton of swaps today, I must have gotten there before the rush, but they were already out of 2 cent stamps and had to sell bunches of 1 cent stamps instead.

-Mindy

[larue]

It now costs $9 to send a set to Canada and it used to be $5-$6.
There is no air letter post.

[Runamok]

I heard on the news this morning that the new rates also effected the size of your envelope-package---if you have two enveloped that weigh the same, but one is bigger or odd shaped or whatnot, it will cost more to mail. Makes me wonder about cards with layers

[Sillybird]

So how does this affect sending stuff to the UK then? Are they still doing Global Priority envelopes etc for $5.25 etc, if not what has replaced that?

We had a massive change around a few months ago in UK, we have two slots that we have to check our letters etc, one that is a meer 5mm maximum thickness (240 x 165mm max) which is Letter, then next up is Large Letter which is 25mm maximum thickness (353 x 250 mm max, with max weight of 750g)!!!! so a standard letter to fit through the first slot of 5mm etc is 23p 2nd class or 32p first class. When it gets thicker and bigger it is the Large Letter Slot and starts at 44p for 1st and 37 for 2nd.

0 - 100g 44p 37p
101- 250g 65p 55p
251 - 500g 90p 75p
501 - 750g 131p 109p

and that is just within the UK etc. So anything outside is even more than that. Then anything bigger than those two slots gets classed as a Packet and starts at 84p and goes upwards

I can spend over £1.10 just sending out an ordinary sized card to the States, so if you think your postage is high, then have a look at ours????? its bizarre in the extreme, I always think your postage costs are really low in comparison to the UK - just thought I would try and cheer you all up, he he he

[crazysuziestamper]

On the Tools & Products forum is another thread about the new postage rates. Her cards were too thick and paid 80 cents to mail them. She used layers and dimensionals. I have never had a problem mailing a card beyond the going ounce rate. I use dimensionals, layers, brads, ribbon, etc...now I have never taken one into the post office to have weighed, just drop in the drive through box. No one has had to pay postage at the other end nor has there been a problem with card being ripped in the postal process. Maybe I've just been lucky. I do go to the PO today to buy 2 cent stamps. It was very busy but was only there about ten minutes.

[K. Benko]

I bought a U.S stamp the other day and it was .99 Cdn. I just about fell over.

[vfnelson2]

OP - if you had mailed the package Saturday, it would have cost $4.05 based on the weight. If it's over 13 ounces, rates go to 1 pound.

LARUE - FIRST CLASS INTERNATIONAL has replaced AIRMAIL LETTER POST. It is still relatively cheap to mail to Canada. I mailed 2 sets to Canada today. One cost $3.56 and the other $5.56 - the $5.56 weight 1lb 3oz.

Vicki

[Kittypaws]

Wonder what this will do to UPS and FedEx rates?

[olivia'smom]

I had to go to the post office to mail a grant for work today and encountered the same kinds of things. The terms letter, flat and parcel meant nothing to the poor clerk working because their computers do not have the same language. I left more confused than when I went in...

[crazycatstamper]

This was my favorite new owie....

"Pieces that are rigid, nonrectangular, or not
uniformly thick pay parcel rates"

Not uniformly thick covers most cards with an embellishment.... Parcel rate starts at $1.13 for ONE OUNCE.....

[wiggynine]

I mailed out a swap last week before the rates went up. I didn't consider that I'd have to account for the difference in postage coming back (for my SASE) and then the clerk started looking at the thickness of the envelope as well as the weight. She gave me two different amounts because she couldn't figure it out!

I think once I'm finished with the swaps I'm committed to I'll have to stop. It's too much money!

Linda

[jstarbright]

I work in a Mail room and had to figure out all the new rates and charges and the wat to sum it up is:
The size of each mail piece is the most important thing to check. It is divided into letters and cards, large envelopes and packages with the thickness of each piece weighing in on which category will apply for the postage.
There are 3 seperate charges for 1, 2, 3, and 3.5 ounce mailings
What a nightmare !

[SDiegoGal]

Here is a brief overview thread of he new types of envelope classifications and rates:

Forums at Splitcoaststampers

I went to the post office today for some 17 cent stamps and they said they haven't even gotten them in yet! I bought a bunch of 2, 5 and 10 cent stamps.

[Cynamom]

Vicki,

It only cost her $3.24 (tops) to send it to me last week, but when I went to send the SAME EXACT THING back to her (minus the stamped images... I send her blank paper), it was $4.60. I had NO option for first class anymore, but she did last week.

I understand about increases and the like (don't we all!?!?!), but this is too much of a change at one time, and HIGH increases, too.

It stinks!

[HerryBerry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sillybird

So how does this affect sending stuff to the UK then? Are they still doing Global Priority envelopes etc for $5.25 etc, if not what has replaced that?

I think they are now US $11.00. Absolutely astromonical increase. Not sure how they are justifying it. Was going to go in a ribbon share with Taylor from TayloredExpressions but the shipping ended up costing more than the ribbon so she has very kindly let me drop out.

It is also impacting my purchase of Papertrey stamps. They used Global Priority Package that used to cost US $11.50 and took around a week to get to Australia. This is now US $37.00. MAJOR OUCH

[Cynamom]

Holy cow, Jo! That's really over the line if that's the increase. Maybe the rate increase wouldn't bother me so much if the service was at least predictable, but my PO service has been TERRIBLE the last six months. Now I get to pay more to have packages lost and damaged... YES!

[row4d]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycatstamper

This was my favorite new owie....

"Pieces that are rigid, nonrectangular, or not
uniformly thick pay parcel rates"

Not uniformly thick covers most cards with an embellishment.... Parcel rate starts at $1.13 for ONE OUNCE.....

Perhaps inserting a piece of corrugated CS (run through the crimper) over the front of the card would help even things out. It has been suggested in the past to cushion cards with buttons or brads so that the envelope will not catch and tear on its way through the sorting machines.

[SkyesMom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runamok

I heard on the news this morning that the new rates also effected the size of your envelope-package---if you have two enveloped that weigh the same, but one is bigger or odd shaped or whatnot, it will cost more to mail. Makes me wonder about cards with layers

The general rule is with mailing something with stamps is under 16 oz you need 1 stamp.

[SkyesMom]

whoops thats 1 ounce. sorry about that.

[StampinAK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by samsgal

I just mailed a 5x7 card that had one brad in a regular envelope. It cost me the 41 cents, plus an addition 17 cents since the brad could be felt through the envelope. Kind of hits us card senders hard now, doesn't it????

I went to the PO Saturday thinking to mail boxes before the increase. I waited forever. Then I asked if the "special handling" postage was increasing. The USPS worker told me that there would no longer be special handling. So, how does that affect my mailing with brads, ribbon, etc I asked. She seemed confused as well, but said that if it went over 1/4 inch in thickness and weighed over 3.5 oz. it was considered a package. HUH!!? Almost all of my cards are sent through the mail. Am I going to have to make a special trip and stand in line now every time I need to mail a card so it has the appropriate postage? ARGH! For the past year I have been adding 13 cent stamps to my 39 cent stamp when I had something "bumpy" that wouldn't go through the machines. It's very frustrating.

[JennyAlia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sillybird

So how does this affect sending stuff to the UK then? Are they still doing Global Priority envelopes etc for $5.25 etc, if not what has replaced that?

We had a massive change around a few months ago in UK, we have two slots that we have to check our letters etc, one that is a meer 5mm maximum thickness (240 x 165mm max) which is Letter, then next up is Large Letter which is 25mm maximum thickness (353 x 250 mm max, with max weight of 750g)!!!! so a standard letter to fit through the first slot of 5mm etc is 23p 2nd class or 32p first class. When it gets thicker and bigger it is the Large Letter Slot and starts at 44p for 1st and 37 for 2nd.

0 - 100g 44p 37p
101- 250g 65p 55p
251 - 500g 90p 75p
501 - 750g 131p 109p

and that is just within the UK etc. So anything outside is even more than that. Then anything bigger than those two slots gets classed as a Packet and starts at 84p and goes upwards

I can spend over £1.10 just sending out an ordinary sized card to the States, so if you think your postage is high, then have a look at ours????? its bizarre in the extreme, I always think your postage costs are really low in comparison to the UK - just thought I would try and cheer you all up, he he he

I went to the PO yesterday to find out about global priority since I have something up on the bay. The USPS has done away with the 2 sizes of global priority flat rate envelopes. We have to put things into 1 size domestic flat rate mailers and it now costs $11 (at least to the UK and Australia). That's priority, the line was so long behind me, I thought I'd find out about possible other services later on-line.

[stampin' andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by row4d

Perhaps inserting a piece of corrugated CS (run through the crimper) over the front of the card would help even things out. It has been suggested in the past to cushion cards with buttons or brads so that the envelope will not catch and tear on its way through the sorting machines.

I was wondering the same thing! Although it hadn't occurred to me to run it through the crimper. That's a good idea to try to see if it helps avoid the extra charge for lumps and bumps.

[Buckeyevoss]

Postal workers happy, friendly? Not at my PO office, just a bunch of grouches. My hubby works for them too. It's all the same. I am beginning to understand the "postal" attitude.

[banana.cream.pie]

The initial price increase with Domestic 1st Class Parcel is easy to figure out. My Favorite method of shipping PRIORITY MAIL has changed into not only weight, but dimensions, like the other Private shipping comapnies.

I was finally able to view shipping calculations on USPS.com last night..that was a relief! Since yesterday morning it was taking about 5 minutes to bring up the calculations page...not a good day to ship out.

[Cynamom]

Oh my gosh. The crabby lady at my (small town) PO was SOOO nice yesterday. I mean TOO nice, really. I think maybe some of the PO's got told that it was gonna be busy AND people would be irritated so make sure you are very nice. They'll be back to normal in a few days, not to worry!

[PaperRapt]

The postal rates are UP that is for sure--I'm sure fuel costs has heaps to do with it. I was reviewing Canada/UK rates last night. They really cut out all the detailed pricing for packages under 4 pounds. They put in basic rates across the board, in most cases much higher than previous categories. The most notable thing they introduced to all countries is the Priority Flat Rate Box! You can place up to 20pounds of merchandise in the box. The Canadian FRB is usd$23. and all other countries FRB usd$37.

Annette
http://stamponthis.com

[kathleenh]

It seems like these big increases in price is going to deter people from shipping USPS as much as possible. In the long run, this is going to hurt their bottom line.

[laxeash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vfnelson2

LARUE - FIRST CLASS INTERNATIONAL has replaced AIRMAIL LETTER POST. It is still relatively cheap to mail to Canada. I mailed 2 sets to Canada today. One cost $3.56 and the other $5.56 - the $5.56 weight 1lb 3oz.
Vicki

How long does Airmail Letter take to reach Canada?