USPS Rate Increases Part Deux

[centrehice]

...


Interesting.....

About 90 minutes ago, I was a the local P.O. and the Post Master was actually up-front helping out. I took the opportunity to ask about the upcoming USPS rate increases and were they in fact to be at or near the 100% increase that we have heard.



Me: Hey what's with the 100% USPS International Rate Increases in the New Year?

P.M.: (Laughing) 100% International Increase...... Where did you hear this?

Me: Daily talk on our card trading website blog, rumours of a 100% increase by Mid-January.

P.M: Not that I've heard of. (smiling)

Me: Well there is supposed to be an Increase, what can you tell me about it. Have you received any documentation yet?

P.M: Nope, we have received nothing, but the supposed increase in January may be 5%, I don't expect it to be higher if even 5%.

Me: So my PWE, Non-Machinable charge of $1.05 to Canada will jump to what cost?

PM and Counter Guys: Probably another .05 cents, no more than that.


PM and Counter Guys: Where did you hear 100%, there's no way we could expect any business base on that huge increase, we already had an 83.4 % increase last January. It really should't be much more than 5 cents to Canada for a letter



Conclusion: So if a PWE jumps 5 cents, then a package, you can probably figure another .12 cent increase. They promised to keep me in the loop as soon as they hear anything, but so far........ they have received nothing.

[Sportfreund]

I was on google news last night trying to find a story on this actually and I didn't see anything about an international rate increase either so hopefully it's just a rumour

[CoolHandLuke]

...


Interesting.....

About 90 minutes ago, I was a the local P.O. and the Post Master was actually up-front helping out. I took the opportunity to ask about the upcoming USPS rate increases and were they in fact to be at or near the 100% increase that we have heard.



Me: Hey what's with the 100% USPS International Rate Increases in the New Year?

P.M.: (Laughing) 100% International Increase...... Where did you hear this?

Me: Daily talk on our card trading website blog, rumours of a 100% increase by Mid-January.

P.M: Not that I've heard of. (smiling)

Me: Well there is supposed to be an Increase, what can you tell me about it. Have you received any documentation yet?

P.M: Nope, we have received nothing, but the supposed increase in January may be 5%, I don't expect it to be higher if even 5%.

Me: So my PWE, Non-Machinable charge of $1.05 to Canada will jump to what cost?

PM and Counter Guys: Probably another .05 cents, no more than that.


PM and Counter Guys: Where did you hear 100%, there's no way we could expect any business base on that huge increase, we already had an 83.4 % increase last January. It really should't be much more than 5 cents to Canada for a letter



Conclusion: So if a PWE jumps 5 cents, then a package, you can probably figure another .12 cent increase. They promised to keep me in the loop as soon as they hear anything, but so far........ they have received nothing.

That woiuld be more inline with the 5% increase planned at Canada Post and would make more sense. I did look at the link posted in the other thread and since I am not familiar with the term of USPS I did not find the numbers. Then I check on the canadian to check was what the increase and had no issue finding the new board for 2013 prices as I know well this site.

[Fred Bear]

Me: So my PWE, Non-Machinable charge of $1.05 to Canada will jump to what cost?

PM and Counter Guys: Probably another .05 cents, no more than that.


PM and Counter Guys: Where did you hear 100%, there's no way we could expect any business base on that huge increase, we already had an 83.4 % increase last January. It really should't be much more than 5 cents to Canada for a letter



Conclusion: So if a PWE jumps 5 cents, then a package, you can probably figure another .12 cent increase. They promised to keep me in the loop as soon as they hear anything, but so far........ they have received nothing.

PWE and First class packages are quite a bit different. Check here and read the section on First Class International Package services. I currently don't ship by PWE and choose to use bubble mailers which fall under First Class International Package services. $6.55 is quite a rise from the $3.45 I pay right now...

I know you have had success with the PWE, but I'm just not a fan, though having to charge nearly $7 to ship hockey cards to Canada may force me to investigate more...

[centrehice]

They told me there was no increase on packages. That was my general comment. They have heard of NO Increases on any International Shipping to date. This could change, but for right now, I am only the messenger.

[jsokol1626]

Despite what they might have told you the rate increases have been available for nearly 2 months and will become effective in just over a month. here's the published rate, note they do not make exceptions to Canada.

First-Class Package International Service

Effective January 27, 2013, the Postal Service is transferring First-Class Mail International packages and rolls from the market dominant (Mailing Services) product list to the competitive (Shipping Services) product list and renaming it First-Class Package International Service™ (FCPIS). The same mailing requirements such as price groups, maximum value, and weight limits apply.

The pricing structure for FCPIS will be more simplified in that there will be one price of $6.55 for 1- to 2-ounces to anywhere in the world; 3- to 4-ounces within each country price group will have identical prices; and 5- to 8-ounces within each country group will have identical prices.

[Drewk86a]

I think some of the confusion may be related to the fact that Mexico and Canada has seperate (lower) rates that the rest of the international destination. It is possible that the USPS is eliminating the Canada / Mexico discount and lumping them in with the "international". Hence, increase for Canada, but no real increase for other countries. I have not seen anything to say they are definitely eliminating the discount, but I don't see a seperate listing for Canada or Mexico on the new rate charts.