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2007-8-31 17:42:01 |
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Sunday May 13 will be the last day people can send a first-class mail for 39 cents. Starting Monday, the postal rate will be increased to 41 cents, a 5.1 % increase compared to the current price, according to a statement released May 10 by the United States Postal Service (USPS). Along with the increase in the postage for the first-class mail, many other, but not all postal rates for different services will be increased as well. The following are new prices for a number of popular services: Firs-class letters: $0.41 (first ounce) and $0.17 for each additional ounce; First class large envelopes: $0.80 (first ounce) and $0.17 for each additional ounce; First class packages: $1.13 (first ounce) and $0.17 for each additional ounce; Priority Mail Flat rate boxes: $8.95; Priority mail flat rate envelopes: $4.60; Post card: $0.26 For more pricing details, read http://pe.usps.com/RateCase2007/DMM300_HTML/ratesandfees2.htm The postal prices are affected by the operations and the marketplace and adopted to offer customers more choices and create a more efficient mail system that keeps overall costs as low as possible, the USPS said. The increase is needed as the business cost increases for things like fuel, transportation, utilities, and health care benefits, according to the postal services. One new product to be launched on Monday is a so-called Forever Stamp for the first-class mail within one ounce, which can be purchased for a current price and used at any point of time in the future without extra postage required when the rate is increased again. Another change is that the pricing structure will be based on both weight and SHAPE. Currently, the postal rates are based on weight only. “With the new emphasis on shape in its pricing, the Postal Service is also reducing the additional ounce rate on May 14. As mail pieces become heavier, the new additional ounce price declines. For letters over one ounce, the new prices are actually lower than the current prices,? the USPS said in its statement. Like anything else, increase in the postage causes much discomfort in many people. But the Postal Service suggests that customers can save postage IF they follow certain rules. "For instance, if the contents of a First Class Mail large envelope are folded and placed in a letter-sized envelope, customers can reduce postage by as much as 39 cents per piece. If the contents of a First-Class Mail package are reconfigured to fit into a large envelope, customers can save 33 cents per piece," the USPS states. The international services and their prices will be changed as well. Eight main international products will be consolidated into four including Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International, Priority Mail international and First-Class International. In addition, the same new packaging for Priority Mail and Express Mail can be used both within the United States and to other countries. Read http://www.usps.com/ratecase/intlrates/welcome.htm for details The USPS is an independent federal agency that services 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week through 37,000 service locations. The sale of postage, products, and services are the sources of revenues, which amounts up to $73 billion a year, to cover its operating cost. The USPS delivers nearly half the world’s mail. For more information, visit the following pages: |
