Shipping

Shipping, USPS January 31, 2017

USPS Rate Change Guide: January 2017

The United States Postal Service approved changes to postal rates that went into effect January 22nd, 2017. Depending on the service you use, rates are either going up or down.   Key Highlights: Marketing Mail – Prior naming was “Standard Mail”.  Which is the bulk mail that your printer/mailer presorts up front and enters at Bulk Mail Entry Units.  Pricing increase <1% Priority Mail Express – Increase 3.4% Priority Mail – Increase 3.9% Parcel Select – Increase as follows: Destination-entered non-Lightweight Parcel Select – 4.9% Parcel Select Lightweight – 8% Parcel Select Ground – 2.7% Additional Domestic Change – Increase as follows: Parcel Return Service – 5.5% First-Class Package Services – 4.1% Retail Ground – 3.8% Premium Forwarding Service – 3.8%   How the Rate Changes Stack Up First-Class Mail Single-Piece Marketing Mail (previously called Standard Mail) Select Rates for Other Services Mailing Methods will update all service offerings with the new prices and applicable regulations to ensure our customers are compliant and print postage correctly. We are committed to providing our customers with all USPS options as soon as they are available. Request a Mailing Methods Rate Poster to hang on your wall , or to learn more, get in touch…

Shipping, USPS April 5, 2016

USPS Rate Change Guide: April 2016

Each year the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) changes rates across various mail classes and services.  Often concurrent with these rate changes, the USPS may introduce or eliminate products, such as a Flat Rate Box, or new regulations, such as presorted mail requirements. On April 10, 2016, the USPS® is decreasing postage rates by an average of 1 to 2 cents per mail piece, depending on the class of mail. This reduces most Mailing Services products, everything from First-Class® Mail to Standard® Mail. This rate change will not affect product features or regulations and other mail classes remain unchanged.   Key Highlights: The average rate decreases for USPS products include: First-Class Mail® decreasing by 4.1% First-Class Mail International® decreasing by 3.8% Media Mail® decreasing by 4.0% Library Mail decreasing by 4.2% Certified Mail® decreasing by 4.3%   How the Rate Reductions Stack Up   First-Class Mail Single-Piece   First-Class Mail Bulk   First-Class Package Service   Standard Mail   Standard Mail – Non-Profit   Media Mail   Domestic Extra Services   Mailing Methods will update all service offerings with the new prices and applicable regulations to ensure our customers are compliant and print postage correctly. We are committed to providing our customers with…

Shipping November 2, 2015

Why Shipment Tracking is Important and How to Make it More Predictable

When you buy something today, you demand immediacy. The order must be confirmed as soon as you click “confirm order” and your package must arrive within a day or two, a week at the most if you are ordering internationally. Another thing you, as a buyer want to see is tracking packages from start to end. Fortunately, a lot of websites and blogs provide their readers with directions on how to track their pre-orders through live flight tracking. Also, if you have a Windows phone, it probably has a virtual assistant installed that can help you track packages automatically and it even sends updates about your order. With all of this, and more, shippers are basically not allowed to make any mistakes. In today’s shopper’s mind, if he or she doesn’t get enough tracking information, it’s not worth bothering with it. Nobody likes it when their order is delayed, let alone when the package is lost or misplaced somewhere between the seller and the buyer. If this happens, the damage is often beyond repair and the buyer will rarely trust the seller enough to make another purchase from him. The pressure here is on the sender, of course, and whether…