USPS: 2006 Proposed Priority Mail Rate Increase

On April 8, 2005, the Postal Service™ filed a rate case with the Postal Rate Commission seeking an expedited recommended decision to raise prices 5.4 percent for almost all categories.This filing is unique in that the decision to seek a rate increase is due to the Postal Service’s legal obligation to fund the $3.1 billion escrow requirement imposed by Public Law (PL) 108-18. Should legislation be enacted that eliminates the escrow funding requirement, this rate case will be withdrawn.The proposal calls for an almost uniform 5.4 percent rate and fee increase spread over all classes and subclasses of mail and special services. The postage for a one-ounce piece of First-Class Mail® would go from 37 to 39 cents. No classification-related changes are proposed.If favorably recommended by the Postal Rate Commission, new rates would be implemented no earlier than January 2006.

Escrow Rate Case FAQs

Priority Mail
Current								Proposed
Weight (lbs)	Local, Zones 1, 2 & 3	Zone 4	Zone 5	Zone 6	Zone 7	Zone 8		Weight (lbs)	Local, Zones 1, 2 & 3	Zone 4	Zone 5	Zone 6	Zone 7	Zone 8
1	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85		1	$4.05	$4.05	$4.05	$4.05	$4.05	$4.05
2	3.95	4.55	4.90	5.05	5.40	5.75		2	4.20	4.80	5.15	5.30	5.70	6.05
3	4.75	6.05	6.85	7.15	7.85	8.55		3	5.00	6.40	7.20	7.55	8.25	9.00
4	5.30	7.05	8.05	8.50	9.45	10.35		4	5.60	7.45	8.50	8.95	9.95	10.90
5	5.85	8.00	9.30	9.85	11.00	12.15		5	6.15	8.45	9.80	10.40	11.60	12.80
6	6.30	8.85	9.90	10.05	11.30	12.30		6	6.65	9.35	10.45	10.60	11.90	12.95
7	6.80	9.80	10.65	11.00	12.55	14.05		7	7.15	10.35	11.25	11.60	13.25	14.80
8	7.35	10.75	11.45	11.95	13.80	15.75		8	7.75	11.35	12.05	12.60	14.55	16.60
9	7.90	11.70	12.20	12.90	15.05	17.50		9	8.35	12.35	12.85	13.60	15.85	18.45
10	8.40	12.60	13.00	14.00	16.30	19.20		10	8.85	13.30	13.70	14.75	17.20	20.25
11	8.95	13.35	13.75	15.15	17.55	20.90		11	9.45	14.05	14.50	15.95	18.50	22.05
12	9.50	14.05	14.50	16.30	18.80	22.65		12	10.00	14.80	15.30	17.20	19.80	23.85
13	10.00	14.75	15.30	17.50	20.05	24.35		13	10.55	15.55	16.15	18.45	21.15	25.65
14	10.55	15.45	16.05	18.60	21.25	26.05		14	11.10	16.30	16.90	19.60	22.40	27.45
15	11.05	16.20	16.85	19.75	22.50	27.80		15	11.65	17.05	17.75	20.80	23.70	29.30
16	11.60	16.90	17.60	20.85	23.75	29.50		16	12.25	17.80	18.55	22.00	25.05	31.10
17	12.15	17.60	18.35	22.05	25.00	31.20		17	12.80	18.55	19.35	23.25	26.35	32.90
18	12.65	18.30	19.30	23.15	26.25	32.95		18	13.35	19.30	20.35	24.40	27.65	34.75
19	13.20	19.00	20.20	24.30	27.50	34.65		19	13.90	20.05	21.30	25.60	29.00	36.50
20	13.75	19.75	21.15	25.35	28.75	36.40		20	14.50	20.80	22.30	26.70	30.30	38.35
21	14.25	20.45	22.05	26.55	30.00	38.10		21	15.00	21.55	23.25	28.00	31.60	40.15
22	14.80	21.15	22.95	27.65	31.20	39.80		22	15.60	22.30	24.20	29.15	32.90	41.95
23	15.30	21.85	23.90	28.80	32.45	41.55		23	16.15	23.05	25.20	30.35	34.20	43.80
24	15.85	22.55	24.85	29.90	33.70	43.25		24	16.70	23.75	26.20	31.50	35.50	45.60
25	16.40	23.30	25.75	31.10	34.95	44.95		25	17.30	24.55	27.15	32.80	36.85	47.40
26	16.90	24.00	26.60	32.25	36.20	46.70		26	17.80	25.30	28.05	34.00	38.15	49.20
27	17.45	24.70	27.55	33.35	37.45	48.40		27	18.40	26.05	29.05	35.15	39.45	51.00
28	18.00	25.40	28.50	34.50	38.70	50.15		28	18.95	26.75	30.05	36.35	40.80	52.85
29	18.50	26.15	29.45	35.60	39.95	51.85		29	19.50	27.55	31.05	37.50	42.10	54.65
30	19.05	26.85	30.35	36.80	41.20	53.55		30	20.10	28.30	32.00	38.80	43.40	56.45
31	19.55	27.55	31.20	37.85	42.40	55.30		31	20.60	29.05	32.90	39.90	44.70	58.30
32	20.10	28.25	32.15	39.00	43.65	57.00		32	21.20	29.80	33.90	41.10	46.00	60.10
33	20.65	28.95	33.10	40.10	44.90	58.70		33	21.75	30.50	34.90	42.25	47.30	61.85
34	21.15	29.70	34.00	41.25	46.15	60.45		34	22.30	31.30	35.85	43.50	48.65	63.70
35	21.70	30.40	34.95	42.40	47.40	62.15		35	22.85	32.05	36.85	44.70	49.95	65.50
36	22.25	31.10	35.85	43.55	48.65	63.85		36	23.45	32.80	37.80	45.90	51.30	67.30
37	22.75	31.95	36.80	44.65	49.90	65.60		37	24.00	33.70	38.80	47.05	52.60	69.15
38	23.30	32.65	37.70	45.85	51.15	67.30		38	24.55	34.40	39.75	48.35	53.90	70.95
39	23.75	33.50	38.65	47.00	52.40	69.05		39	25.05	35.30	40.75	49.55	55.25	72.80
40	24.25	34.30	39.60	48.10	53.60	70.75		40	25.55	36.15	41.75	50.70	56.50	74.55
41	24.70	35.00	40.45	49.25	54.85	72.45		41	26.05	36.90	42.65	51.90	57.80	76.35
42	25.20	35.85	41.35	50.30	56.15	74.20		42	26.55	37.80	43.60	53.00	59.20	78.20
43	25.65	36.60	42.30	51.50	57.40	75.90		43	27.05	38.60	44.60	54.30	60.50	80.00
44	26.15	37.40	43.25	52.60	58.70	77.60		44	27.55	39.40	45.60	55.45	61.85	81.80
45	26.60	38.20	44.15	53.75	59.95	79.35		45	28.05	40.25	46.55	56.65	63.20	83.65
46	27.10	39.00	45.05	54.85	61.20	81.05		46	28.55	41.10	47.50	57.80	64.50	85.45
47	27.55	39.75	46.00	56.05	62.50	82.75		47	29.05	41.90	48.50	59.10	65.90	87.20
48	28.05	40.60	46.95	57.20	63.75	84.50		48	29.55	42.80	49.50	60.30	67.20	89.05
49	28.50	41.35	47.80	58.30	65.05	86.20		49	30.05	43.60	50.40	61.45	68.55	90.85
50	28.95	42.15	48.75	59.45	66.30	87.95		50	30.50	44.45	51.40	62.65	69.90	92.70
51	29.45	42.95	49.65	60.55	67.55	89.65		51	31.05	45.25	52.35	63.80	71.20	94.50
52	29.90	43.75	50.60	61.75	68.80	91.35		52	31.50	46.10	53.35	65.10	72.50	96.30
53	30.40	44.50	51.50	62.85	70.05	93.10		53	32.05	46.90	54.30	66.25	73.85	98.15
54	30.85	45.25	52.45	63.95	71.30	94.80		54	32.50	47.70	55.30	67.40	75.15	99.90
55	31.35	46.10	53.40	65.05	72.50	96.50		55	33.05	48.60	56.30	68.55	76.40	101.70
56	31.80	46.85	54.25	66.25	73.75	98.25		56	33.50	49.40	57.20	69.85	77.75	103.55
57	32.30	47.65	55.15	67.35	75.00	99.95		57	34.05	50.20	58.15	71.00	79.05	105.35
58	32.75	48.45	56.10	68.50	76.25	101.65		58	34.50	51.05	59.15	72.20	80.35	107.15
59	33.25	49.25	57.05	69.60	77.50	103.40		59	35.05	51.90	60.15	73.35	81.70	109.00
60	33.70	50.00	58.00	70.80	78.75	105.10		60	35.50	52.70	61.15	74.60	83.00	110.80
61	34.20	50.85	58.85	71.95	80.00	106.85		61	36.05	53.60	62.05	75.85	84.30	112.60
62	34.65	51.55	59.80	73.05	81.25	108.55		62	36.50	54.35	63.05	77.00	85.65	114.40
63	35.15	52.40	60.75	74.20	82.50	110.25		63	37.05	55.25	64.05	78.20	86.95	116.20
64	35.60	53.20	61.70	75.35	83.70	112.00		64	37.50	56.05	65.05	79.40	88.20	118.05
65	36.10	53.90	62.50	76.45	84.95	113.70		65	38.05	56.80	65.90	80.60	89.55	119.85
66	36.55	54.75	63.45	77.55	86.20	115.40		66	38.50	57.70	66.90	81.75	90.85	121.65
67	37.05	55.60	64.40	78.70	87.45	117.15		67	39.05	58.60	67.90	82.95	92.15	123.50
68	37.50	56.30	65.35	79.80	88.70	118.85		68	39.50	59.35	68.90	84.10	93.50	125.25
69	38.00	57.10	66.25	81.00	89.95	120.55		69	40.05	60.20	69.85	85.35	94.80	127.05
70	38.45	57.95	67.15	82.10	91.20	122.30		70	40.55	61.10	70.80	86.55	96.10	128.90
Notes:								Notes:
1. Parcels that weigh less than 15 pounds but measure more than 84 inches in combined length and girth are charged the applicable rate for a 15-pound parcel.								1. Parcels that weigh less than 15 pounds but measure more than 84 inches in combined length and girth are charged the applicable rate for a 15-pound parcel.
2. The 1-pound rate is charged for matter sent in a flat-rate envelope provided by the USPS, regardless of the actual weight of the piece.								2. The 1-pound rate is charged for matter sent in a flat-rate envelope provided by the USPS, regardless of the actual weight of the piece.
3. Postage for the flat-rate box is $7.70								3. Postage for the flat-rate box is $8.10

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Aspen Postal Workers Say Mail Deliberately Delayed

Aspen Postal Workers Say Mail Deliberately Delayed
(Colorado) "Local residents are facing extra delays to their mail; staff morale is at an all-time low at the Aspen post office; and some letters are being left in piles on the floor instead of being placed in their correct post office boxes, two postal workers claimed Thursday." Al DeSarro, spokesman for the Postal Service's western region, said it is unlikely mail is allowed to pile up in this manner."(4/29) http://www.aspendailynews.com/articles.cfm?id=2

DHL PRESENTS UNIQUE LINE OF PREPAID, FLAT-RATE PRODUCTS TO INDEPENDENT RETAIL MAIL AND PARCEL CENTERS

DHL PRESENTS UNIQUE LINE OF PREPAID, FLAT-RATE PRODUCTS TO INDEPENDENT RETAIL MAIL AND PARCEL CENTERS

PLANTATION, Fla. -- April 28, 2005

DHL ShipReady(TM) Offers Consumer and Small Business Customers Hassle-Free, Paperwork-Free, Guaranteed Domestic Overnight Delivery

DHL, the world's leading express delivery and logistics company, today presented a unique line of prepaid, flat-rate express delivery products to independent mail and parcel centers in the United States. Beginning next month, DHL ShipReady(TM) products will be available for purchase at participating independent retail shipping locations affiliated with the Associated Mail & Parcel Centers (AMPC) and offering DHL express delivery and shipping services.

The introduction of the DHL ShipReady product line for AMPC-member independent mail and parcel centers is the latest initiative launched by DHL as part of an ongoing commitment to better serve the express shipping needs of consumers and small businesses everywhere, while increasing the company's street-level footprint and helping independent retail shipping locations to grow their own business. Independent retail mail and parcel centers were introduced to the DHL ShipReady line of products today as part of the AMPC's National Sales Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

"DHL ShipReady offers customers the most unique and innovative prepaid, flat-rate express shipping solution in the market place," said John Pearson, executive vice president, commercial, for DHL. "ShipReady addresses a specific customer need for convenience in shipping, and we expect it will be overwhelmingly accepted by both the independent mail and parcel centers and their consumer and small business customers. Through this product, DHL is greatly enhancing its portfolio of services offered through independent retail shipping locations across the country, providing their customers with increased and simplified access to DHL."

DHL and the AMPC
Last year, DHL launched a nationwide program with AMPC-member independent mail and parcel centers and current licensees of the group's cooperative buy program and consumer brand, the Neighborhood Postal Center (NPC). Under DHL's Preferred Provider Program, participating retail shipping stores adopted DHL as their preferred transportation provider for express delivery and shipping services, and promote DHL services to their customers. To date, more than 1,600 independent retail mail and parcel centers are participating in the program.

DHL ShipReady Benefits
DHL ShipReady products are available in three sizes ? Express Letter Envelope, Express Legal Envelope, and Express Pack ? and will be available for purchase at a flat-rate price with no hidden charges at participating independent retail shipping locations. Customers may also order ShipReady products directly from DHL and review DHL's standard terms and conditions of carriage at www.dhl-usa.com.

Customers can use ShipReady products to ship door-to-door, to and from anywhere within the 48 contiguous United States. Customers can simply complete the pre-printed address label on their ShipReady package and call DHL to schedule a free pick-up, or drop off their shipment at their nearest DHL drop box, service center, or retail shipping location. Customers can visit the DHL drop-off locator at www.dhl-usa.com to locate their nearest service center, drop box, or retail shipping location.

ShipReady products have no weight restrictions, as long as the envelope or pack can be sealed safely and securely, and no expiration date, so they can be used by customers anytime.

DHL ShipReady products are guaranteed for next-day domestic delivery by 12:00 PM, and offer customers total visibility into the delivery status of their shipments via DHL's global tracking system.

Photo Stamps are back......

Upload your photo, customize your PhotoStamps and place your order. It’s that simple!

Minimum order is one sheet of 20 stamps (Price for 1st Class, 1 oz envelope) $16.99 a sheet of 20 ($0.8495 per stamp.)

Pricing can be found here --> http://photo.stamps.com/PhotoStamps/support/prices/

USPS: TRACKING INTERNATIONAL FORGERS

TRACKING INTERNATIONAL FORGERS. More than 3,700 counterfeit postal money orders were intercepted from October to December, exceeding the total for the previous 12 months, according to the Postal Inspection Service, with most of the forgeries originating in Nigeria, Ghana and Eastern Europe. Inspectors are warning financial institutions to be vigilant and are working to intercept packages containing bogus money orders as they enter the country. Arrests of 160 individuals have been made in the U.S. Find tips to help identify counterfeit postal money orders at the Postal Inspection Service site.

Picture Stamps Could Return As Early As Next Month

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE SEEKS CUSTOMIZED POSTAGE VENDORS
Request for proposals reflects USPS commitment to meeting customers' needs

Washington, D.C. - Personal photos on postage could return as early as next month as the Postal Service moves into the second phase of an extensive test of this popular product that debuted last year.

Customized postage allows a customer to personalize postage with pictures or images using PC Postage® technology. The United States Postal Service today began looking for qualified PC Postage® vendors able to produce customized postage to be used on First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and Express Mail for personal use only.

"We're combining the trust people have in the Postal Service with the technology and efficiencies of the private sector to bring customized postage to our customers," said Nicholas Barranca, Vice President of Product Development. "Customized postage allows us to make mail more valuable and more meaningful to people."

Customized postage will have two parts: a customer-supplied image and a state-of-the-art secure bar code. All customized postage is compatible with the Postal Service's automated mail processing systems.

Like postage meters, PC Postage® facilitates customer access to postage payment and use of the mail. PC Postage® is not a stamp and the use of customized postage will not affect the Postal Service's production or commitment to postage stamps, Barranca said.

Customized postage will be limited to personal use only during the one-year test. This is the second step in the Postal Service's testing of the product to determine its appeal to customers and the value it may add to postal services.

To become an authorized PC Postage® provider, applicants must be able to prove the ability to generate high quality, computer-based postage or metered postage and demonstrate they routinely use secure encryption technology to protect postal revenue.

"We want to make sure that anyone we authorize has the ability to produce postage in an efficient way," Barranca said. "While we continue to strive to meet the needs of our customers, we want to make sure that any product also meets our standards for quality and security."

USPS will require vendors to produce a product that meets current postal regulations and conclusively prove that all images produced and services provided abide by all federal laws, including copyright laws.

Authorized vendors will determine pricing and are expected to price their products based on the value provided to the consumer. The Postal Service's role is to authorize and monitor qualified providers.

The formal request for proposals from qualified vendors will be advertised in the Federal Register on April 27.

The year-long test is expected to last through May 2006. Vendors may begin offering PC Postage® within 20 days of being authorized by the United States Postal Service.

Woman Hurt Getting Mail Goes to Court

The Supreme Court will consider the case of an injured postal customer that slipped and fell on mail delivered to the porch of her home instead of to her mailbox.

Barbara Dolan, is suing the United States Postal Service for the back and wrist injuries she suffered. She is suing for negligent mail delivery.

USPS: NEW BARCODE MOVES FORWARD

NEW BARCODE MOVES FORWARD. A new postal barcode is being tested. The four-state barcode — named for its four vertical bar types — is being tested at the National Customer Support Center in Memphis, TN, to ensure that barcode sorters can read, decode and transmit data correctly. The four-state code contains more data than current codes, with the potential to benefit both mailers and USPS.

USPS: Carrier Pickup reaches 8 million mark

An online company that sells blue jeans worldwide — usedblue.com — has shipped the 8 millionth package collected as a result of Carrier Pickup Online Notification.

Akron, OH, North Hill Station Letter Carrier Rita Shook takes package number 8 million from customer Julie Godfrey-Cornish Saturday.

Julie Godfrey-Cornish of Akron, OH, started her company about a year ago and now ships about 500 Priority Mail parcels a month to U.S. addresses — plus another 60 internationally.

A competitor’s service was “very expensive and not very convenient,” says Godfrey-Cornish. “With the Postal Service, I’m saving $2,000 a month in shipping costs.”

Part of that savings is in Godfrey-Cornish’s use of Priority Mail envelopes and flat-rate boxes supplied free by USPS.

“Carrier Pickup Online Notification is helping us grow package revenue,” says Northern Ohio District Manager Kathy Ainsworth. “Business customers like usedblue.com appreciate the value and reliability of shipping packages with the Postal Service, especially with an option like Carrier Pickup to make their business models work.”
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Congratulations to usedblue.com from Fast-Pack.com !

Shipping Basics for Auctions - Thinking Inside the Box!

Shipping Basics for Auctions
How thinking "inside" the box can dramatically boost revenues!
Courtesy of BidBoosters.com

Thinking outside of the box isn't always a good idea. At least not when it's the shipping box we're talking about. Most sellers spend a good amount of time preparing for an auction, but pay little attention to the revenue potential after the sale. If that's you we're talking about, then you're potentially leaving a lot of money on table.

Order fulfillment is a lot more than just getting the product into the buyer's hands. Once you have made a sale to a buyer, you have the potential to continue selling to them. When people are satisfied with a purchase they are more likely to buy from the same seller again. All you have to do is make that process easy for them to do.

It doesn't matter if you do the shipping yourself, or use a fulfillment house, when your package arrives on the customer's doorstep, it's the last chance you'll have to make a good first impression.

In "normal" bricks and mortar shopping, your customer has a chance to judge the quality of a business by the look and location of the store, the appearance and behavior of sales people, and the way that products are merchandised. As an online seller, you do not have the chance to dazzle your customer with any of those quality indicators. In fact, all you have is your shipping box and what's inside of it. This represents your entire physical presence in the real world, so let's put your best face forward.

Appearances count, so make sure that you look good. Use professional shipping boxes or envelopes. A used avocado box, from your local grocery store, wrapped with duct tape, doesn't motivate the customer to want to do business with you again. You can buy perfectly acceptable boxes, and professional, padded shipping envelopes, at any office supply store. If you make a lot of shipments, then consider buying wholesale. Check your Yellow Pages under the heading of "Boxes - Corrugated and Fiber", or "Office Supplies - Wholesale".

While you are at it, use a typed or printed shipping label instead of scrawling the address in magic marker. You can buy custom-printed labels with your company names for peanuts. It's a small investment and it creates a rich look.

Your next challenge is the packing material. You should avoid Styrofoam "peanuts" at all costs. Not only are the environmentally unfriendly, but they are expensive and many people do not like receiving them. A client of mine received a letter from the Environmental Protection Agency after he had shipped them some software they had ordered.

The letter thanked my client for using shredded paper as packing material, instead of non-biodegradable materials, and assured my client that his company would be their first choice for off-the-shelf software purchases in the future. That turned into a pretty good contract for him and all because he cared about his packing material.

If you have an office shredder you can shred your wate paper and not only keep it out of your dumpster but produce quite a bit of packing material as well. If you have more shipping than waste paper, consider buying corn starch "peanuts". They are 100% biodegradable and they're as sturdy as the Styrofoam ones.

Beside your product and invoice, there are some other important things that need to go inside of the box. Make sure that you have something that clearly explains your return policy. If your return policy is "All sales are final", then be sure to at least say that. If you require a Return Merchandise Authorization, then include one, or include instructions on how to get one from your web site.

Next comes the Thank You Note. Yep, a hand written one, on thank you note paper is best, but you can include a printed one if you have high volume. In it, thank the customer for purchasing from you, invite them to purchase again, and, if possible, include a discount offer for some other product or service. If you have a free giveaway, like advertising specialty items, be sure to include one in the box as well.

This is also the perfect time to offer other sales incentives like your catalog or flyer, special sale items, and any products or services that you might be an affiliate of. This is perfect opportunity to cross-sell, up-sell and convince your customer that you're worth doing business with again. If you have an electronic newsletter, or Ezine, make sure you invite them to subscribe.

In Louisiana, the Cajun people have a wonderful phrase. It's called lagniappe - "lan-yap", and it means "a little something extra". It's a merchant's way of showing a customer how valued they are. In other parts of the country it might be called a "Baker's Dozen" from the days when you would buy a dozen pastries and the baker would thrown in one more.

No matter what you call it, most people are defiantly not used to lagniappe these days. If you find a way to deliver a little "something extra", you can be pretty sure that the customer will notice and will think of you the next time the have a need. A happy customer is most likely to become a repeat customer, give you a top notch auction reviews, and tell everyone how great you are. If you use your auctions as a strategy to sell non-auction items to your customers as well, then "Thinking INSIDE the Box" will bring great rewards!

Printed with permission of BidBoosters.com :: BidBoosters.com helps power sellers and auction newbies save money, increase sales, and boost online auction selling success with professional templates, free embedded item photos, and insightful auction selling information.
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Looking for that lagniappe or "a little something extra" ? How about this for thinking "INSIDE THE BOX!?"

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