I almost put this in the off-topic thread, but decided it affects enough of us here to warrant a separate listing.

Anyway, U.S.-based eBay sellers will want to take a look at the new USPS rates approved for a May 14 debut. This is especially important for those of us who like to use and re-use listing templates, as forgetting to change the templates will end up cost us some money.

The new flat-rate fees for Priority Mail are especially interesting. Or horrifying, depending on your point of view.

Here's the AP story: New USPS rates

Xaxaxe wrote:I almost put this in the off-topic thread, but decided it affects enough of us here to warrant a separate listing.

Anyway, U.S.-based eBay sellers will want to take a look at the new USPS rates approved for a May 14 debut. This is especially important for those of us who like to use and re-use listing templates, as forgetting to change the templates will end up cost us some money.

The new flat-rate fees for Priority Mail are especially interesting. Or horrifying, depending on your point of view.

Here's the AP story: New USPS rates

Bad news for our international friends....shipping from the US to Canada and overseas has gone up immensely.  Flat rate envelopes went up a mind boggling $1.50 each! (from $7.50 to $9 to Canada; from $9.50 to $11 elsewhere). Wow! Get ready to fork over more for buying from the US I'm afraid....

Mike B.

Kosh Vorlontay wrote:
Keep getting an error for the link:

Error: Invalid story key (J7,20070320,NEWS18,703190360,AR).

Kosh;

Just go to the USPS website, there will be a link somewhere.  Basically, flat rate priority US is going up to $4.60 from $4.05 for envelopes, and $9.15 from $8.10 for flat rate boxes.  I love how the USPS always acts like they are just raising the cost "a few cents"; of course that is for the cheapest 1st rate postage only.  Everything else goes up enormously, particularly the priority postage.  They have to make up for the large amounts of consumers that are no longer using the postal service to send letters and cards (emails instead) or pay their bills through the mail (using services to pay all bills online).  Unfortunately, the cost is only passed on to the consumer (people like myself and my customers) who see their disposable income for games and such cut tremendously, due to rising shipping rates. Not to mention that I now have to go through 1500 listings in my ebay store and change the shipping prices by hand...sheesh.

Mike B.

Well, I've been doing some research on the upcoming postal changes . . . this is going to seriously affect international customers buying from the US.

On the plus side, everything will be able to be tracked.

On the negative side, if it doesn't fit in a Flat Rate envelope (for $11.00), expect to pay $37.00 to ship most items . . . at the least.

Basically, all surface and airmail parcel post are being eliminated.  All packages must go by Priority Mail International (there is also an express service for much more).  There is the current Flat Rate envelope and a Flat Rate Box for $37.00. If it doesn't fit in an envelope, it will have to go in either a Flat Rate box or a "Pay by Weight" system.  However, once the 4 lbs (1.8kg) mark is reached, the "Pay by Weight" will mostly equal and then exceed the Flat Rate.

While, this makes everything easier, it will definitely bump up international cost.   On, the plus side, it will definitely help out with shipping to Australia as their rates were very high and the Flat Rate box will usually be a step down in cost  

By the way, for Canada, the Flat Rates are $9.00 and $23.00 respectively.

Beyondthebreach wrote:Well, I've been doing some research on the upcoming postal changes . . . this is going to seriously affect international customers buying from the US.

On the plus side, everything will be able to be tracked.

On the negative side, if it doesn't fit in a Flat Rate envelope (for $11.00), expect to pay $37.00 to ship most items . . . at the least.

Basically, all surface and airmail parcel post are being eliminated.  All packages must go by Priority Mail International (there is also an express service for much more).  There is the current Flat Rate envelope and a Flat Rate Box for $37.00. If it doesn't fit in an envelope, it will have to go in either a Flat Rate box or a "Pay by Weight" system.  However, once the 4 lbs (1.8kg) mark is reached, the "Pay by Weight" will mostly equal and then exceed the Flat Rate.

While, this makes everything easier, it will definitely bump up international cost.   On, the plus side, it will definitely help out with shipping to Australia as their rates were very high and the Flat Rate box will usually be a step down in cost  

By the way, for Canada, the Flat Rates are $9.00 and $23.00 respectively.

I was under the impression that they were only eliminating all surface mail options, but I thought Airmail was going to stay at just higher costs like eveything else.

http://www.usps.com/communications/news ... 07_033.pdf

Interesting..means Italy should be easier to send to, and possibly cheaper?

ShaneG.

Beyondthebreach wrote:Well, I've been doing some research on the upcoming postal changes . . . this is going to seriously affect international customers buying from the US.

On the plus side, everything will be able to be tracked.

On the negative side, if it doesn't fit in a Flat Rate envelope (for $11.00), expect to pay $37.00 to ship most items . . . at the least.

Basically, all surface and airmail parcel post are being eliminated.  All packages must go by Priority Mail International (there is also an express service for much more).  There is the current Flat Rate envelope and a Flat Rate Box for $37.00. If it doesn't fit in an envelope, it will have to go in either a Flat Rate box or a "Pay by Weight" system.  However, once the 4 lbs (1.8kg) mark is reached, the "Pay by Weight" will mostly equal and then exceed the Flat Rate.

While, this makes everything easier, it will definitely bump up international cost.   On, the plus side, it will definitely help out with shipping to Australia as their rates were very high and the Flat Rate box will usually be a step down in cost  

By the way, for Canada, the Flat Rates are $9.00 and $23.00 respectively.

Wow.  In most cases it will be cheaper for me to ship, say, 8 modules in three flat rate envelopes ($33) than a flat rate box ($37) to Europe. This will hurt those that want to just one box set or oversized item (say, two hardcover books) but be good for those who want a really heavy box set or two.
  I predict a lot of angry European buyers and cancelled transactions for the first few weeks......"What do you mean that Forgotten Realms box set is $37 to mail?  Just send it airmail! Oh, Airmail doesn't exist anymore?  Well, then I don't want it."  Ugh.

Mike B.

Anyone know how these new rates would compare to, say, shipping internationally by UPS, Airborne, FedEx, DHL, etc.?  

(Sounds like it would be cheaper mailing TO the U.S. than mailing FROM the U.S.   )

Wandering Monster wrote:Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd wander on over and express my opinions of this latest postal rate hike...

Well, obviously I'm not happy about it, especially as US flat rate priority mail goes up a whopping 55 cents -- guess I'll have to start doing delivery confirmation another way or something.

Delivery confirmation is FREE when you print your postage online through Paypal or using Click n Ship with www.usps.com.  If you haven't been doing it already, you should definitely be doing it now.  

For anyone who sells even a small amount of items, there is no excuse not to use automatic postage!  Were talking 65 cents for Priority or 75 cents Media/Parcel  for Delivery Confirmation (yes, these rates have gone up too).  If you mail just 50 packages a year, that would cover the cost of a cheap printer for your computer and odds are most everyone has a printer already . . .


I know badmike    still does it the old way and I know the post office is right by his house.  But here is something that even he won't be able to argue with:

There is a 4-pound weight limit for the Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelope and a 20-pound weight limit for the Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Boxes. Tracking information will be available. Limited insurance coverage is included on Priority Mail International items, with the exception of the Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelope, where Registered Service will be available at the mailer's option. Receive a 5 percent online postage discount using Click-N-Ship or authorized postage vendor.

I bolded out the important last sentence.  That's a 5% discount for printing and purchasing international postage online.  That means $.55 cents off each Priority Flat Rate and $1.85 off a Priority Flat Rate box!  The post office wants everyone to take care of this online and they're going to make sure the switch is made.  Can't say I blame them . . .