Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
The USA first class domestic and international rates and the priority mail rates are going up on January 27, 2019. First class parcels mailed within the USA to USA addresses will be priced by Zone. International mail is priced by rate groups.
Here is the URL to the official rate change information. If you plan to buy or sell internationally (even domestically), you need to stay aware of changes to postal rates. You can print out the pages that you need/want.
https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/January%202019%20-%20Notice123.pdf
Below is the URL to the Zone Chart for ailing parcels within the USA that took effect January 1, 2019. Note that zones are based on distance from your location, so you have to enter your ZIP Code to get the proper chart. You can print it out.
https://postcalc.usps.com/DomesticZoneChart
At the least, you should bookmark these links.
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Here is a world map from the USPS showing the price groups. It is from 2010, but I cannot find any more recent. I have not had any trouble withdetermining postage rates using this map.
https://pe.usps.com/IMM_Archive/HTML/IMM_Archive_20100607/imm/immmap.htm
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International First Class letter rates do not change at all. Domestic 2oz and 3oz ships actually drop. As for the UPU rules on mailing stamps and covers first class letter rates vs. parcel rates internationally, the U.S. post offices don't seem to care. I've been mailing them first class letter rates without issues all year long.
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Then you are breaking the law. You also risk having your mailing confiscated by the receiving country. Your buyers won't be happy if that happens.
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Possible, but extremely doubt it will ever happen. The majority of dealers are not sending $2 to $10 stamps or covers via parcel rate. No dealer I know is following the UPU rule.
Do you think nystamps is following this rule?
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Then they are all breaking the law, and taking an unfair advantage over the dealers who are abiding by the law. If you go to a restaurant, buy a $20 dinner, and walk out leaving only $5 on the table....Same thing with underpaying for a shipping service.
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And we wonder why society is such a mess and why today's kids have no respect for the police, teachers, parents, or each other.
Great example - just remember karma..... it will get you eventually when you least expect it
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You'll probably find 99% of the dealers on eBay, Hipstamp and Delcampe don't follow this "law". It's a UPU regulation that is unjust and the USPS doesn't care. Many people would be put out of business if they were to follow it and many collectors wouldn't have access to a large amount of material without cheap shipping rate. The "law" is stupid.
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Wrong. The postal rates are promulgated under US federal regulations. That makes it a federal law. It doesn't matter what the UPU did. The USA signed the UPU treaty and ratified it. That also makes it binding on the US. It doesn't matter what you "think" about it. Ignoring a law that one deems "stupid" doesn't make one exempt from the law. Underpaying or not paying for services, misrepresenting the contents of a mailpiece...well there are words and laws for all that.
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It's not final, but the U.S. pulled out of the UPU treaty, but that was over concerns with the Chinese and their predatory shipping practices. Anyhow it's still stupid. Law or no law, it's unjust and not going to follow it along with the rest of the dealers. Just because something is law doesn't mean it's fair and it really isn't. Why should anyone have to pay $12 plus for shipping on a $2 stamp or cover? Also again, the USPS isn't enforcing it either. Some laws are made to be broken.
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You should really get your facts together.
More than 1% of dealers are abiding by the law. The USA is still a party to the UPU convention. We only announced our intentions to leave it.
"Some laws are made to be broken."
There's alot to be said about honesty and integrity.
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[Comments removed by moderator] Is Canada not abiding the UPU then? I believe they ratified the same treaty. I did say the UPU pullout wasn't final. And yes, some laws are meant to be broken. The U.S. would still be British if they just followed the laws and paid those taxes.
Also you don't know anything about me - so don't question my honesty and integrity. To follow unjust rules and laws don't make you honest, it makes you a sheep and complacent in an unjust system.
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The changes implemented by the new treaty from the UPU are being gradually put in place over the period of a couple (I believe) years with different countries putting in their new postage rates accordingly.
I don't have to question anything about you. You wrote it all yourself. It was quite clear, and a reflection on you. You don't have to comply with the laws, because:
- the law is stupid
- USPS doesn't care (so I guess you received a signed letter from the Postmaster General to that effect since she is the only one who can speak on behalf of the USPS)
- the boy next door does it so you can too
I fully understand. Good night.
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I don't agree with the law regarding this, either;
however, I side with Michael#s on this.
We didn't break away from the British over taxes;
we left because of TYRANNY.
The facts fail you....or you are avoiding them.
BREAKING the law doesn't change it - it only changes you.
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Funny, the USPS sells stamps on eBay. They are selling full mint sheets overseas for $6.25 in shipping. Not $12+. Are they exempt? And I did a sample check on eBay..it's about 1% or less who are following the regulations (postal rates are regulations not law..there's a legal difference) and it's probably less than that as some of the higher shipping rates reflect registered mail or those who accepted the GSP program. There's even dealer's with BIN prices with free shipping in the U.S. Doubt they are using parcel rates. It's not the boy next door, it's almost the entire neighborhood and town, county, state and country.
All I know, if I was looking at at a dealer's stock online and I saw $20 for shipping for a $1 stamp, I would think they were an outright crook.
BTW Canada is not exempt either and they made the change - https://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/PGletpost-e.asp How many Canadians are following the regulations?
It is a completely stupid regulation and I stand by it.
“An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy" - John Marshall
Good night and The End.
p.s. TYRANNY over taxes was part of it, i.e. Stamp Act, Tea taxes, etc.
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"Good night and The End."
...thank goodness.
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Just to add that I attach a CN22 form to my international mailings from here in Canada, it is the rules as it says on the website.
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Last thought - regardless of rate - anyone who does not attach a customs form when sending non documents is violating the customs laws. This is a totally different issue. You can not attach a customs form to first class mail (non parcel) anymore. I can speak from personal experience that customs officers (and some postmasters) do not have much in the way of a sense of humor where evasion of customs regulations is concerned or do you believe that the customs laws are also "stupid regulations".
No one should be called a "crook" for obeying the law - regardless of your own feelings on the law itself.
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"the USPS sells stamps on eBay. They are selling full mint sheets overseas for $6.25 in shipping. Not $12+. Are they exempt? "
The $6.25 is most likely the amount that the USPS has to pay the receiving postal service in the other country to deliver the parcel. The USPS doesn't pay itself to mail its own parcels.
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"The USPS doesn't pay itself to mail its own parcels."
So the USPS is legally allowed to compete "unfairly" in an open world marketplace! Now that is interesting!
I know you all want to close this debate, but the legal system we have requires that you challenge "bad laws" in order to overturn them. It does not make you less honest or less of a citizen. Some would argue that people who follow all laws (sheep) are worse citizen than people who challenge the laws (crooks, or anarchists)...but semantic plays a big role in any discussion.
When you challenge a law on the books, you risk a penalty. I would state that the penalty for shipping a bunch of used stamps in the mail without all required forms, correct rates and other considerations (for me anyway) is less than the cost of complying, (which implies knowing and following all small print rules that I will never read anyway).
rrr...
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Thanks for providing those links. I was wondering about the upcoming price changes. I did take a quick look but found I will have to dig deeper.
I hate the way the USPS shows us price changes--basically not showing us price changes upfront by instead showing us zone numbers, etc. Maybe it's me but I would put the old price and then the new price increase next to the zone numbers--side by side with each country on the chart. If anyone has found that magic formula on the USPS website, please pass that url along. Maybe I missed that chart. That way with a quick glance, I can see the country and the actual price increases associated with it.
Bruce
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It reminds me of the 18th amendment...the people in Mexico and Canada could continue to have a drink, but it was forbidden in the United States. As we know it really solved the problem.
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12:41:01pm
" ... The USA signed the UPU treaty and ratified it. ..."
First; The US has signed many treaties, agreements, pacts
]and things like the UN Charter, but has had little difficulty
abridging them when convenient, ask any knowledgeable Sioux
or Seminole Native American about that story.
Scond; further expansion of that subject would be entering the
prohibited political discussion area.
Third, I have three small stamp orders from Europe and one
]from Australia enroute and I hope they do not become fodder
for some Customs Agent, working without pay, to demonstrate
the effects of this ruling.
I think the major difference between a law and andepartmental
ruling is, laws can carry criminal penalties, while rulings
carry fines and other civil penalties. Failure to pay fines
or comply with said penalties may subject the violator to
criminal penalties as specified in the initial law governing
the issuing agency.
Finally, should small mailings from sellers outside this nation
become regularly subject to enforcement of the gross UPU rules,
I will non longer feel comfortable dealing across national borders.
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Charlie,
I don't think that a discussion of the UPU or even how the US deals with the UPS, USPS, FedX dance is beyond the scope of discussions here, if kept to the topic. It's when we broaden it to include areas beyond that scope that we get into tired old debates.
David
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Here is a portion of an email from eBay that is pertinent to postate rate hike topic here:
"USPS will be making the following changes January 27.
"USPS First Class packages are increasing an average of 11.9%*
USPS Priority Mail increases an average of 5.9%*.
Changes in weight distribution of packages will affect pricing on USPS packages starting in June."
Bruce
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"Changes in weight distribution of packages will affect pricing on USPS packages starting in June.""
I hate to see what this is going to be...
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I agree.
Bruce
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It has been tough to keep my two cents out of this discussion due to my opinions of the USPS and I will continue to do so. However, it is not what I voted for or would ever vote for so........
Greg
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Chris makes eloquent and focused points. Thank you.
While there are things I would do differently if I had Congress in my hands, the USPS is still working well inspite of their meddling. That may not hold true for much longer, if the privatizing momentum continues, but, for now, I applaud our postal system, mostly. For 50c, or less, they deliver my mail to me and from me anywhere in the country, usually in two days, sometimes less, and they've lost maybe 3 letters in my long lifetime. I lost more socks last week.
David
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"Changes in weight distribution of packages will affect pricing on USPS packages starting in June."
Here is a high-level description of what this means. I got this off of ebay.
"Effective June 23, 2019, USPS is planning to change the way they calculate dimension weight on Parcel Select Ground, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express. They currently apply dimensional weight (DIM Weight) pricing on medium to large packages with lower weights to take into consideration the amount of space taken up on a truck rather than a package’s physical weight. As pricing changes take effect, the rate charged will be the higher cost of either Dim Weight or physical weight of a package."
Here is a link with more information:
https://ir.ebaystatic.com/pictures/aw/shipping/DIM_Weight_client_R6.pdf?roken2=sr.pQjJDIFNoaXBwaW5nIFNlcnZpY2VzIA==.bU0g=.g371.cem
The basic is to use the box that is the right size for what one is shipping. Using a large box to ship a small item will cost more due to the box size. I see much longer lines at the post office when this takes effect.
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I wonder if this is partly due to Amazon and others shipping in boxes that are often just air.
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If so, I don't think that will be a problem for them in a year or two. I have already seen Amazon trucks here doing their own delivery's
It looks to be priority mail on the link. I don't send much in the way of priority as I offer free shipping. 90% of my parcels are media mail
Greg
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I think if you look at the rate charts showing the three major parcel carriers (USPS, UPS and FedEx), you'll see a big disparity from the USPS rates and the rates of the other two carriers. I'm sure USPS has its eyes on that too, and will be wanting to narrow that gap by raising its rates.
I'm sure that the other two carrier will welcome such USPS action as it'll mean parity, which will mean more people using them instead of USPS. With the reduction in business, of course USPS will want to raise rates even more, which the other two will enjoy as they will do likewise.
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Priority flat rate is a bargain many times compared to UPS and FedEx. I rarely go to Fed Ex or UPS these days. FedEx and UPS give significant discounts off listed rates for companies. There was not much difference between flat rate priority and regular parcels so now there will be. I was mailing a 20+ lb box I fit in a large flat rate and was cheaper than any other method because distance or zone was not a variable.
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One of the differences is that USPS will deliver to any address in the USA. A while back I had two packages, and was near the UPS store, so I thought I'd give it a try. BOTH of my packages were subject to an "Out of Area" surcharge. Neither package was going to the Alaskan Tundra or anything, in fact one of the addresses was Niagara Falls, NY. The packages were both model car exchanges, 1 for 1, and I was using the boxes the individuals had mailed to me. Both had the previous USPS postage charges visible and UPS wanted literally double the cost. From there I went to the post office and mailed each for the very same cost the senders had paid.
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USPS is going that route too with the zone charges for first class parcels. For parcel post and non-flat rate boxes for Priority and Express Mail, there always has been surcharges for shipping distances. So far, the post office is much cheaper than the other parcel carriers.
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03:43:50am
" ... If so, I don't think that will be a problem
for them in a year or two. I have already seen
Amazon trucks here doing their own delivery's ..."
If the USPS does not find a way out of this
situation they are going to lose the most
profitable customers, except on the least
profitable routes.
Then RIP USPS.
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" ... If so, I don't think that will be a problem
for them in a year or two. I have already seen
Amazon trucks here doing their own delivery's ..."
I live on an acre lot and my house sits back at least 100 feet from the road so I don't see a lot of activity. But I was at my daughter's condo a few Sundays ago and was amazed at the package activity going on. Her door shares a breezeway with four condo units, and both she and two others got packages, Amazon appearing while I was watching!
Some came via USPS truck and a couple of different deliveries by contractors in white vans. At least three deliverers, which tells me the current practices aren't the most efficient. But the activity was a real eye opener!
And to think we were thinking of forgoing Saturday delivery to residential addresses!
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Too many people are thinking that the requirement to ship outside the USA all non-letter material by first class international parcel takes effect January 27, 2019. That is false. That requirement took place in January 2018.
The USA first class domestic and international rates and the priority mail rates are going up on January 27, 2019. First class parcels mailed within the USA to USA addresses will be priced by Zone. International mail is priced by rate groups.
Here is the URL to the official rate change information. If you plan to buy or sell internationally (even domestically), you need to stay aware of changes to postal rates. You can print out the pages that you need/want.
https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/January%202019%20-%20Notice123.pdf
Below is the URL to the Zone Chart for ailing parcels within the USA that took effect January 1, 2019. Note that zones are based on distance from your location, so you have to enter your ZIP Code to get the proper chart. You can print it out.
https://postcalc.usps.com/DomesticZoneChart
At the least, you should bookmark these links.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Here is a world map from the USPS showing the price groups. It is from 2010, but I cannot find any more recent. I have not had any trouble withdetermining postage rates using this map.
https://pe.usps.com/IMM_Archive/HTML/IMM_Archive_20100607/imm/immmap.htm
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
International First Class letter rates do not change at all. Domestic 2oz and 3oz ships actually drop. As for the UPU rules on mailing stamps and covers first class letter rates vs. parcel rates internationally, the U.S. post offices don't seem to care. I've been mailing them first class letter rates without issues all year long.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Then you are breaking the law. You also risk having your mailing confiscated by the receiving country. Your buyers won't be happy if that happens.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Possible, but extremely doubt it will ever happen. The majority of dealers are not sending $2 to $10 stamps or covers via parcel rate. No dealer I know is following the UPU rule.
Do you think nystamps is following this rule?
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Then they are all breaking the law, and taking an unfair advantage over the dealers who are abiding by the law. If you go to a restaurant, buy a $20 dinner, and walk out leaving only $5 on the table....Same thing with underpaying for a shipping service.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
And we wonder why society is such a mess and why today's kids have no respect for the police, teachers, parents, or each other.
Great example - just remember karma..... it will get you eventually when you least expect it
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
You'll probably find 99% of the dealers on eBay, Hipstamp and Delcampe don't follow this "law". It's a UPU regulation that is unjust and the USPS doesn't care. Many people would be put out of business if they were to follow it and many collectors wouldn't have access to a large amount of material without cheap shipping rate. The "law" is stupid.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Wrong. The postal rates are promulgated under US federal regulations. That makes it a federal law. It doesn't matter what the UPU did. The USA signed the UPU treaty and ratified it. That also makes it binding on the US. It doesn't matter what you "think" about it. Ignoring a law that one deems "stupid" doesn't make one exempt from the law. Underpaying or not paying for services, misrepresenting the contents of a mailpiece...well there are words and laws for all that.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
It's not final, but the U.S. pulled out of the UPU treaty, but that was over concerns with the Chinese and their predatory shipping practices. Anyhow it's still stupid. Law or no law, it's unjust and not going to follow it along with the rest of the dealers. Just because something is law doesn't mean it's fair and it really isn't. Why should anyone have to pay $12 plus for shipping on a $2 stamp or cover? Also again, the USPS isn't enforcing it either. Some laws are made to be broken.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
You should really get your facts together.
More than 1% of dealers are abiding by the law. The USA is still a party to the UPU convention. We only announced our intentions to leave it.
"Some laws are made to be broken."
There's alot to be said about honesty and integrity.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
[Comments removed by moderator] Is Canada not abiding the UPU then? I believe they ratified the same treaty. I did say the UPU pullout wasn't final. And yes, some laws are meant to be broken. The U.S. would still be British if they just followed the laws and paid those taxes.
Also you don't know anything about me - so don't question my honesty and integrity. To follow unjust rules and laws don't make you honest, it makes you a sheep and complacent in an unjust system.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
The changes implemented by the new treaty from the UPU are being gradually put in place over the period of a couple (I believe) years with different countries putting in their new postage rates accordingly.
I don't have to question anything about you. You wrote it all yourself. It was quite clear, and a reflection on you. You don't have to comply with the laws, because:
- the law is stupid
- USPS doesn't care (so I guess you received a signed letter from the Postmaster General to that effect since she is the only one who can speak on behalf of the USPS)
- the boy next door does it so you can too
I fully understand. Good night.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
I don't agree with the law regarding this, either;
however, I side with Michael#s on this.
We didn't break away from the British over taxes;
we left because of TYRANNY.
The facts fail you....or you are avoiding them.
BREAKING the law doesn't change it - it only changes you.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Funny, the USPS sells stamps on eBay. They are selling full mint sheets overseas for $6.25 in shipping. Not $12+. Are they exempt? And I did a sample check on eBay..it's about 1% or less who are following the regulations (postal rates are regulations not law..there's a legal difference) and it's probably less than that as some of the higher shipping rates reflect registered mail or those who accepted the GSP program. There's even dealer's with BIN prices with free shipping in the U.S. Doubt they are using parcel rates. It's not the boy next door, it's almost the entire neighborhood and town, county, state and country.
All I know, if I was looking at at a dealer's stock online and I saw $20 for shipping for a $1 stamp, I would think they were an outright crook.
BTW Canada is not exempt either and they made the change - https://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/PGletpost-e.asp How many Canadians are following the regulations?
It is a completely stupid regulation and I stand by it.
“An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy" - John Marshall
Good night and The End.
p.s. TYRANNY over taxes was part of it, i.e. Stamp Act, Tea taxes, etc.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
"Good night and The End."
...thank goodness.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Just to add that I attach a CN22 form to my international mailings from here in Canada, it is the rules as it says on the website.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Last thought - regardless of rate - anyone who does not attach a customs form when sending non documents is violating the customs laws. This is a totally different issue. You can not attach a customs form to first class mail (non parcel) anymore. I can speak from personal experience that customs officers (and some postmasters) do not have much in the way of a sense of humor where evasion of customs regulations is concerned or do you believe that the customs laws are also "stupid regulations".
No one should be called a "crook" for obeying the law - regardless of your own feelings on the law itself.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
"the USPS sells stamps on eBay. They are selling full mint sheets overseas for $6.25 in shipping. Not $12+. Are they exempt? "
The $6.25 is most likely the amount that the USPS has to pay the receiving postal service in the other country to deliver the parcel. The USPS doesn't pay itself to mail its own parcels.
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
11 Jan 2019
05:58:49pm
re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
"The USPS doesn't pay itself to mail its own parcels."
So the USPS is legally allowed to compete "unfairly" in an open world marketplace! Now that is interesting!
I know you all want to close this debate, but the legal system we have requires that you challenge "bad laws" in order to overturn them. It does not make you less honest or less of a citizen. Some would argue that people who follow all laws (sheep) are worse citizen than people who challenge the laws (crooks, or anarchists)...but semantic plays a big role in any discussion.
When you challenge a law on the books, you risk a penalty. I would state that the penalty for shipping a bunch of used stamps in the mail without all required forms, correct rates and other considerations (for me anyway) is less than the cost of complying, (which implies knowing and following all small print rules that I will never read anyway).
rrr...
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09:25:03pm
re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Thanks for providing those links. I was wondering about the upcoming price changes. I did take a quick look but found I will have to dig deeper.
I hate the way the USPS shows us price changes--basically not showing us price changes upfront by instead showing us zone numbers, etc. Maybe it's me but I would put the old price and then the new price increase next to the zone numbers--side by side with each country on the chart. If anyone has found that magic formula on the USPS website, please pass that url along. Maybe I missed that chart. That way with a quick glance, I can see the country and the actual price increases associated with it.
Bruce
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Auctions
re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
It reminds me of the 18th amendment...the people in Mexico and Canada could continue to have a drink, but it was forbidden in the United States. As we know it really solved the problem.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
12 Jan 2019
12:41:01pm
re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
" ... The USA signed the UPU treaty and ratified it. ..."
First; The US has signed many treaties, agreements, pacts
]and things like the UN Charter, but has had little difficulty
abridging them when convenient, ask any knowledgeable Sioux
or Seminole Native American about that story.
Scond; further expansion of that subject would be entering the
prohibited political discussion area.
Third, I have three small stamp orders from Europe and one
]from Australia enroute and I hope they do not become fodder
for some Customs Agent, working without pay, to demonstrate
the effects of this ruling.
I think the major difference between a law and andepartmental
ruling is, laws can carry criminal penalties, while rulings
carry fines and other civil penalties. Failure to pay fines
or comply with said penalties may subject the violator to
criminal penalties as specified in the initial law governing
the issuing agency.
Finally, should small mailings from sellers outside this nation
become regularly subject to enforcement of the gross UPU rules,
I will non longer feel comfortable dealing across national borders.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Charlie,
I don't think that a discussion of the UPU or even how the US deals with the UPS, USPS, FedX dance is beyond the scope of discussions here, if kept to the topic. It's when we broaden it to include areas beyond that scope that we get into tired old debates.
David
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05:11:14pm
re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Here is a portion of an email from eBay that is pertinent to postate rate hike topic here:
"USPS will be making the following changes January 27.
"USPS First Class packages are increasing an average of 11.9%*
USPS Priority Mail increases an average of 5.9%*.
Changes in weight distribution of packages will affect pricing on USPS packages starting in June."
Bruce
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
"Changes in weight distribution of packages will affect pricing on USPS packages starting in June.""
I hate to see what this is going to be...
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05:58:22pm
re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
I agree.
Bruce
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
It has been tough to keep my two cents out of this discussion due to my opinions of the USPS and I will continue to do so. However, it is not what I voted for or would ever vote for so........
Greg
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Chris makes eloquent and focused points. Thank you.
While there are things I would do differently if I had Congress in my hands, the USPS is still working well inspite of their meddling. That may not hold true for much longer, if the privatizing momentum continues, but, for now, I applaud our postal system, mostly. For 50c, or less, they deliver my mail to me and from me anywhere in the country, usually in two days, sometimes less, and they've lost maybe 3 letters in my long lifetime. I lost more socks last week.
David
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
"Changes in weight distribution of packages will affect pricing on USPS packages starting in June."
Here is a high-level description of what this means. I got this off of ebay.
"Effective June 23, 2019, USPS is planning to change the way they calculate dimension weight on Parcel Select Ground, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express. They currently apply dimensional weight (DIM Weight) pricing on medium to large packages with lower weights to take into consideration the amount of space taken up on a truck rather than a package’s physical weight. As pricing changes take effect, the rate charged will be the higher cost of either Dim Weight or physical weight of a package."
Here is a link with more information:
https://ir.ebaystatic.com/pictures/aw/shipping/DIM_Weight_client_R6.pdf?roken2=sr.pQjJDIFNoaXBwaW5nIFNlcnZpY2VzIA==.bU0g=.g371.cem
The basic is to use the box that is the right size for what one is shipping. Using a large box to ship a small item will cost more due to the box size. I see much longer lines at the post office when this takes effect.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
I wonder if this is partly due to Amazon and others shipping in boxes that are often just air.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
If so, I don't think that will be a problem for them in a year or two. I have already seen Amazon trucks here doing their own delivery's
It looks to be priority mail on the link. I don't send much in the way of priority as I offer free shipping. 90% of my parcels are media mail
Greg
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
I think if you look at the rate charts showing the three major parcel carriers (USPS, UPS and FedEx), you'll see a big disparity from the USPS rates and the rates of the other two carriers. I'm sure USPS has its eyes on that too, and will be wanting to narrow that gap by raising its rates.
I'm sure that the other two carrier will welcome such USPS action as it'll mean parity, which will mean more people using them instead of USPS. With the reduction in business, of course USPS will want to raise rates even more, which the other two will enjoy as they will do likewise.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
Priority flat rate is a bargain many times compared to UPS and FedEx. I rarely go to Fed Ex or UPS these days. FedEx and UPS give significant discounts off listed rates for companies. There was not much difference between flat rate priority and regular parcels so now there will be. I was mailing a 20+ lb box I fit in a large flat rate and was cheaper than any other method because distance or zone was not a variable.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
One of the differences is that USPS will deliver to any address in the USA. A while back I had two packages, and was near the UPS store, so I thought I'd give it a try. BOTH of my packages were subject to an "Out of Area" surcharge. Neither package was going to the Alaskan Tundra or anything, in fact one of the addresses was Niagara Falls, NY. The packages were both model car exchanges, 1 for 1, and I was using the boxes the individuals had mailed to me. Both had the previous USPS postage charges visible and UPS wanted literally double the cost. From there I went to the post office and mailed each for the very same cost the senders had paid.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
USPS is going that route too with the zone charges for first class parcels. For parcel post and non-flat rate boxes for Priority and Express Mail, there always has been surcharges for shipping distances. So far, the post office is much cheaper than the other parcel carriers.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
27 Jan 2019
03:43:50am
re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
" ... If so, I don't think that will be a problem
for them in a year or two. I have already seen
Amazon trucks here doing their own delivery's ..."
If the USPS does not find a way out of this
situation they are going to lose the most
profitable customers, except on the least
profitable routes.
Then RIP USPS.
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re: United States Postal Service Postage Rate Increase January 27, 2019
" ... If so, I don't think that will be a problem
for them in a year or two. I have already seen
Amazon trucks here doing their own delivery's ..."
I live on an acre lot and my house sits back at least 100 feet from the road so I don't see a lot of activity. But I was at my daughter's condo a few Sundays ago and was amazed at the package activity going on. Her door shares a breezeway with four condo units, and both she and two others got packages, Amazon appearing while I was watching!
Some came via USPS truck and a couple of different deliveries by contractors in white vans. At least three deliverers, which tells me the current practices aren't the most efficient. But the activity was a real eye opener!
And to think we were thinking of forgoing Saturday delivery to residential addresses!
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