USPS Rate Change Effective 06/30/2002

Well here we go again with the increase in postage. Although this rate increase will have significant effect on my business shipping policy, it might affect y'all a bit more if you use priority mail for packages over 1 pound. It all goes into effect on June 30, 2002 so use up all those $.34 stamps before you have to add the new 3cent stamps to all your letters.

Everything is going up and for those that depended on relatively inexpensive priority mail for those packages from one to two pounds, you are about to be suprised. Priority Mail above one pound is now rated by zone. Local, and zones 1,2,and 3 are $3.95 but if I ship a 1.5 lb. package with $50 insurance to California from here in Florida we are talking $5.75 plus $1.30 for insurance (yeah, insurance for 50 bucks which is the minimum went up 20 cents too) which is less than UPS three day rate but it sure is closing the gap.

Delivery confirmation for prioity went up a nickel to $.45 which we use on all our packages (helps to get them there quickly because they have to write the time and date down on their rounds sheet). On first class it is now $.55 for delivery confirmation.

To check out these new postage rates go to:

http://www.usps.com and then click on rates

For the zone rates for priority mail go to:

http://www.usps.com/ratecase/html_rates/R100.htm and scroll down to priority mail section #9.0

To get your zone chart for your 3 digit zip code go to:

http://www.usps.com/ncsc/addressmgmt/zonechart.htm

This has changed my business shipping policy because of the changes significantly. Fortunately, 95% of UniqueBruce's shipments are under a pound but many buyers will be bent over the new rates for shipments over a pound and a long distance from the seller.