January 6, 2008
EVERYWHERE DELIVERY
What You See Is What You Pay With USPS
Editor’s note: Ahead of Postal Service price changes for shipping services on Jan. 18, we’re providing you with pricing information in a series of special editions.
No matter the final destination — rural or city — a delivery is a delivery for the Postal Service.
Last week we showed you how surcharges overall can affect your shipping costs. This week, we’re looking at a specific surcharge — the delivery area surcharge (DAS). According to our competitors, DAS reflects the higher cost of providing service to less populated and less accessible areas of the country. The map below illustrates what areas of the country are assessed this additional charge, affecting more than a quarter of all domestic deliveries.
 *Red areas are subject to DAS; areas in white are not. Colography Inc. 2009 |
In addition to the residential surcharge, DAS ZIP Codes — residential or commercial — are subject to an additional DAS charge. DAS charges can add $1.60 for a commercial delivery and up to $2.65 for a residential delivery.
Check your invoice. According to industry consultants, more than 18 percent of all domestic packages are assessed a DAS charge. If you are predominately a business-to-consumer shipper, then that percentage may even be higher as more of your shipments will be residential deliveries. So here’s the bottom line — with USPS prices, what you see is what you pay. There are no net minimums and no surcharges — not for fuel, not for residential or rural delivery. We pick up and deliver across America, six days a week, every week for no additional charges. That’s value that can’t be beat.
In our next article we’ll highlight our great product options and new shipping incentives. For additional information on surcharges and comparative shipping costs, write to us at: PackageServices@usps.com.
INFO@USPS
Your Links To Mailing Resources
U.S. Postal Service: usps.com
National PCC Network: usps.com/pcc
Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: ribbs.usps.gov
Questions? Comments? Send an e-mail to pccinsider@usps.gov
Sign up for PCC Insider at usps.com/pcc, select "PCC Insider Registration"
Back issues: PCC Insider online archive