November 13, 2008
NEW SHIPPING PRICES IN JANUARY
Annual January Price Change Consistent With Industry Practices
Pricing for shipping services — Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select, Parcel Return Service and some international products — will change Jan. 18.
The Postal Service announced the adjustments today, following a vote by the Board of Governors.
“The move to annual January price changes for shipping services products is consistent with industry-wide practice, and provides a clear picture of the competitive, affordable prices the Postal Service offers,” said Robert Bernstock, president, Mailing and Shipping Services.
Overall, shipping services prices will increase an average of 5 percent.
“The new prices are very competitive within the shipping industry and reinforce the value Postal Service pricing offers our customers,” Bernstock said. “As always, the Postal Service does not impose fuel surcharges, hidden surcharges or surcharges for residential delivery or Saturday delivery.”
Service |
Average Price Change |
|---|---|
Express Mail |
5.7% |
Priority Mail |
3.9% |
Parcel Select |
5.9% |
Parcel Return Service |
5.3% |
International Shipping Services |
8.5% |
New for 2009 is Commercial Plus pricing, an extraordinary value for high-volume Express Mail and Priority Mail users. New Commercial Plus prices for Express Mail are 14.5 percent less than retail on average, and for Priority Mail 7 percent less than retail on average.
“Commercial Plus is a tiered pricing option designed with larger shippers in mind,” said Gary Reblin, vice president, Expedited Shipping. “It’s a very competitive offering for commercial customers — lower prices that will reward them for shipping higher volumes with the Postal Service.” The Postal Service remains the best shipping value in the market, Reblin says, especially for Express Mail and Priority Mail packages weighing less than 5 pounds.
Parcel Select, the Postal Service’s “last mile” ground product, and Parcel Return Service also offer great value. “These combine our partners’ logistic efficiency with our unparalleled delivery and pickup capabilities,” said Jim Cochrane, vice president, Ground Shipping. “Our daily presence at every household and business provides customers and merchants with the most convenient pickup and delivery of their packages. Even our traditional competitors rely on our network to deliver thousands of packages to customers daily.”
For international mailers, Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International and Priority Mail International are the best value in global shipping. Paul Vogel, managing director, Global Business, and senior vice president says there is growth in the international package market, even in the current economy. “The total global market for both imports and exports is growing,” said Vogel. “It’s a huge opportunity for medium and small businesses, and the Postal Service has a range of international products and services to help them build global relationships.”
New flat rate prices:
Flat Rate Envelopes and Boxes |
Retail |
Commercial |
Commercial Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
Priority Mail — |
|||
|
$4.95 |
$4.80 |
$4.75 |
|
$10.35 |
$9.85 |
$9.67 |
|
$13.95 |
$13.50 |
$13.27 |
|
$11.95 |
$11.50 |
$11.30 |
Express Mail — |
|||
|
$17.50 |
$16.63 |
$14.96 |
This is the first time the Postal Service is adjusting prices for its shipping services on a different schedule from its mailing service price adjustments. Price changes for mailing services, including stamp prices, will be announced in February, and will be effective in May 2009.
For more information, go to usps.com/prices.
INFO@USPS
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