USPS Rates To Increase April 17th!

Hey All,
Most of us probably already know this, but postage rates are going up tomorrow.

for detailed categories:

http://www.usps.com/prices/pricechanges.htm

or for a quicker breakdown:

http://blog.stamps.com/2011/04/15/n...-april-2011/

It doesn't affect the price of a regular 1st class stamp, but it does affect any additional ounce (17 cents to 20 cents for domestic rates) for a letter.

The biggest rate increases are actually on the package/packet rates and that affects the shipping prices of any larger envelope with a stiffener card (you cannot mail packets at the flat rate if they are rigid).

If you mail the average cover in a 6"x9" envelope between two stiffener cards (cardboard) it's going to weigh between 1-2 ounces.

Thus a two ounce packet within the U.S. increases from $1.39 to $1.88, to Canada increases from $1.49 to $1.98 and other international destinations from $2.28 to $2.59. (Mexico is close to Canada rate).

Each additional ounce is 17 cents within U.S. up to 13 ounces. 26 cents to Canada and 87 cents to other international destinations (groups 3-5) up to 8 ounces.

It's quite a larger increase than I expected. Add the fact ebay is going to start taking a chuck (9%) of shipping soon and nobody's going to be happy.

Will

I've seen the rate increases on-line. Funny thing, though, I was at the post office last week asking for the 80c Voyageur National Park issue (and the clerk didn't have any). When I mentioned that it was the new rate from US to Canada, she said they haven't even yet seen a new rate schedule yet! When I visited another post office and asked about a new issue, they claimed it wasn't to go on sale until the following week. In both instances, the clerks seem oblivious to new information and don't seem to have access to any of the USPS on-line information (i.e. rate change tables, Postal Bulletin, etc.) that outlines these sort of things. We stamp collectors seem to have more accurate information than those in the post office.

There's also been some media hype about those filing last minute tax returns coinciding with the date of th new second ounce rate increase, that either people are going to not be aware of it and short-change the required postage, leading to a potential return of their tax returns (and subsequent penalties) or else pay more to the clerk to put proper postage on the mailings. It seems to me this rate increase certainly didn't hit at quite the right time.

Yep, those who have waited until Monday, the 18th, to mail their tax returns may get really shafted. If they do not put enough postage on the envelopes, then they will miss the filing deadline. The IRS doesn't like late tax returns. If I were mailing today, I would buy a couple of the $2.00 stamps and put them on, just to be safe.