New USPS Rates Jan. 27th, Time For Sticker Shock

Hey All,
So I'm trying to make a new chart with all the new upcoming postal rates that will go into effect tomorrow, January 27th 2013.

Most of know that the domestic first class rate is going up 1 cent to 46 cents while each additional ounce is still an additional 20 cents up to 3.5 ounces for the letter rate. The parcel or 'packet" rate for domestic items will go up to $2.24 for 4oz. from $2.12. Not a big increase at all. Most of us can deal.

It's the international rates that will be the killer when it comes to parcel rates - and that includes anything 4 ounces and up. The USPS has done away with letter rates for items 4 ounces and up back in 2007 I believe. No surface mail options either.

Old parcel rate for 4oz. to Canada was $3.45, new rate will be $7.35!

Old parcel rate for 4oz. to UK, Australia and most of the rest of the world was at $5.34, but tomorrow it goes to $9.45!

The international letter rates didn't go up that much either, but that only covers up to 3.5 ounces. Canada's 3oz with nonmachinable fee rate goes from $1.69 to $1.85 and the 2 ounce rate with surcharge actually drops from $1.37 to $1.30..strange, but whatever.

The implication is going to be felt hard in the stamp auction and trading world. It will actually be cheaper to mail things overseas or Canada in two packets instead of one to keep postage costs down. Combining items is going to be a problem for a lot of us. Two 3oz. letters will be cheaper to mail than one 4oz. parcel.

Here's the link to the new prices. International rates are on page 44 of the pdf.

http://pe.usps.com/Notice123.pdf

The only winner here - ebay who gets 9% of shipping costs. No wonder the USPS came out with $1-$10 waves stamps as we're going to need them.

Here's a greatly abridged version of many of the basic US Postal Rate Increases in a rather entertaining cartoon format:

Here's another resource on the new US postage rates in pdf format.

Stamps.com has prepared this comprehensive 15-page summary of new "2013 US Postage Rate Increase Guide", effective January 27, 2013. Much easier to read and understand than that prepared by the USPS:

http://www.stamps.com/whitepapers/2...se-guide.pdf

wt1: Those are both nice resources, but most of the focus is on the domestic rates. It really doesn't address the massive rate increases on international parcel rates for shipments at 4 ounces or more. International sellers on ebay are quite upset about the new change as it will really lower international sales. Luckily, most stamps and covers can be mailed at the lower international rates for items at 3.5 ounces and less. The postal rates more than doubles for anything too bulky or heavier than the letter rate allows. This will be more of a concern for large cover lots, items on multiple stock pages, stockbooks and larger kiloware lots. You can actually maile four 3.5 ounce shipments cheaper than one 5 ounce shipment. Combining items for shipment might not be cost effective at all. There is actually a petition online to the White House to scale back the international parcel rates as so many small businesses and ebay sellers are going to see business drop.