Southwest Florida Postal Customer Council

Two New Shipping Initiatives

The Board of Governors approved two new shipping initiatives: a larger Priority Mail Flat-Rate Box, with a special discount for overseas military addresses; and a new Sunday and holiday delivery price for Express Mail. Both initiatives are effective March 3.

  These are the first initiatives under the new pricing regulations in the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. The Postal Service filed notification  with the Postal Regulatory Commission, in accordance with the new law, and they are publishing a notice in the Federal Register.

 

New Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box

The new Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box measures (12" X 12" X 5½") and holds 50 percent more than the current box. The new box can be used for both domestic and international shipments, and mailers can take advantage of the 5 percent discount for international shipments when postage is purchased online.

 The Postal Service will provide a special version of the box for the military, and a $2 discount, for shipments to an Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office (APO/FPO) address. The military box features the logo of "America Supports You," a Department of Defense-sponsored organization of nearly 300 home front groups that send packages to troops overseas.

 

 

Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box Prices
Domestic Shipping	$12.95
Military Shipping
§           APO/FPO Addresses	$10.95
International Shipping
§           Canada and Mexico	$29.95
§           Other Countries	$49.95

 

They continue to offer their original Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes at the current domestic and international prices.

 

Express Mail Sunday and Holiday Delivery Price

The Governors also approved a $12.50 premium for Sunday and holiday Express Mail delivery. The premium, equal to competitor surcharges for Saturday delivery, reflects the unique delivery option the Postal Service provides on Sundays and holidays. As an alternative to Sunday or holiday delivery, customers may choose the next normal business day delivery at the standard Express Mail price.  

 

Premium Forwarding Service Is Here to Stay

The Postal Service recently announced that Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) is now a permanent offering. It was first tested as an experimental product in August 2005. The high customer interest and success of the service were cited as reasons for the announcement.

With PFS, all mail is forwarded, including magazines and catalogs. Mail is reshipped once a week to a customer’s temporary location for a fee. Expedited services mail, such as Express Mail and Priority Mail, as well as Registered Mail, are forwarded separately at no extra charge.  

Customers can enroll at the Post Office serving their permanent address (a government issued photo ID and proof of permanent address are required). There is a one-time application fee of $10, and the weekly forwarding fee is $11.95.

Temporary Change-of-Address and Hold Mail services remain available at no charge.

 

Information To Help Mailers Understand Mail Preparation Requirements

We have posted the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the implementation of Intelligent Mail barcodes on Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com. Due to an end-of-year backlog, the Federal Register is not likely to publish this notice until the first week of January. We will accept comments for 45 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.

The notice provides the technical specifications required for mailpiece, tray and container Intelligent Mail barcodes.
 Additionally, the notice proposes that in January 2009, we will require mailers to meet one of two options using Intelligent Mail barcodes to access automation prices for letters and flats.

The first option, referred to as “Full Service” Intelligent Mail, will require the use of unique Intelligent Mail barcodes applied to letter and flat mailpieces, trays, sacks and containers, such as pallets, and the submission of electronic mailing documentation.

The second option, or “Basic” Intelligent Mail, will only require mailers to apply Intelligent Mail barcodes on mail pieces and not on trays and containers. Starting in January 2009, automation prices will no longer be
available for the use of the POSTNET barcode.