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Fri Oct 6 2017 16:15:01

Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018

By: Ina Steiner

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Online sellers are facing the prospect a 6 percent increase in USPS Priority Mail shipping costs in January. The USPS filed for higher rates that, if approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, would take effect on January 21, 2018.

While Priority Mail rates would increase by an average of 3.9% in total, retail prices would increase by an average of only 0.8 percent - that's the rate you pay at the window.

However, sellers who print shipping labels online would see Priority Mail rates rise by an average of 6.2% for Commercial Base pricing (the most common). Those lucky enough to get Commercial Plus rates (high volume customers) would see an average rate hike of 6.1%.

Here's a summary of some of the RETAIL rates that are changing:

Letters (1 ounce): 49 cents (current), 50 cents (proposed)
Letters (additional ounces): 21 cents (no change from current price)
Outbound international letters (1 ounce): $1.15 (no change from current price)
Domestic postcards: 34 cents (current), 35 cents (proposed)
Small flat-rate box: $7.15 (current), $7.20 (proposed)
Medium flat-rate box: $13.60 (current), $13.65 (proposed)
Large flat-rate box: $18.85 (current), $18.90 (proposed)
Regular flat-rate envelope: $6.65 (current), $6.70 (proposed)
Legal flat-rate envelope: $6.95 (current), $7 (proposed)
Padded flat-rate envelope: $7.20 (current), $7.25 (proposed)

Because Priority Mail is considered a "competitive" product rather than "market dominant," the rate changes seem likely to be approved. As the USPS states, "While Mailing Services price increases are limited based on the Consumer Price Index, Shipping Services prices are adjusted strategically, according to market conditions and the need to maintain affordable services for customers."

Payment processors charge fees on the total amount of transactions, so online sellers will see those costs rise as well. And eBay takes a commission on shipping costs in addition to the value of the item sold, meaning eBay sellers are always particularly hard hit by postage rate increases.

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Perminate Link for Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018   Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018

by: Marie This user has validated their user name.

Mon Oct 9 12:57:39 2017

@whatever

Ebay nor any other site has the ability to negotiate FCP Domestic.  It is the same commercial rate for all online providers.

Ebay can negotiate on priority mail, express mail etc.  Plus they can negotiate FCP International.

The $3 rate you are seeing at your local PO is for RETAIL only.  If you were to purchase the shipping online, it would still be $2.61.

Perminate Link for Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018   Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018

by: thebobman This user has validated their user name.

Mon Oct 9 16:33:24 2017

>Thank heaven for the lick and stick stamps at 60 percent

You must not ship that many orders... The additional time spent sorting, adding, sticking, finding & buying all those stamps & dealing with all those tracking number stickers, plus you have to pay retail rates with those. You'd have to stick $6.65 worth of stamps on a FRE where I only pay $5.75 online.

Perminate Link for Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018   Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018

This user has validated their user name. by: RKTOYS

Mon Oct 9 18:11:39 2017

Man, some of you are dumb reading 6 PERcent and thinking it's the same as 6 cents.

Perminate Link for Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018   Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018

This user has validated their user name. by: LasVagueness

Mon Oct 9 18:21:31 2017

This is not a dealbreaker. What is a dealbreaker:  Tradesy raising their commission to almost 20% effective yesterday!! I don't understand why buyers buy on Tradesy when they can purchase the same item from my eBay store for 10% less.

Perminate Link for Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018   Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018

by: mcposty This user has validated their user name.

Mon Oct 9 20:34:58 2017

Everyone says it's their buyers problem..except..having to raise your prices too account for higher shipping means you will be less competitive with larger sellers who get way cheaper rates..their rates so not change.

Is there a way to get discounts for small sellers? Anyone know?

Perminate Link for Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018   Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018

This user has validated their user name. by: Rexford

Mon Oct 9 20:40:02 2017

LasVagueness, there are a ton of buyers and sellers who left eBay in disgust, and they wouldn't buy on eBay if you paid them.  That is why they prefer to shop on some of these other sites.

My life is so much easier on any other site that I sell.  The buyers on those sites aren't ultra high maintenance like so many eBay buyers are. Those sites treat me like a customer, and not like an adversary.

Perminate Link for Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018   Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018

This user has validated their user name. by: LasVagueness

Mon Oct 9 23:56:40 2017

@Rexford I wondered the same...thanks for confirming.  

Perminate Link for Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018   Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018

by: Marie This user has validated their user name.

Tue Oct 10 02:35:44 2017

I don't think we need to call people names because you feel they did not understand something.  In some cases the increase is only 6 Cents.  Some increases are less and some are more.  It is a mixed bag.

This link has a pretty good little schedule for FCP Domestic and other classes  It may help to clarify things for some posters.

http://www.mytotalretail.com/post/how-the-2018-usps-ra
te-increase-impact-online-retailers/

Perminate Link for Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018   Sellers Face 6 Percent Priority Mail Rate Hike in 2018

This user has validated their user name. by: RKTOYS

Thu Oct 12 16:48:33 2017

Marie, at least I gave the benefit of the doubt.  I could've said it was paid astroturfing in an attempt to manage reactions by deliberately misinterpreting the article.  Even media mail is well over $2 so where would $1 shipping come from other than the Chinese?

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