Sellers who purchase postage through marketplaces or online-postage providers will pay more to send packages to certain zip codes in 1 week because of a change to USPS Connect eCommerce rates. The increase applies to weight-based and cubic packages up to 20 lbs. for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Flat Rate, and Ground Advantage delivery.
The USPS had raised Connect eCommerce rates just 2 months ago, on July 1st, which was 2 weeks before its July 14th general rate increase.
The September 16 change to online postage rates comes just 3 weeks prior to the Postal Service’s October 6th peak-holiday rate increase.
This month’s changes will impact sellers on sites like eBay and Etsy and those who purchase postage through services such as Stamps.com, ShipStation, and PirateShip.
Several services notified customers about the pending change in August, though we could find none that published by how much the rates were increasing. ShipStation said that the USPS was also phasing out its old API platform, and Stamps.com said the USPS was implementing a new technology standard called Intelligent Mail Indicia (IMI) to modernize its mailing system. Both services said customers would not be impacted by the technology changes.
eBay informed sellers of the rate change this month and linked to a spreadsheet containing a list of the destination zip codes where it would cost more to ship (but did not list the new rates or the percentage increase). eBay said the rate increase would affect a very low percentage of transactions on its platform and noted that its shipping calculator would automatically update on September 16 with the new rates.
As for the holiday surcharge rates that take effect next month, they expire on January 19, 2025, just about the time the USPS will likely introduce higher rates for the New Year.
Raising rates the 16th yet not saying by how much, so much for trying to make a business plan.