Name: Jeffrie
Hometown: Centralia
Years with USPS: 5 years
Best Shipping Advice:
Don’t rush your packing. Make sure you “H” tape the box both top and bottom.
Essential Item You Wear or Carry during your Work Day:
Pen and socks
Favorite Down Time Activity:
Video and watching soccer (used to play)
Do You Have a Pet?:
No, have a child instead.
The 2015 Postal rate increase was postponed from January to April and then revised to May 31st. Take heart though, no rate increase for a first class stamp. Your Forever Stamp is still Forever. If you are SOHO shipper please factor these increases into your shipping budget.
First Class Package Service
First Class Package Service will see an average increase of 5.1% in 2015. For packages that weigh 13 ounces or less, First Class Package Service remains the lowest cost option to ship a package to a U.S. address.
Parcel Select
Prices for Parcel Select, the U.S. Postal Service’s ground shipping product, will increase an average of 9.8% in 2015. There are no price increases for Zones 1 to 4 for packages weighing 25 lbs. through 70 lbs.
Media Mail
Media Mail rates will see an average increase of 6.2% in 2015. For books, videos and other products that qualify, Media Mail remains a great low cost shipping option.
First Class Letters & Postcards – International
The cost to send a one ounce First Class Letter to an international destination will increase five cents. Postcard rates will increase by five cents.
First Class Package International Service
The overall increase for First Class Package International Service will be 7.2% in 2015. The highest price increases by pound is between 3 and 4 lbs.
Priority Mail International
The overall increase for Priority Mail International will be 5.5% in 2015. Additionally, the USPS is introducing Zone-based pricing for Priority Mail International packages traveling to Canada. Canada will be split into 7 zones.
Priority Mail Express International
The overall increase for Priority Mail Express International will be 6.7% in 2015.
Global Express Guaranteed
The overall increase for Global Express Guaranteed will be 7.2% in 2015.
Effective January 2015, both UPS and FedEx are changing the way they calculate prices for their Ground service. Prior to this change the Major Carriers have calculated their prices based on the size of the box, as well as the weight of the box based on the distance traveled or the speed of service provided. Express has always used dimensional weight for packages due to the capacity of planes and price of jet fuel.
UPS began their dimensional weight charge for all ground packages on December 29th. FedEx followed suit on January 5th of this year. This increase can be an astounding 45% increase in charges along with their 4.5% increase in regular pricing. Neither company reduced their Fuel Surcharge even though fuel pricing is at an all time low in the last 10 years.
So in 2015 it is critical for all shipments to be in as small a package as will safely transport your items to their destination.
The “good” news is that The Mailbox is aware of this situation and we have been doing whatever we can to minimize the effect of this change for our customers. We also encourage you, the consumer, to contact FedEx and/or UPS to voice your discontent with this new policy. The policy seems to be brought about by large shippers such as Amazon/Zappos/etc. that used very large packaging for very small items as a matter of their convenience.
The 18 years experience we bring to the shipping business allows us to:
Just bring your shipment to The Mailbox and let us see what we can do to ship your items safe and secure in the most economical way possible. Please realize that some shipments are inherently going to cost more but we have many options for sizes, weights and distances.
We’re here to assist in any way possible.
Retailers can’t seem to pin down a date to the final event of the holiday shopping season: the deadline for ordering so gifts can make it in time for Christmas.
Many retailers have yet to finalize a cutoff date. Others are tweaking them, wary of repeating last year’s shipping snafus, when a combination of lousy weather and stronger-than-expected on-line orders inundated both retailers and shippers, preventing millions of packages from making it under the Christmas tree.
Read the full article here
To see The Mailbox Ballard’s recommended deadlines, read our post.
When it comes to sending and receiving packages, all of us have plenty to grouse about. Damaged or late deliveries and snatched packages bug consumers the most, which covers Americans’ experiences with DHL, FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service.
Some shipping mishaps are beyond your control, but you can take steps to make a gift’s road—or flight—less bumpy, whether you’re on the sending or receiving end:
1. Time it rightThe sooner you place your order, the less susceptible it’ll be to delays from bad weather, higher-than-expected package volumes, items temporarily out of stocks, and other issues. Christmas falls on a Thursday this year. That means Monday Dec. 20 is the deadline for second-day delivery, and Tuesday Dec. 21 is the drop-dead date for (very expensive) next-day service. Standard ground shipping typically takes about three to five business days, but this time of year, it’s prudent to allow a few extra days.
Corrugated-cardboard boxes are best for heavy cargo such as small appliances or gift baskets. Mailing boxes, which fold up via a self-locking tab, are ideal for small, reasonably flat items such as books. (Weight limits are typically indicated on the bottom panel.) Whenever possible, use a new box—especially for heavy items—because reuse weakens the cardboard. If you do choose to reuse a box, inspect it for rigidity, tears, rips, or corner damage, and remove all labels and shipment information from its previous journey. Make sure it has all its flaps, too.
That video of a UPS driver caught kicking and tossing packages like footballs is extreme, but take its message to heart. Shroud breakable items in protective inner packaging and surround them with filler to ensure that the contents don’t move when you shake the box. Double- or triple-wrap sharp or protruding edges and bind them with tape. Add enough loose material in the box to fill the empty space, so the contents sit snugly. (Carriers recommend each item be surrounded by at least 2 two inches of cushioning placed at least 2 inches from the walls of the box to avoid product-against-product damage and protect against shock and vibration.)
Avoid packing breakables in clothing, sheets, towels, or newspaper. Most effective are sheets of air-filled plastic bubbles (aka Bubble Wrap), though those bags aren’t recommended for items with sharp corners. They also tend to be inadequate in very cold or very hot temperatures. Polystyrene peanuts and tightly crumpled paper (think supermarket or shopping bags) are good options too. Additional pieces of corrugated cardboard add rigidity, prevent products from shifting in transit and make excellent dividers. Be sure to ship perishables in a polystyrene cooler with dry ice or cold packs.
Use a waterproof marker to write the full address of both the sender and recipient on the outside of the package. Include a duplicate label or business card inside, so the carton can be returned if it gets damaged and becomes undeliverable. Tape the opening and secure all seams with at least 2 inches of reinforced clear or brown adhesive-backed packaging tape. Shippers recommend applying tape strips evenly across the flaps and seams on both top and bottom to make an “H” shape. Don’t wrap the box in paper, which could rip apart in transit, or twine, which can stick in conveyor belts and lead to damage as well.
UPS and FedEx shipments automatically come with declared-value coverage of up to $100. The U.S. Postal Service provides similar coverage for Priority Mail Express shipments. Declared value is the carrier’s maximum liability. If the package is lost, damaged, or stolen, you’ll need to file a claim and can do so as early as 24 hours after expected delivery. (Timing differs by carrier.) Since the shipper is unlikely to take just your word, you’ll need backup: invoices, product sales and shipping receipts (including package tracking and delivery confirmation, which strengthen your claim), proof of insurance, and so forth. If the gift recipient spots damage, ask him or her to hold on to all packaging materials. Photos—before and after—help, too.
With the holiday season approaching, we are reminding friends and families to mail early to ensure delivery of their holiday cards and packages, especially to APO/FPO/DPO destination addresses, by December 25. Deadlines for mailing to specific APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Codes vary according to the specific classes of mail being sent to them.
We also remind mailers that all mail addressed to overseas military/diplomatic Post Offices is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling.
Those restrictions are listed by individual APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Code in each Postal Bulletin. To access this listing on the Internet, go to pe.usps.com, click Postal Bulletins in the blue navigation bar, and then select the Pull-Out Information section.
| Mail Addressed To | First-Class Mail Letters and Cards |
Priority Mail | Standard Post |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 090-092 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 10 | Nov. 8 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP 093 | Dec. 3 | Dec. 3 | Nov. 8 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 094-098 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 10 | Nov. 8 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AA ZIP 340 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 10 | Nov. 8 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AP ZIPs 962-966 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 10 | Nov. 8 |
| International Mail Addressed To |
Priority Mail International® |
First-Class Package International Service™ |
| Africa | Dec. 2 | Dec. 2 |
| Asia/Pacific Rim | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 |
| Australia/New Zealand | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 |
| Canada | Dec. 12 | Dec. 9 |
| Caribbean | Dec. 12 | Dec. 9 |
| Central & South America | Dec. 2 | Dec. 2 |
| Mexico | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 |
| Europe | Dec. 12 | Dec. 9 |
| Middle East | Dec. 12 | Dec. 9 |
CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH, ETC
Thursday, Dec 11
Saturday, Dec. 20
Monday, Dec. 22
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Wednesday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve
Thursday, Dec. 25, Christmas
Friday, Dec. 26
NEW YEAR’SMonday, Dec. 29
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, New Year’s Eve
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, New Year’s Day
Time-in-transit notes: On UPS holidays – Nov. 27, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 – there is no movement of any packages tendered to UPS. Also, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 are considered for the purpose of the UPS Service Guarantee as transit days for “UPS air and international shipments” only.
Peak-season service guarantees: UPS air and international shipments picked up or delivered within the United States are guaranteed throughout the holiday season. Commitment times for air and international shipments delivered within the United States will be extended by 90 minutes on the following days: Nov. 28, Dec. 18-24, and Dec. 31.
CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH, ETC
Standard Post
First Class
Priority Mail
Priority Mail Express
CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH, ETC
FedEx Home Delivery
FedEx Ground 2
FedEx Express Saver
FedEx 2Day
FedEx 2Day AM
FedEx Standard Overnight
FedEx Priority Overnight
FedEx First Overnight
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Years on the Job: 8 years
Best Shipping Advice: Use UPS. :>)
Essential Item You Wear or Carry during your Work Day: Diode Pouch (holder for hand-held bar-code scanning device).
Favorite Down Time Activity: Hanging with my kid. Making sure he’s getting those A’s. He’s a good kid, so there’s no reason to make him sweat right now… but if those grades drop, you best believe I’ll be there to put a little fire underneath him to get them back up.
Do You Have a Pet? Nope.
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Years with FedEx: Been at this job for about 2 years now.
Best Shipping Advice: Have your air bill properly marked with the desired shipping speed and the address easily legible. It makes it a whole lot easier on us drivers.
Essential Item You Wear or Carry during your Work Day? Shoes
Favorite Down Time Activity? Hanging out and tutoring my grandchildren. What I teach them they’ll never learn in school.
Do You Have a Pet? My daughter has a cat named Miss Kitty that frequently stays at our house.
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Years at the Post Office: 28 years
Best Shipping Advice: Be on time by not waiting till the last minute to mail your package.
Essential Item You Wear or Carry during your Work Day? A pair of good shoes
Favorite Down Time Activity:
I like to wind down and relax on the weekends by riding my bike on the trails around Seattle. I enjoy the STP and the RSVP – Seattle to Vancouver ride.
Do You Have a Pet?: I have a fish named Discus.