The newly renamed Postal Regulatory Commission has made its final recommendations for the 2007 rates, which are expected to go into effect in early May. In December, the sweeping Postal Reform Act was signed into law. Combine this with the Postal Services multi-year Transformation Plan, and package shippers are in for some major changes in the months ahead. Understanding how these changes will impact your business will save you time and money. For example:
Getting closer to your customers can save you big time. Although the other carriers actively discourage drop shipping, the Postal Service encourages it and will help you find a qualified partner.
e-VS (Electronic Verification System) is one of the best kept secrets in the Postal Service and will revolutionize how shippers tender, verify and pay for their packages no more plant loads, no more 8125 postal forms (its a completely paperless system!) and you can even combine shipments from multiple DCs into a single shipment.
Shape-based packaging is here to stay. If you can reconfigure your lightweight (under one pound) packages so that they can be sorted on the Postal Services new automated systems, you could save 30% or more.
The balloon rate for parcels over 84 in length + girth increases from the current 15 lbs to 20 lbs. Many shippers have a 28 X 14 X 14 box that is exactly 84 in length + girth, which just avoids the balloon charge. As a bonus, this box holds 14% more than a completely square box (16.8 X 16.8 X 16.8) with the same 84 length + girth.
Rate shopping can save you. A good rate shopping program will take into account scale weight, package dimensions (not just cube), destination ZIP Code and residential/commercial flag.
Priority Mail Highlights
Flat Rate Envelope the proposed rate of $4.60 is regardless of weight or zone. This envelope will typically hold a pound or more of printed materials. Important: you must use the Postal Service supplied envelope to get the flat rate!
Many of the heavier weights (18 lbs and over) are actually going down, by as much as 20%.
The new 194 dimensional weight will apply to Priority Mail to zones 5-8 if the package is over one cubic foot. The 20 lb. balloon rate will apply to zones 1-4, so you will never pay both a balloon charge and a dimensional charge. For irregularly shaped items, the Postal Service method of calculating the dimensional weight is more forgiving than the other
carriers methods. For instance, an 8 X 48 tube would have a dimensional weight of 13 lbs with the Postal Service, vs. 16 lbs with the commercial carriers. And none of the USPS provided free packaging qualifies for a dimensional charge.
Express Mail Highlights
Express Mail continues to be a flat rate regardless of the zone.
The one pound rate is up a modest four percent to $19.50.
The dimensional charge will not apply to Express Mail, so some shipments could actually be shipped at a lower rate with Express Mail. For example, a 13 X 13 X 13 Priority box with a scale weight of two pounds will cost $21.40 for overnight Express vs. $26.35 for 2-3 day Priority.
Other Services
Parcel Post is going up 16.6% overall, but the closer you drop to the local post office (DDU), the better off youll be. For instance, a one pound package dropped at the DDU for last mile delivery with Delivery Confirmation is currently $1.30 and will be up ten cents to $1.40. In fact, that same package in 1999 was $1.25 so Parcel Select remains a great bargain!
Delivery Confirmation for Parcel Select remains a no cost option.
Watch for a flurry of new shipping options, including a new Priority Mail International option.
Some destinations, such as
Doug Caldwell is Executive Vice President of ParcelPool.com. He can be reached at doug.caldwell@parcelpool.com.
