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Flat Rate Priority Mail Boxes are arriving Nov 20th:
http://www.usps.com/communications/n...4/pr04_072.htm
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE BUILDS A BETTER PARCEL
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Postal Service will soon provide customers with more shipping options just in time for the holiday mailing season. Using Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes, customers will be able to mail packages — regardless of the parcels' weight or destination — for just $7.70 each.
The Governors of the Postal Service approved this new Priority Mail option as a two-year test, and it will be available Nov. 20, 2004 at most Post Offices and online at USPS.com. The new boxes don't have to be weighed, and there are no zone chart and rate calculations required.
Customers can get the value of Priority Mail in two convenient shapes at one consistent price. "Services that are easy to access and simple to use provide real value for our customers," said Stephen M. Kearney, Vice President of Pricing and Classification for the U.S. Postal Service.
"We look forward to testing the convenience of flat-rate pricing for Priority Mail packages, especially among small businesses and consumers."
The Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes are available in two shapes: 11-7/8 inches x 3-3/8 inches x 13-5/8 inches (ideal for garments, board games, books and other relatively thin items) and 11 inches x 8-1/2 inches x 5-1/2 inches (perfect for shoes, model cars and taller items.)
Kearney said knowing the $7.70 price in advance should help customers ship packages quickly and easily, making the boxes very convenient for the upcoming holiday season.
He noted that paying the flat-rate Priority Mail box postage also is simple and convenient. The price is $7.70 regardless of the weight or destination. For the ultimate convenience, customers can use Click-N-Ship, offered online though USPS.com, to print a shipping label and pay the $7.70 postage, and use Carrier Pickup online notification to let their Post Office know they have a package to be collected when their letter carrier delivers their mail the following day.
Customers can also affix two $3.85 Jefferson Memorial stamps, use a postage meter indicia or any combination of U.S. postage stamps.
"The new flat-rate box options for Priority Mail are as simple as one-two-three," offered Kearney. "One consistent price, two conveniently-sized boxes, and three words that sum it all up - Quick, Easy, Convenient."
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Toolsellers should take advantage of that offer! Their sales would soar...
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Those will be great!
I'll have to make sure to check their online supplies on the 20th and order some. My Post Office NEVER has any of the Priority supplies available.
Thanks for posting this grumpygramp!!
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wonder how big the box is?
Now there is a compnay working WITH ebayers to make more money both ways...................wish Canada Post would do something like this.
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Finally some good news!
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GrumpyGramp, thanks for posting this!
Gabs:
The Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes are available in two shapes: 11-7/8 inches x 3-3/8 inches x 13-5/8 inches (ideal for garments, board games, books and other relatively thin items) and 11 inches x 8-1/2 inches x 5-1/2 inches (perfect for shoes, model cars and taller items.)
I will have to keep track of my postage this next week, see if this would benefit me or not. I havent been listing any heavier items, due to the high postage (and the inevitable final-high-bidder being from California, when I'm in FL, or course) But maybe I'll get back into selling that type of merch if this would make a difference ...
Wondering if this would be a good way to market our HOLIDAY listings -- to have a combined shipping deal - "as many items as you win from me, shipped together for $7.70!" something like that could be good, you think? Even better for eBay store-owners?
gotta set a reminder so I remember to order some when they are ready
~ gem ~
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Most of our sales are 1 or 2 tshirts which fit nicely into the priority mail tyvek envelopes and never go over 5.75 regardless of zone. But for folks that buy 4 or 5 shirts and live in the more distant zones, this could be a good option. We will have to start checking - looks like for 4 lbs to zones 5 though 8 this will be cheaper. In our local zones 1, 2, and 3, regular priority mail will still be cheaper up to 8 pounds (and we never get up that high). Not exactly a simplication for us but will be cheaper for some of our buyers. Maryanne
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Originally Posted by gem
Wondering if this would be a good way to market our HOLIDAY listings -- to have a combined shipping deal - "as many items as you win from me, shipped together for $7.70!" something like that could be good, you think? Even better for eBay store-owners?
Great idea Gem!
You could also use this to lower your cost when what you are already sending could utilize this box size. Say if your package going FL to CA priority was $9, and item would fit in flat rate box, you could save $1.30 off your posted rate.
It seems like a good idea for holiday shipping when folks want everything fast, but I doubt it will be as useful when parcel post is cheaper; not to mention UPS, DHL, FedEx.
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Good news for people who ship chocolate! Thanks for posting this, grumpygramp!
Ms. C.
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Cool, maybe I'll look at selling heavier items again. Living on the east coast, some packages have been ridiculously expensive to ship to half the country!