USPS Proposed Increases for Medial Mail, Parcels, Etc

USPS Proposal of Increases For Media Mail, Parcels, and etc is being shared. 

Hope ya'll had a super weekend! Enjoying the weather here in NW Iowa while we can. Warm, windy, and really hasn't been too bad.

Hope ya'll aren't getting tired of me quite yet with me repeating myself regarding some of the postal increases being announced, shared, and proposals that the Postal Service is submitting. I had found an Ecommercebytes link in one of my emails about this particular issue which tells us just a little bit more about it. Thought I would come by here to share it all with you. 

Visit Ecommercebytes for their article titled "Sellers to Pay More for Media Mail, Parcels under USPS Plan". They are wanting to increase 3 cents for first class mail as I had mentioned before, but many of the changes that the Post Office is trying for would have more of an impact with the online retail community. 

The proposed changes being discussed is just that too . . . Proposed Changes. It will have to be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission before any changes can be implemented.  

So, when you have a chance to visit, and read more about this issue just click on the Ecommercebytes here, or just above here, and that will take you to it.  

Thanks so much for sharing your time at LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you all again soon. Have a great week!

USPS Postal Increases After First of the Year

 USPS Postal Increases After First of the Year

Just a little note to those who deal with shipping for your hobbies, crafts, online businesses, and etc. If you haven't heard it on the news yet you can expect the famous postal increases we generally get after the first of the year. If I heard correctly they are looking at first class mail charges going from .46 up to .49 is what was reported. Of course nothing is definite with the increases yet, but I am sure they will be coming to us soon enough. 

I know, it makes it hard in dealing with the shipping that we all deal with on a day to day basis. I cringe when I hear it as I always use the USPS services for my shipments, I generally ship priority mail which now includes the insurance up to $50 with it, and knock on wood...so far I have had no issues with this service. I like the free boxes I get that works for the sizes of the items I sell, and I try to be fair in giving the postal service business as well. Just makes it hard when the shipping costs keep rising, and how that effects all of us.  

It's Thursday, and the weekend is almost upon us again. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again soon. I wish you all well, and have fun with the rest of the week. 

Shipping Success For Online Retail Sellers

Shipping Success For Online Retail Sellers  

Online Sellers share many things, many experiences, and of course many stories. One thing that many of us have in common is dealing with different shipping carriers. It can be very tough to sell if you cannot ship. There is lots to consider which is not always easy. If you find a solid procedure that works it makes things much easier for you, and for your customers. 

We all sell many kinds of items with shapes, sizes, and weights to consider. With the range of shipping methods, and packaging types you need to organize the best options for the items that you sell. Shipping methods will not just be about pricing. You need to look at choices offered with insurance, tracking, signature confirmations, and etc. You should be able to find these answers on the mail carriers website you are researching, and considering. 

Most customers like to have all the numbers right up front when they are buying. With this in mind I myself like to do an estimated cost of shipping. Measure, and weigh your packages. Having a scale at home is very helpful for shipping cost estimates too. For some sellers a kitchen scale works fine for them. Now, if you wanted to be a little bit more secure with shipping numbers take your packages to the post office. Then, keep track of some of the common item weights for future references. After weighing your items you can use the shipping calculator online for the shipping service you are using. United States Post Office, The United Postal Service better known as UPS, and many have found Fed Ex to be a great source for shipping too.  

Developing your shipping plan, and defining your policies is a good practice. Things to consider would be what your processing time will be, will you be offering insurance, will insurance only be offered for certain items, a versatile one is will you offer returns & how will you handle the shipping with that, how will you handle items that are lost or damaged through shipping, will you offer expedited shipping or may international shipping ( with international shipping you will deal with custom forms, duties, and taxes), will you offer free shipping, etc. It is easy to see the list can become lengthy. 

Develop your routine, and make sure to communicate with your customers. Like, what's the benefit of having/offering insurance if no one knows that you have it. Over time you will experience how sometimes the shipping challenges will be out of your control, but are just an experience that is a part of online selling. 

Make sure to stay alert with all of your shipments, and keep good records as well. Proof of shipping, pictures of items and packages before shipping, insurance, your label receipts, tracking, and all of these things can be very helpful in the event of any issues that might arise with your shipments. For any issues you can always go straight to the shipping carrier used, and talk with your shipping provider.

Shipping may seem like a procedure that isn't an important issue for your online retail business, or that it should be simple to handle. It can be a much bigger part of your plan to consider, and to be dealt with. Don't let it scare you. Once you get a feel for the service you have chosen things actually can run pretty smoothly. 

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone, and hope you enjoyed this bit of informational about shipping. See you all again soon. Have a super day!

Priority Mail Changes Become Effective July 28th

 Priority Mail Changes Effective July 28th, and that is coming really soon. So, thought I better get something out there for ya'll to read about, catch up on, and make any adjustments that you might need to make. First of all, there is no changes in the pricing. What is changing is with the Express Mail, and Priority Mail services they have. 

These changes taking effect will be on July 28 as I read it with ecommercebytes. Some of the important points for online sellers to know is:

• REBRANDING Express Mail will be changed to Priority Mail Express (and Express Mail International will be changed Priority Mail Express)

• ESTIMATED DELIVERY Priority Mail packages will have an estimated service of 1 day, 2 days, or 3 days that will be displayed on the payment receipt, online shopping label, and in the USPS tracking information. 

• INSURANCE Domestic Priority Mail will now include insurance with No additional charge. 

• PRICING Current pricing for Priority Mail will remain the same. 

• PACKAGING Shippers can continue using Express Mail and Express Mail International names and associated packaging until January 2014.

The USPS has always advertised Priority Mail as 2-3 day delivery service. Now mailers will get an estimated service 1 day, 2 days, or 3 days based on the packages departure, and ship-to location.

Shippers cannot request 1, 2, or 3 day delivery. But, if they need over night delivery, they can use Priority Mail Express (to most locations) Priority Mail remains a non guaranteed service, but Priority Mail Express continues to provide a money-back guarantee service (see details on the USPS website) 

When the changes go into effect on July 28, 2013, domestic Priority Mail will include, without additional charge, either $50 or $100 for loss, damage, and missing merchandise. If you are using a stamp, or a meter to add postage to your package, you'll need to bring your package to the Post Office to receive the automatic insurance. 

The USPS said it was rebranding Express Mail because becaue revenue and volume figures for the product have "stagnated" in recent years, and it wanted to increase awareness. "It is hoped that these name changes will help reinvigorate Express Mail by leveraging the wide spread recognition of, and and positive associations with the Priority Mail Brand. As an added benefit, the proposed name changes would effectively consolidate most of the Postal Service's shipping products under a single brand identity."

USPS is currently testing advertisements, and is planning on promoting the changes via mail, TV, radio and internet channels, according to Post & Parcel 

All of this article was copied from the ecommercebytes site, and you can go there to read this as well if you wish.

I use Priority Mail all the time for the items I sell, and ship because the weights are just a bit more, and I can generally get a better deal than using UPS. I generally had the insurance included with the shipping charges, but now will have to do some revising of my shops with this new effect taking place. 

Well, now I hope this informational was helpful to those of you who maybe had not heard about this, or maybe got wind of it, but still questioned it. If you have any questions make sure to check the USPS website noted, call the Post Office, or the next time you visit the Post Office ask them to explain it to you also. 

Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see ya'll again soon. Have a splendid day!

USPS Announces Rate Increases For 2013

USPS Announces Rate Increases For 2013.

Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone! Well, it is that time of year coming upon us. The holidays, things changing, end of the year, taxes soon upon us, and of course there are pay increases that usually show up too. It has been announced with the Postal Service the increases that have been submitted for review. If they are approved those will go into effect on January 27, 2013. Seems like we just had an increase, and here it is again already don't you think? Time just flies. 

USPS Rate Increases for 2013  So, in preparation for those who do a lot of shipping, if you are a seller of treasures, a buyer of things, etc. Give the link a click, and have a read about what is being proposed, and what you can expect with the increases as well.  

So, here are some of the highlights of this announcement if you do not wish to read all that is shared with the link I provided to you. 

Highlights of the new single-piece First-Class Mail pricing, effective Jan. 27, 2013 include:

Letters (1oz.) — 1-cent increase to 46 cents
Letters additional ounces — unchanged at 20 cents
Letters to all international destinations (1oz.) — $1.10
Postcards — 1-cent increase to 33 cents

New domestic retail pricing for Priority Mail Flat Rate products include:

Small box — $5.80
Medium box — $12.35
Large box — $16.85
Large APO/FPO box — $14.85
Regular envelope — $5.60
Legal envelope — $5.75
Padded envelope — $5.95

New domestic retail pricing for Priority Mail Flat Rate products include:

Small box — $5.80
Medium box — $12.35
Large box — $16.85
Large APO/FPO box — $14.85
Regular envelope — $5.60
Legal envelope — $5.75
Padded envelope — $5.95

So make sure to make note of this everyone, and sellers get ready to make your adjustments needed with your items you have listed too.
 
Hey, I hope ya'll had a wonderful weekend! Here is to Monday, and wishing you all a super week! Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again soon. Take care everyone, Toodles. . . . .