Coming Soon: USPS Shipping Discounts

[lightning2000]

For anyone that does a lot of selling and shipping, you might want to read this recently posted article:

http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/news/article.php/3739066

Lightning2000
www.themotorpool.net

[ltcbj]

This is in fact currently available. My only question is that we will really have to accurately weigh our packages because the postage will be printed by our own printers. I believe that it is the USPS' way of cutting back on personnel. That tiny % savings won't mean much to me as I will still have to take my packages down to the post office, whose hours have been cut- and I'll have to face more people all trying to do so at the same time.

[lightning2000]

Hi,
I thought the discounts, according to the article, were effective May 12th? We dont use their online shipping system, and prefer to just bring them into the Post Office to let them weigh up each parcel and assess the shipping charges. This way, nothing comes back in dispute.

We have been using the UPS Worldship program since February, and its very handy. Really works quite well and we have UPS pick up the parcels at the end of the day. If they could somehow lower their rates for international shipments, I'd give them nearly all of our business (save the customers who prefer the Post Office or have PO Boxes).

All I can say is they should have rolled out this so-called competitive discount program last year when they boosted prices and did away with Surface Mail. Now they're going to have to convince us big time that they deserve our business again. They also need to get a better online tracking system working, and pronto. UPS and FedEx have the upper hand once again in that department...

Cordially,

Lightning2000
www.themotorpool.net

[ltcbj]

Discounts are available for the USPS on line right now, and have been for a while. I, like yourself, prefer to bring 'em in and let the clerk do the weigh-ins, but that may have to come to an end.
They do have a program that will allow a person using a PC to continue to print labels without postage but that is not currently available for Mac users.
I believe that it is part of the USPS' cost cutting cut-back on personnel which has left my local office with a staff of two. And work for five. So they are cutting hours and trying to cut the work load by getting us, the customers, to do it for them.
Right now I can print labels, and automatically receive email notification of delivery for myself and automatic notification of sending to the recipient.
I found an almost lost package thanks to their notification protocols.

[WGP Klaus]

Hi,
I thought the discounts, according to the article, were effective May 12th? We dont use their online shipping system, and prefer to just bring them into the Post Office to let them weigh up each parcel and assess the shipping charges. This way, nothing comes back in dispute.

We have been using the UPS Worldship program since February, and its very handy. Really works quite well and we have UPS pick up the parcels at the end of the day. If they could somehow lower their rates for international shipments, I'd give them nearly all of our business (save the customers who prefer the Post Office or have PO Boxes).

All I can say is they should have rolled out this so-called competitive discount program last year when they boosted prices and did away with Surface Mail. Now they're going to have to convince us big time that they deserve our business again. They also need to get a better online tracking system working, and pronto. UPS and FedEx have the upper hand once again in that department...

Cordially,

Lightning2000
www.themotorpool.net

I stick with taking my parcels to the post office, because invariably everytime I weigh packages on various scales I have, they always weigh differently (typically more) at the Post Office, so I save myself the trouble now.

Oddly enough, whenever I weigh packages for shipping quotes using UPS or FedEx, the parcels are either right on target or just slightly lower then what I had figured when estimating cost/weight.

hmmmmm...lol

[ltcbj]

I'm currently using a baking scale to get weights but those are just estimates as I too always bring my items to the P.O. for weighing.