The United States Postal Service recently announced more price increases, a way to counteract increasing operating expenses.
Though First-Class mail pieces just rose in July 2022, prices will soon rise again. On January 22, 2023, the prices of forever stamps will rise from 60 cents to 63 cents, and postcard mailing will rise from 44 cents to 48 cents.
In addition to these permanent price changes, the USPS also announced “peak-season pricing” which starts on Sunday, October 2 and lasts through January 22, 2023.
International products are not affected, but Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select and Retail Ground all are. The price will depend on the weight and distance of the package.
Unfortunately, other carriers have also announced similar surcharges this season.
Keeping Costs Down
Though there’s not much you can do about the rising USPS costs, there are things you can do to keep your own costs down.
- Reuse boxes – Recently received a package? Save your box and packing material and use it next time you need to mail a package.
- Use standard size envelopes – Though other envelopes may look cool, odd sized paper can add to your mailing costs. Stick to regular letter-size envelopes to keep costs at bay.
- Don’t forget about Media Mail – Media Mail allows a large discount when you send educational media items like books, movies, and CDs. Prices start around $3.50. Media Mail moves slower than regular mail, so that is one thing to keep in mind if choosing this option.
- Compare carriers – While USPS tends to be cheaper, it isn’t always. Be sure to explore other carriers such as FedEx, UPS, and DHL.
- Package efficiently – When packing your items, choose the appropriate size box for your items (the smaller the better). Your items should fit inside with little space to move, to keep items safe in shipping. You may add paper or air pillows to cushion your items if necessary, both of which have little weight to them. If you need assistance, the EBC team is happy to help with packing services.
- Choose email over mail if possible – Thanks to the digital age, email is a common way of communicating. Ask your customers if they’d like to “go green” and opt in for paperless billing. If they opt in, send invoices via email versus mail.
- Pay online – When paying your own company bills, pay them online if the option is available.
- Clean up mailing lists – When prepping for a large mail campaign, it’s a best practice to clean up your mailing list before sending it out. Remove any duplicates and employees which may have left the company.
- Check for bulk rate mailing options – If you are sending bulk mail, you may be eligible for a discount. Be sure to inquire at the post office when you’re ready to send your campaign.
Hopefully, by thinking and packing smart, the USPS changes will be minimal on your pocket.
