2014 USPS Price Change: How Small Businesses Can Save Money
Each year, changes to the USPS rates and services can be a source of stress for online sellers, especially those who are already operating with slim margins. Price hikes from the Postal Service can force you to choose between raising prices for your customers or taking a hit on your profits.
This year, the changes bring mostly good news for small business owners. For instance, last year’s large price hike for First-Class Package International Service was a major pain point for small businesses in 2013, but this year sellers who use online postage providers like Endicia will see no change to rates for that service.
There is another key change that we want to highlight as a huge benefit to online sellers: Priority Mail is now cheaper than Parcel Select for 1-lb. packages shipping to any zone. Thanks to this change, shippers can take advantage of a mail class that offers faster delivery and more robust features for a lower price. In fact, Priority Mail is also less expensive than Parcel Select for nearly all weights when a package is being shipped to zones 1 through 4.
Why is this update so good for online sellers? Simply put, Priority Mail is a superior service that enables you to provide better, faster shipping experiences for your customers. Unlike Parcel Select, which has a delivery standard of 2-6 days, Priority Mail features package delivery in just 1-3 days. You can reduce your customers’ wait times without having to increase your shipping costs. If you currently ship using Parcel Select, we encourage you to compare Priority Mail prices after January 26, 2014 to see if making the switch makes sense for your business.
Want a more detailed breakdown of each competitive mail class? You can find a full list of updates on our website.