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You see, I can't be Frank, because if I were a stamp I'd have to have some fucking worth. Worth that rises in fact. From 1968-1974 want from 6 cents to 10!!! It's currently 74 cents, fyi! Remember to frank your mail and check out our latest stamps! Toodles!!!
Well, today I got a bit of bad news when I went to the post office. Up to this point when shipping international I have used First Class International to ship art to clients outside the US. It has offered the best combination of value and speed.
However when I went to ship a package to the United Kingdom today I was informed that packages like I've routinely shipped internationally as recently as last week were no longer covered under First Class International. Now they could only be shipped via Priority Mail International.
This was no small deal. Previously what had been $35.00+ USD shipping expense has jumped to over $72.00USD. This has over doubled the cost of shipping.
As a general rule I have covered shipping for Patreon patrons as a way of saying thank you for your support. However this will not be something I will be able to do for International patrons in the future since depending on the value of the package it can easily jump over $100+ USD now.
Domestic Priority Mail doesn't appear to have changed much, but I will be keeping an eye on this in the future.
For those of you who still have these stamps lying around ...
There's no real need to rush and use these stamps up ahead of the August 29 rate increase for domestic letterposts from 55¢ to 58¢, as these are considered Forever stamps by the United States Postal Service (i.e., such will remain postally valid indefinitely regardless of prevailing domestic letterpost rate).
(Of note, too, is that the international rate for letters and postcards to all countries, including Canada and Mexico, will increase on that same day from $1.20 to $1.30.)
Common Mistakes That You Should Avoid While Shipping a Parcel Internationally
Shipping a parcel internationally is fraught with risks and confronts. Educating yourself about the common shipping blunders before shipping anything, however, can significantly reduce your risk of running into these costly situations. WizMe one of the best shipping companies in Australia has got some expert tips for you on how to avoid common mistakes while shipping parcels internationally. Take these measures into consideration before proceeding to send an international shipment. These tips will help you to ensure smooth tension free parcel post delivery.
Not Reading the Rule and Regulations of Your Parcel Post Destination
Before proceeding to a shipping process it is very important to check the country’s custom policies where you are sending your parcel package. This is the most important step that you can’t ignore. If you forget to check regulations and custom requirements, there might be a chance that your parcel will be stuck in customs. Before you set delivery expectations, research properly that your parcel package fulfills the necessary requirements or customs regulations of the country where you want to send it.
Not Packing the Shipment Correctly
With international shipping, it is very important to pack you parcel package correctly. For a safe intact arrival of a package make sure that your package is packed correctly by a shipping company. Ask for your parking options, and choose one that would helps your parcel package arrive safely to the desired destination. If you are sending fragile items, consider choosing dense and shock absorbent type packing to protect it in transit.
Not Checking the Labels before Sending Them for Shipping
Incorrect labeling is one of the biggest mistakes that people do most frequently while shipping internationally. Incorrect address labeling can delay shipment and increases shipping charges. Before labeling an address on a parcel post make sure that you have a correct address and phone number of the person whom you are sending that parcel. Make sure you are filling all important forms calmly and correctly.
Choosing a wrong shipping company
Choose a shipping company that has a good reputation and have fair rates. Check the shipping company’s reviews online and compare the company’s shipping rates with its competitors. Do not rely too much on a single company and ask questions about packing options, shipping methods, delivery timing, prices, flat rates, insurance and hidden charges. Don’t forget to negotiate after knowing the overall cost of shipping. When you contract with a shipping company ask for your tracking options and make sure to ask who is actually shipping your parcel post. Be in contact with company till the delivery of the parcel post is complete.
Not using online tools for calculating shipping rates
There are many free tools available online which allow you to calculate and compare overall shipping costs. Make use of these free online tools and go for a company that fits your budget. Using an online shipping calculator will help you to go with the best company that suits your budget.
Bad timing of shipping
Timing is typically everything and extremely important. Bad timing is one of the most common shipping mistakes with international shipping. A serious problem may arise if you have promised someone that they will get the package on a particular date but the package is delayed. Choose fast shipping methods like airways for shipping emergency and important parcels. Also check your shipping provider if he is punctual in terms of delivering the packages.
Why the Recent Postage Rate Decrease Is Temporary—and What You Need to Know
There are very few things that businesses can count on. Taxes are one of them. New competitors are another. And another is the price of postage rates—or specifically, the fact that postage rates always seem to go up, never down. But last month, the United States Postal Service (USPS) surprised everyone. On April 10, 2016, USPS dropped postage rates across the board, with the price of a single first class stamp falling from 49 cents each to 47 cents.
Any business that sends out large mailing knows that these postage rates savings aren’t small. The two-cent drop on stamps correlated to incremental savings on almost every type of mailing rate, and that can add up to a savings of hundreds of dollars per mailing or more. Even for a company that only sends out routines business mail, which works out to a nice cutback on the budget. For a company that relies on mass mail marketing, it was a godsend.
But the postage rates won’t stay down for long. Indeed, businesses are already expecting that they will rise again—and the Post Office is fighting to make sure they do. So why did they discount postage in the first place? The answer, like so much, has to do with politics.
Recession Blues
It’s no secret that the 2008 recession had ripples that lasted for years. One of these was a tighter belt for all businesses, and as a result, less business mail going out. Many companies decided to cut back on their mailing efforts, and consumers ordered less products that had to be shipped through the mail. This left the USPS with a serious decline in revenue—and some big time financial woes.
They appealed to the Postal Regulatory Commission, a federal entity that sets postage rates and oversees how USPS runs. Given that USPS was losing out to private competitors like FedEx, the Commission agreed to a hardship rate hike. If you buy stamps, you might remember a 3-cent increase on first class stamps back in 2014. This was the increase approved by the Commission.
But those three cents were always meant to be temporary. They came with an expiration date, and this April it came due. Despite objections from USPS leadership, the Commission allowed the hike to expire and two of the three cents were dropped when it did. The rest, as they say, is history.
Getting it Back
USPS officials make a strong case for raising postage rates back up. During the rate hike’s tenure, the entire postal service budget stayed in the black for two straight years. It was the only branch of government that actually ran a profit rather than a deficit—and this was against stiff private sector competition. Now, USPS forecasts a drop back into the red. The tiny two cent discount adds up to about $5 billion in losses.
USPS officials are already asking for a new rate adjustment. Take advantage of the low postage rates whole you can—it’s the first postage rate drop in a century, and it might be 100 years more before we see another one.
In case you’ve yet to hear the news by now....
The United States Postal Service has announced that, as from April 10th, there will actually be a reduction in letterpost rates for domestic and international mails in the United States--only the second such in history, in fact; the first being in 1919, when then-President Woodrow Wilson reduced the letterposit rate from 3¢ to 2¢.
Hence, the new rates will be:
Domestic letterposts: 49¢ 47¢ for the first ounce and 22¢ 21¢ for each additional ounce (i.e., a 2-ounce letter will cost 71¢ 68¢ and a 3-ounce such 91¢ 89¢).
Domestic postcards: 35¢ 34¢
International letterposts (to all foreign countries): $1.20 $1.15 per ounce.
(Know that the higher amounts, as crossed out in the above, remain in effect until April 9th. And know, Forever stamps will pay the prevailing letterpost rate regardless of when they were purchased (two such, in fact, will pay for up to three ounces sent domestically).
Which brings up this worthwhile suggestion which we Hanna-Barberians can rally round: Videlicet, calling on the USPS to issue Forever stamps featuring some of Hanna-Barbera’s best-known and -loved characters (obviously including Ruff and Reddy, Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, Snagglepuss, The Flintstones, Top Cat, The Jetsons and Scooby-Doo). After all, if the USPS issued stamps featuring Disney, Pixar and Loony Tunes characters in past, then what would preclude their giving Hanna-Barberadom due recognition philatelically?
So, with that in mind, a letter will want to be in order, addressed thus:
Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300 Washington, DC 20260-3501
And when writing, do give some helpful and perintent information about some of the characters as should be duly featured in any such issue featuring Hanna-Barbera characters, the better so the Committee can be enlightened enough to make their decision. (However, it’s unlikely that such stamps may be issued before 2019 at earliest.)
In the interim, however, you might like to know where a couple of shops on Zazzle.com which feature your favourite Hanna-Barbera characters (and, as if that weren’t good enough, Scooby-Doo “himself”) for personalisation, customisation even, onto T-shirts, sweaters, stationery, knick-knacks, &c., should have a few designs which are available for use on postage stamps as are equally customisable. (For the moment, though, stamps will be available at current rates, as explained above. And what’s more, you’ll be interested in knowing where I get a cut on your purchases from these shops when these links are clicked on.)
usps is raising their rates by another 10% starting Jan. 17th. As if it’s not already ridiculously expensive and increasingly slow. It’s already gotten to be near impossible to sell stuff online because of shipping rates. Ugh. Pretty soon it will be cheaper to buy everything from overseas.
