posted on November 27, 2001 12:36:19 PM new
Does anyone know when the next postal rate increase is supposed to take place?
I sell lots of media rate items and am always afraid they will start to limit this to books only. I sell records, 8 tracks etc. They usually take place around January but I thought I remembered something about this one not going into effect until next summer?
posted on November 27, 2001 12:43:35 PM new
The request was placed in September (ironically on September 11) and it takes about 10 months to get approval, so probably not earlier than August 2002, maybe a little later.
The probably part is that the rate increase was before the September 11 attacks, and the cost the postal service has incurred are unexpected and high. It is quite possible that they can request an even higher rate, and it is also possible (though unlikely) that a rate increase can be fast-tracked with approval by the board of governors.
The rate increase requested (again, pre September 11) is in my opinion, not going to be good for any sellers on Ebay. If approved, it changes the way priority mail is designated, bringing a zone charge down from the current 5 pounds to only 1 pound. This means that if you send a 17 ounce package from New York to California, it may cost about $6.50 to send instead of the current $3.95 - Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted on November 27, 2001 02:08:36 PM new
I just got done reading a news story about the postal service that says they are seeing there bigest drop in mail through USPS since the depression of the 20's shipping through the post office is down over 7% just since sept 11.
posted on November 27, 2001 02:27:14 PM new
You would think they could figure out the drop started way back with the increase last January. I stopped selling items that had to be shipped priority and I bet a lot of things stopped selling that had to be shipped that way.
What did they do when they faced that big drop -- they just raised rates again in July! Now they think the same thing will work again. It might, but with bill paying online, they just might price themselves straight out of business!
That is why I am worried about them starting in on media mail next.
