Priority Mail rates have gone up
I appreciate this information - thank you Myst!! That's a pretty big jump!! I also note that they do not offer a better internet purchase price! wow!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2016 12:05AM by Chix.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2016 12:05AM by Chix.
Thanks, checking my cost right now as I have one tomorrow. I did one on Saturday and rates were the same. I would have been shocked.
Hmm. I wonder if the reimbursement will be adjusted.
I have three shops in the next two days, which will be the last ones I sign up for unless the reimbursement is adjusted.
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
I just completed my two approved shipper' HAZMAT shops. Both were interesting. The first was at a big box office supply store, where, the clerk accepted my box of rocks (rattling, because I didn't put enough packing peanuts in) even though I told him I was mailing it for my mom and had no idea what was inside. His interpretation of the question was "Nothing poisonous, dangerous, or going to explode?" He charged me $5.95. The second was at a brown uniform USPS competitor store, where they tried to tell me my 1.35 lb package would be shipped at the 2-lb rate, with an out of area delivery fee because it was going to a rural area, and a store surcharge. My $5.95 package would have cost $11.62. Thank goodness they didn't accept it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2016 06:10PM by KathyG.
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2016 06:10PM by KathyG.
KathyG - just so I understand. You were sent to a competitor shop that does not offer USPS shipping at all? I have been sent to some which try to steer me towards Big Brown, but as per the instructions, I insist on USPS Priority.
I did 3 HazMats today. The first was at the smaller office supply chain and they accepted the package and charged me the old rate of $9.00 for Zone 5. The second was at the big office supply chain, and they accepted the package (different scenario) at the new rate of $9.45 And finally, a genuine USPS location which rejected a shipment with the second scenario.
Tally to date since 11/19 for the current MSC:
Total Attempts to ship: 20
Accepted by USPS: 3 out of 10
Accepted by competitors: 4 out of 10
A statistical tie.
I did 3 HazMats today. The first was at the smaller office supply chain and they accepted the package and charged me the old rate of $9.00 for Zone 5. The second was at the big office supply chain, and they accepted the package (different scenario) at the new rate of $9.45 And finally, a genuine USPS location which rejected a shipment with the second scenario.
Tally to date since 11/19 for the current MSC:
Total Attempts to ship: 20
Accepted by USPS: 3 out of 10
Accepted by competitors: 4 out of 10
A statistical tie.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I've got a big brown location I'm doing tomorrow but will definitely follow the instructions and call to verify I can ship via USPS at the site, if I can find the phone # online . My shops so far have not gone well. None have asked the hazmat question.They all require I type my and the recipient's info into their computer, then they ask what I'm shipping and they type that in. The store apparently keeps my personal info for convenience next time I ship through them. On top of that 2 out of 4 of my shops today were out of business.
The Big Office Supply store stores my information. They seem to access it by my last name. I noticed today that their information sheet new says that they can request a photo ID for USPS as well as for UPS. I am always asked for a photo ID when I ship via UPS from any location and have been for a few years (that was itself a mystery shop at one point). The smaller office supply store seems to lack the look-up feature, so they make me type my address and the ship-to address each time. The question on the form about whether they had you use the CDU makes no sense at all if you are doing a competitor location.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
No, the shop DID offer USPS services, but they tried to add a huge surcharge over what the post office would change.
@myst4au wrote:
KathyG - just so I understand. You were sent to a competitor shop that does not offer USPS shipping at all? I have been sent to some which try to steer me towards Big Brown, but as per the instructions, I insist on USPS..
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
The official rate went from $9.00 to $9.45 on Sunday. The USPS has updated the software in the post offices and the online rate calculator has been updated. The Big Office Products store updated its software as of Sunday (I got charged $9.45 on Sunday). The smaller Office Products software still charged me the old rate today (Tuesday).
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
They big Office Product (there are two brands of them in my town...this was the one whose name is similar to a building and supply store) store charged me the old rate today, the 19th. I was glad as I ship to zone 7 which would have been $1.25 or so out of pocket. Instead it was the same 55 cents.
Could anyone PM me the companies that are now offering USPS? I used to do them with the previous MSC and do not see them offered anymore. Thank you.
No we cannot. But thanks for playing.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
What, you can't name a company in a private message?
Seriously? You've been here six months. First it's a forum rule and includes PMs. Second we all sign contracts which usually include a confidentiality clause. Why would someone risk violating a contract?
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I was charged 13.50 today for priority to zone 5, ugh.
Ouch! I mailed three yesterday and thought my 11.35 for zone 7 was high. All packages were under two pounds.
I found the new company by googling a search for it. A couple of weeks later the scheduler emailed me.
It got better, I was quoted over $17. for 1lb 2oz priority to zone 5. I aborted the shop and am waiting to hear what they want me to do. Did anyone else encounter? similar problems?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/2016 11:49PM by wwin.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/2016 11:49PM by wwin.
@wwin wrote:
It got better, I was quoted over $17. for 1lb 2oz priority to zone 5. I aborted the shop and am waiting to hear what they want me to do. Did anyone else encounter? similar problems?
I remember reading somewhere (in the guidelines??) that the independent stores that offer uspo shipping can add a surcharge if they want. I have done 2 so far and both charged me the post office rate but perhaps some of the smaller ma and pa places add a surcharge. Not all of the locations in my area for the Hazmat shops were for a chain store I have heard of before. You've got to hope they ask the Hazmat questions and refuse your package if you get to one wanting $17.
@sandyf wrote:
You've got to hope they ask the Hazmat questions and refuse your package if you get to one wanting $17.
Has anyone actually been asked the hazmat questions on these shops?
Just for giggles follow the tracking on your next shop. You would be surprised ( or not) of the stupid waste of miles it goes back and forth before it hits its destination.
I wasn't asked at all what was inside of my package and therefore none of the hazmat questions were asked. I was soo caught off guard by that. It actually made me wonder if maybe I was supposed to mention that it was hazardous. But I re-read the guidelines and for my particular shop I am only to answer IF they ask me whats in the box.
I have done two at non post office places. One asked the Hazmat Q and one did not. They both accepted my package even tho I said I had no idea what was inside. I have done 4 at regular post offices and all of them asked the question. One of them turned my package over and over and gently shook it and then decided to take it anyway as it seemed safe when I said I did not know what was in it. The other three refused to take my package. I had a battery in one and perfume in the other. The third I dont remember.
Another poster above gave his/her statistics too.
Another poster above gave his/her statistics too.
Wow, very different results. I think I've done 6 of these at non-USPS? locations and none have asked the hazmat question.
I did a brown one this week and they did not ask the hazmat question, or what was in the box. It was 1.6lbs to zone 7, for $19. Ouch!! It was actually a box I wanted to send to my sister, and I'm ok with paying the extra $1 or so at the post office for the regular box shops. I was not happy to pay an extra $9 
I am not sure what you are describing. A 1.6 pound package (not over-sized) shipped to Zone 8 using USPS would cost $12.40. I just checked the new rates. Are you saying that you were sent to a competitor and you shipped a package by UPS rather than USPS and the cost was $19? If so, you did not follow the instructions. you are required to ship by USPS Priority Mail no matter what they recommend. (And remember that if they did ask the HazMat questions and offered to ship by USPS Standard Mail (which keeps the package on the ground), you are not allowed to accept and are supposed to take the package back and buys stamps in order to get a POV. If you did ship by UPS, then the shop is most likely to be rejected.
@schristine wrote:
I did a brown one this week and they did not ask the hazmat question, or what was in the box. It was 1.6lbs to zone 7, for $19. Ouch!! It was actually a box I wanted to send to my sister, and I'm ok with paying the extra $1 or so at the post office for the regular box shops. I was not happy to pay an extra $9
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
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