USPS reimbursement
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Great observation.
The post office has the holiday rate increase in effect, but the reimbursement is below what it should be when using the post office average rate increase as a guide.
The post office has the holiday rate increase in effect, but the reimbursement is below what it should be when using the post office average rate increase as a guide.
Reimbursements always seem to have two amounts $14.00 and an 'up to $xxx amount'. This is especially true at UPS stores where there are add on charges for being UPS.
They haven't raised their pay in some time. The reimbursement used to be adjusted through the yearly contract. Hasn't changed for a couple of years at least. I am out of pocket $2-$3 if I mail to two of my relatives.
I did a reg box, to CA today. It would have gone over reimbursement. But the clerk decided to save me money. I tried to stop her, told her that I really just wanted to send the box. But she said that doing it her way will save me $4. And probably cost me the shop. But I couldn't make her stop short of taking my box back. And I have no intentions of driving an hour one way for only one shop.
I'm guessing you could send to a closer zone and get under the reimbursement -- I send packages close to 2 lbs from TX to NJ regularlty and they come in at 13.65. But if you don't have anyone to send things to closer than the last time, this job may not be worth it to you.
OTOH, if you want/need to send stuff anyway to your usual place, it could be worth it to get $14 of your $15 and change reimbursed plus the actual fee payment.
OTOH, if you want/need to send stuff anyway to your usual place, it could be worth it to get $14 of your $15 and change reimbursed plus the actual fee payment.
That happened to me once when an overzealous clerk crammed my mailer into a flat rate mailer. I couldn't stop her without outing myself. But I was paid when I explained the situation.
Shopping domestic and international locations since 2003.
I'm not sure about the current company instructions, but the previous company always said it was okay if the clerk insisted on doing flat rate to save the customer money, since it would out you to insist on paying more.
@pambam wrote:
That happened to me once when an overzealous clerk crammed my mailer into a flat rate mailer. I couldn't stop her without outing myself. But I was paid when I explained the situation.
@pambam wrote:
That happened to me once when an overzealous clerk crammed my mailer into a flat rate mailer. I couldn't stop her without outing myself. But I was paid when I explained the situation.
This happened to me too, and I was paid. I made sure to note in the report that I felt the clerk was providing excellent service. That's what I would want them to do as a regular customer!
I send to zone 7 and 8. 8 has been over the $14 for years. 7 has been okay but with the xmas price I have to look again. So for now I just took a hazmat shop. I am hoping the clerk will suggest ground so I will save some money. The ground does not include insurance but hopefully it will get there and the number of days is now approx the same either way.
By the way the price has gone up 2 or 3 times this year alone. There are no reg box shops in my city now so I have to resort to hazmat shops. They really need to up the reimbursement .
By the way the price has gone up 2 or 3 times this year alone. There are no reg box shops in my city now so I have to resort to hazmat shops. They really need to up the reimbursement .
@Morledzep wrote:
But the clerk decided to save me money. I tried to stop her, told her that I really just wanted to send the box. But she said that doing it her way will save me $4. And probably cost me the shop. But I couldn't make her stop short of taking my box back.
When they insist on first class because it is cheaper and would arrive the same time as Priority, I tell them I want the insurance and tracking that automatically comes with Priority Mail. That usually works .
I believe Morledzep is talking about the clerk putting her package into a flat rate priority envelope which has happened to me a few times. The first time I had no choice, the clerk just went ahead and did it. The last time the clerk got the envelope out and told me I would save money but I was able to say I was mailing for someone else and wanted to mail it the way I was told to. So that clerk did it my way. I did get paid on the job with the flat rate envelope but we shoppers do not save $4 as the reimbursement is $4 less but the clerk did not know that. Bless them for trying to save us money.
@Susan L. wrote:
@Morledzep wrote:
But the clerk decided to save me money. I tried to stop her, told her that I really just wanted to send the box. But she said that doing it her way will save me $4. And probably cost me the shop. But I couldn't make her stop short of taking my box back.
When they insist on first class because it is cheaper and would arrive the same time as Priority, I tell them I want the insurance and tracking that automatically comes with Priority Mail. That usually works .
@Susan L. If the postal clerk insists on First Class over Priority, then doesn't this mean that the package doesn't weigh at least the 16 oz. as the shop requires? Apologies, if you are talking about Hazmat shops. I don't know the weight requirements. It was my understanding that anything over 13 ounces is automatically Priority Mail unless you are mailing books, CDs, and the like using Media Mail.
I live in SC and have a nephew in a rehab facility in California. I always send him something for Christmas, so if a PO shop can save me a few dollars, then that's OK with me. I know the fee from here to there via Priority will run somewhere around $18. So with the $12 fee and $14 reimbursement, I'm not kicking if my final net is only $8.....it's Christmas!!!!!
@heywave wrote:
@Susan L. If the postal clerk insists on First Class over Priority, then doesn't this mean that the package doesn't weigh at least the 16 oz. as the shop requires? Apologies, if you are talking about Hazmat shops. I don't know the weight requirements. It was my understanding that anything over 13 ounces is automatically Priority Mail unless you are mailing books, CDs, and the like using Media Mail.
It could be that the system will give first class rates even if over 16 oz. It has happened to me several times, and all of my packages tend to weigh 18-27 oz. Most of them contain cat foods for an animal shelter, and the containers have the weight stamped on them.
I mailed a box on November 25 from Texas to Missouri and was still charged $12.75. However, any holiday rate increases were probably not in effect yet. Twice this year I inadvertently went over 2 lbs. and the cost was $15.40. If it is something I wanted to mail anyway, the report is so quick I also don't mind the overage.
SusanL be careful to weigh your cans and packages. The one pound or 16 oz stamped on a can refers to the contents only. You need to weigh your packages as the can weighs extra ounces.
I've sent 9 packages this week with a big square of tile in the envelope with the gift to put it over a pound. Waiting to see how many people will ask. 
Shopping domestic and international locations since 2003.
But you would have to lie on the hazmat question since tiles are fragile.@pambam wrote:
I've sent 9 packages this week with a big square of tile in the envelope with the gift to put it over a pound. Waiting to see how many people will ask.
They wouldn't have to lie on the hazmat question - answer it truthfully as Yes.
For regular box, you cannot answer yes. For hazmat you answer yes but need to cite a specific content and the assignment scenarios don't include tile, which, depending on the type, isn't necessarily that fragile. I've used bags of free-range rocks for weight.
I have not seen a hazmat shop in ages. I never liked them anyway.
They have a round of them in my area that was released last week.
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