[meteorite-list] OT: USPS price increase: international = crazy increase!

From: Mike Jensen <meteoriteplaya_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 09:01:55 -0700
Message-ID: <CAMLW5jBqFp3BCH8_m-0n+8oS=JRxWjXQyj1C+syhY_xTQ12SxQ_at_mail.gmail.com>

I just got hammered with the price increases this morning. I shipped a
medium flat rate box. On Saturday it would have cost $47.95 (the rate
I charged my customer, actually that Ebay charged them) for $45 worth
of merchandise. Today cost $59.95. So I ate the $12 additional cost.
My 5 oz box to Germany on Saturday would have cost ~$5 today $12.75!
So be prepared when you go to the USPS for some significant price
increases especially for international.
Mike Jensen

On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 8:12 AM, Galactic Stone & Ironworks
<meteoritemike at gmail.com> wrote:
> My local clerk gave me a heads-up about this hike last week. It still
> sucks though. Gripe +1.
>
> This is just another cost that dealers will have to pass along to collectors.
>
> A while back, I stopped using boxes to ship Riker displays. Now I
> wrap them up in a double-layer of padding and put them into a
> bubble-mailer. This saves several ounces on weight and a few dollars
> on postage. There is a higher risk of breakage now, but thankfully
> none have been broken so far. I'll replace the occasional damaged one
> when the situation arises, so it's worth it to keep the overall costs
> down a bit.
>
> The international increase is the worst part. I ship a lot of First
> Class International packages to places like Canada and the UK. Some
> of these could be shipped for $4 or less. Heck, a small bubble mailer
> to Canada often cost under $3 and was cheaper than sending the same
> package to Hawaii or Alaska. I guess that has changed now. It's bad
> enough the customs short form now requires 10 minutes of standing in
> line for each package, and now this.
>
> Like Adam said - I recall the early days of Flat Rate shipping (not
> that long ago actually), and while the cost has gone up, the amount or
> quality of service paid for has not. It's the same as most consumer
> goods or services over the last decade - less for more.
>
> Best regards,
>
> MikeG
>
> --
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>
> On 1/28/13, Adam Hupe <raremeteorites at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> This is typical of USPS and Government in general. Give absolutely no
>> warning of impending price or tax increases and make decisions at the last
>> possible second. There are going to be a lot of shocked taxpayers once they
>> realize all of the hidden tax increases in the Affordable Health Care Act.
>> As far as shipping goes, USPS is famous for surprise increases. I remember
>> 8 years ago when a small flat rate Priority Mail box cost only $2.80. It is
>> now exactly double at $5.60.
>>
>> How many people's salaries have doubled in the last 8 years? The government
>> should learn to manage our money better instead of spending it like a
>> drunken gambler. At least the gambler is spending his own money. Most of
>> us are forced to live within our means!
>>
>> I can hear the complaining now from eBay buyers about the new shipping price
>> hike. We go through this once or twice a year.
>>
>> Happy Shipping,
>>
>> Adam
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Yinan Wang <veomega at gmail.com>
>> To: METEORITE LIST <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>> Cc:
>> Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 12:15 AM
>> Subject: [meteorite-list] OT: USPS price increase: international = crazy
>> increase!
>>
>> Hi List,
>>
>> This is more of a "OMG, did you see the prices" message, although it
>> is a subject that affects both meteorite sellers and buyers.
>>
>> For those not aware, the USPS raised it's prices on Sunday, while
>> domestically it didn't change by much, internationally it's an insane
>> price increase:
>>
>> https://www.usps.com/business/prices.htm
>>
>> So small flat rate priority international went from $16.95 to $23.95
>> (a 40% increase!). To Canada small flat rate went from $12.95 to
>> $19.95 (over 50%!).
>>
>> Even first class international starting price is now $6.55 and for
>> some places seem to have gone up 125%!
>>
>> Unfortunately, there's not much anyone can do, alternatives are few
>> and still fairly costly. Although, anyone with affordable shipping
>> suggestions, feel free to chime in.
>>
>> -Yinan Wang
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-- 
Mike
--
Mike Jensen Meteorites
16730 E Ada PL
Aurora, CO 80017-3137
USA
303-337-4361
IMCA 4264
website: www.jensenmeteorites.com

Received on Mon 28 Jan 2013 11:01:55 AM PST