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Q: When will the USPS Rate Change take effect?
A: The Postal Service will implement a price increase for Mailing Services on Sunday, January 22, 2012. The annual price changes for Shipping Services that normally occur in the first week of January will also take effect on January 22, 2012.
Q: Why should I update my postal rates?
A: If you rely on a Neopost scale or mailing machine to weigh and rate your mail, you must update the rate software so that the equipment will automatically calculate the correct postage when metering mail on or after Sunday, January 22, 2012. Your Neopost mailing equipment works best and saves you money when rate tables are kept up-to-date. Correct, accurate rating eliminates the needless overpayment of postage and the return of mail with short-paid postage.
Q: Which Postal Service prices will change on January 22, 2012?
A: The Postal Service will implement price changes for all of its Mailing and Shipping Services on Sunday, January 22, 2012. Price changes affect the full range of Postal products:
| Mailing Products |
Shipping Products |
| First-Class Mail Letters, Postcards, Flats and Parcels |
Priority Mail |
| First-Class Mail Presort Letters |
Priority Mail International |
| First-Class International Mail |
Express Mail |
| Standard Mail |
Global Express Guaranteed |
| Package Services |
Express Mail International |
| Package Services |
Parcel Select |
| Extra Services |
|
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Q: Will the single-piece price to mail a First-Class domestic one-ounce letter change in January 2012?
A: Yes. This increase will impact nearly every one of our mailing machine and postage meter customers. The price to mail a one-ounce letter within the United States at the single-piece First-Class Mail rate will increase by 1¢ to 45¢. The current 44¢ first-ounce letter rate had been unchanged since May, 2009. The single-piece additional ounce letter rate, which increased by 3¢ to 20¢ in April 2011, will not change.
Q: Will prices for Priority Mail and Express Mail increase in January 2012?
A: Yes, overall USPS price increases average 4.6% for Shipping Services. Priority Mail prices increase by an average 3.1% and Express Mail prices increase by an average 3.3%. The current structure for zoned Retail and Commercial Base will remain unchanged.
Q: What changes are planned for First-Class Mail parcels?
A: First-Class Mail commercial parcels are now called First-Class Package Service and re-categorized as a USPS Shipping Service. First-Class Mail retail parcels remain in Mailing Services.
Q: Will a single rate update include the price changes for both Mailing Services and Shipping Services (Priority Mail and Express Mail) that take effect on January 22, 2012?
A: Yes. Rate updates will include both Mailing and Shipping Services rates that take effect on January 22, 2012. Updates will also include the most current Zip Code and Postal Zone changes.
Q: What other common retail rates and fees will increase in January 2012?
A: The single-piece postcard rate, which already increased by 1¢ to 29¢ in April 2011, will increase by an additional 3¢ to 32¢ in January 2012. The price to mail letters internationally will increase by 5¢ to 85¢ for letters sent to Canada and Mexico, and by 7¢ to $1.05 to other international destinations.
Q: How significant are the increases for Business mailers?
A: Larger-volume business mailrooms were subject to price increases throughout the Postal product range. Increases impact letters, flats, parcels, periodicals, Package Services, Media Mail and periodicals.
| Summary of Percentage Changes by Product Category |
Product |
% Change |
First-Class Mail |
2.133 |
Standard Mail |
2.124 |
Package Services |
2.133 |
Q: How are prices changing for First-Class Mail presort letters?
A: Presorted and automation letters up to 2 ounces will be charged the 1-ounce price. Additional ounce prices for letters weighing more than two ounces will remain unchanged.
Q: I am covered by a Rate Change Protection (RCP) contract. When will I receive my January 2012 rate update?
A: Your rate update will be shipped to arrive prior to the January 22, 2012 effective date.
Q: My mailing machine is covered by Online Rate Protection. How and when should I expect to download the new rates into my mailing machine?
A: Rates will be available for download into your IS-Series or online-enabled IJ-Series mailing machine in mid-December. There is no need to schedule a visit by a service technician. Simply connect your mailing machine and download the rates by going to the ONLINE SERVICES menu on your mailing machine and placing a GENERIC CALL to our server. The download will take no more than three minutes. After download, the mailing machine will automatically switch to the new rates at 12:01 A.M. on Sunday, January 22, 2012 – the day the new rates take effect.
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Q: What is Rate Change Protection (RCP)?
A: An annual Rate Change Protection (RCP) contract covers the cost of purchasing an individual update each time the Postal Service implements a price increase. The cost of the annual contract is substantially lower than the cost of buying updates for your equipment separately and coverage ensures automatic shipment and on-time delivery of the new rates.
Q: I am having difficulty installing or downloading my rate update.
A: Your update will be accompanied by installation instructions. You may obtain more detailed instructions for updating the rates in your equipment by clicking here. You may also contact our Technical Services team for assistance at 1-800-NEOPOST (636-7678). Technical Services representatives are available Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. (Central Time).
Q: To what address should I return my out-of-date rate update?
A: You can do your part for the environment. Please recycle your rate updates wherever possible. A pre-paid, self-addressed envelope is included with your shipped update. If your return envelope is missing, please send your obsolete rate update to:
Neopost USA Inc. Rate Return
P.O. Box 1183
4650 Hickory Hill Rd.
Memphis , TN 38141-6815
Q: I need to send a Purchase Order for my update. What do I do?
A: If our records indicate your company needs to issue a purchase order before accepting products or services, you will automatically receive a letter from us. The letter will ask you to mail us your purchase order so that we can process and ship your order for a rate update. If you fail to receive your letter, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-NEOPOST (636-7678). Representatives are available Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. (Central Time).
Q: What is Shape-Based Pricing?
A: The Postal Service introduced a shape-based classification system for First-Class Mail and packages in 2007 to align prices with its costs of processing mail, particularly mail and packages that require manual sorting and handling. Postage is determined by whether the mail piece conforms to shape and content guidelines in addition to weight. Cards, letters, flats and packages that fail to conform to the minimum or maximum dimensional classifications are subject to increased rates and additional surcharges.
| |
Postcards |
Letters |
Large Flat Envelopes |
Min length |
5" |
5" |
11 1/2" |
Max length |
6" |
11 1/2" |
15" |
Min height |
3 1/2" |
3 1/2" |
6 1/8" |
Max height |
4 1/4" |
6 1/8" |
12" |
Min thickness |
0.007" |
0.007" |
0.007" |
Max thickness |
0.016" |
1/4" |
3/4" |
Max weight |
|
3.5 ounces |
13 ounces |
- A postcard that exceeds any of the dimensions above will be classified as a letter.
- A letter that exceeds any of the letter dimensions above will be classified and priced as a large envelope (flat).
- A large, flat envelope that exceeds any of the dimensions above will be classified and priced as a package.
- First-Class Mail letter-size pieces over 3.5 ounces pay flat-size prices.
- Any piece that exceeds 13 ounces in weight is classified and priced as Priority Mail.
- If a letter-sized piece has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1.3 or more than 2.5, If the contents of a flat-sized mail piece causes variations in thickness of more than 1/4 inch (e.g. loose items), if a piece is too small or too rigid, or if items have irregular shapes (square envelopes or tubes), a piece may be subject to a non-machinable surcharge or additional postage.
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The following terms are protected trademarks of the United States Postal Service: USPS®, United States Postal Service®, Postal Service™, First-Class Mail®, First-Class Mail International™, Standard Mail®, Parcel Post®, Certified Mail™, Delivery Confirmation™, Signature Confirmation™, Priority Mail® and Express Mail® United Parcel Service® and UPS® are protected trademarks of the United Parcel Services of America, Inc. FedEx® is a protected trademark of the FedEx Corporation. |