Responding to Customer Questions
Please explain why postage prices increase.
The cost of doing business — things like fuel, transportation, utilities, labor, and health care benefits — has continued to increase. In addition, we are adding 1.6 million new delivery addresses each year. You might be surprised to know that Postal Service™ operations are not subsidized by tax dollars. We rely on the sale of postal products and services to cover our operating costs.
Tell me about the new prices.
First-Class Mail® rate changes are designed to encourage more-efficient mail preparation. Customers can save postage by reconfiguring material intended for large envelopes into letter-size envelopes, and packages into large envelopes.
The single-piece First-Class Mail 1-ounce letter price is going up 2 cents to 41 cents.
The single-piece First-Class Mail letter price for each additional ounce decreases 7 cents to 17 cents.
The First-Class Mail postcard rate is going up 2 cents to 26 cents.
The major change to Priority Mail® is the addition of dimensional-weight pricing used to account for transportation costs, which are based on how much space an item occupies in air transportation. Dimensional-weight pricing applies only to Priority Mail items larger than 1 cubic foot capacity and traveling to destinations in Zones 5–8.
The current “balloon” (minimum) rate will remain for local and Zones 1–4, but no longer applies to Zones 5–8. The minimum price for balloon-rate items will be the appropriate 20-pound price.
The price for Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelopes continues to be the same as the 1-pound price, $4.60.
The price for Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes will be $9.15.
The price for the Express Mail® Flat-Rate Envelope continues to be the same as the 1/2-pound price. There will be a new 1-pound price of $19.50. The Post Office to Addressee price is $16.25.
When will the new prices take effect?
The price increases will go into effect Monday, May 14.
Can I purchase new stamps early and avoid long lines at the Post Office?
New 41-cent First-Class Mail stamps will be available starting May 14. You can now purchase 1-cent and 2-cent stamps to add to 39-cent stamps to make up the new 41–cent First-Class Mail 1-ounce letter rate.
The Postal Service is issuing two nondenominated stamps, the Forever Stamp™ and the American Flag stamp, to reduce the inconvenience of consumers having to acquire new-price postage or “make-up” stamps (1-cent and 2-cent stamps) prior to the implementation of new prices. The Forever Stamp will initially be sold at the new First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter rate, 41 cents, but its “value” will always be the First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter rate that is in effect on the day of use (mailing), unaffected by any future price changes.
Additional postage will need to be affixed to letters weighing in excess of 1 ounce, letters subject to the nonmachinable surcharge, or mailpieces subject to another postage price (e.g., large envelopes or packages).
The Forever Stamp will be available April 12 in booklets of 20 for $8.20. It will also be available beginning May 14 from our Automated Postal Centers® (APCs®) and at select automated teller machines (ATMs) in sheetlets of 18 for $7.38.
Customers still need to prepare for the May 14 change, just as they have for previous price adjustments.
Buy stamps as early as possible. There are many convenient options to purchase stamps — at www.usps.com, by phone at 1-800-STAMP24, by mail, and at Post Offices through retail lobby vending equipment.
Can the Forever Stamp be used on international mail?
Any nondenominated stamps (except those that bear unique markings, such as First-Class Presort, Nonprofit Organization) may be affixed to items that are sent to foreign countries. The postage value of such stamps is linked to its appropriate domestic rate (e.g., the Lady Liberty and U.S. Flag stamp has a postage value of 39 cents). The postage value of the Forever Stamp is always the domestic First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter rate that is in effect on the day of use (mailing). Since the international postage rates are always higher than the comparable domestic rates, additional postage would have to be affixed.
Can I exchange my 39-cent postage stamps for new 41–cent stamps?
No. Unless mistakes were made when originally purchased, or stamps were defective when purchased, adhesive stamps are not exchangeable or refundable. You can use 1–cent and 2-cent stamps to make up the difference.
Will the fees for Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) change?
The enrollment (application) fee will remain $10, but the weekly shipment fee will increase to $11.95 each week. The new weekly fee applies only to customers initially enrolling (or extending) and paying on or after Monday, May 14.
What are the changes for Extra Services?
There are several changes to Extra Services, including:
- Post Office™ box fees will be realigned to better reflect the costs the Postal Service incurs for each individual location. As a result, prices at some locations will increase, while prices at other locations will decrease. Caller Service fees will also be realigned into the same fee groups as Post Office boxes. Instead of one set price, Caller Service fees will range from $370 to $630 depending on the assigned fee group.
- The new Post Office box and Caller Service fees will apply to new rentals and renewals. Current Post Office box holders (and customers paying Caller Service fees) do not begin paying the new fees until they renew. Post Office box and Caller Service fees may be paid for up to two semi-annual periods at a time (i.e., up to one year in advance).
- Key duplication and replacement fees will increase to $6. Key deposit (refundable fee) remains $1 per key. Lock change fees will increase to $14.
- All insured items will have a barcode. Insurance $200 and under (insurance without a signature) will use PS Form 3813, Insured Mail Receipt, and will receive a scan at delivery. Insurance over $200 (insurance with a signature) will use PS Form 3813-P, Insured Mail Receipt, and will receive a signature in addition to a scan at delivery. Customers will still need to purchase Delivery Confirmation™ or Signature Confirmation™ service to access delivery status information on their insured items on www.usps.com. Fees for insurance coverage have changed as follows:
- Customers who purchase domestic insurance online through Click-N-Ship® service or eBay will now be able to initiate claims online at www.usps.com.
- The fee for Return Receipt Electronic option has decreased to 85 cents.
Will international mail services change?
Yes. The entire international product line will be streamlined to more closely align our international products with their domestic counterparts. Effective with the domestic changes Monday, May 14, the eight current international products will be merged into four by combining products with overlapping service standards and prices.
Some of the highlights of this realignment include:
Product enhancements of this realignment include the use of domestic packaging supplies, the popular flat-rate envelope option in Express Mail International, the addition of flat-rate box options and flat-rate envelope options to Priority Mail International. Also, we will offer more-specific delivery time and tracking information to major destinations.
In general terms, the prices for international products will increase an average of 13 percent.
For additional information about the pricing changes, please visit www.usps.com/ratecase.
