Just being aware, that if you are sending stamps for plants, you may want to do it soon, so that the trader has a chance to get the plants dug and in the mail before the rates go up. This will be especially important for people who are trading across several zones.
Postage change soon-reminder
Maybe we need to get our own mail service up and running if the prices keep going up and the service down.
I want to know when it will go up?
July 1, 2002....midnight!! Start thinking UPS and FedX. These guys are pricing themselves right out of existance!!
"eyes"
Thank you "EYES"
Eyes... i do not know if u are aware: UPS is on strike in our area. i do not know if it is nation wide though.
MaVie, do you have a MailBox, anywhere near you. It's a custom mailing business also.
"eyes"
yes, Eyes, there is one in the shopping center not too far from where i live. it is right next to the grocery store. i didn't know they do custom mailing too. are their prices reasonable. maybe i should walk in and inquire one of these days. thanks :)!
:o)
We have a post net in out area and they charge more for stamps then the post office they buy them from. They mostly use the postal service, fed ex and ups to ship just like we do. Charge a little extra for the convience.
I asked the lady at my PO about this Zone thing - she said she knew nothing about that. You can call 1-800-275-8777 or go to http://www.usps.com for info.
I just went to the link above - there will still be a flat rate for up to 5 lbs. ($3.85 up to 1 lb). Then they will be using a zone structure above 5 lbs.
This message was edited Thursday, Jun 20th 12:36 AM
my postmaster said they have always used zones just like now, but the increase is what has everyone up in arms. she said it's likely to hurt us. (of course, she thinks a 10 cent raise will hurt me:)
i doubt very much if the price increase of postage will make a difference in trading plants LOL! gardeners are addicted to plants and planting. always craving or wanting something new to add to individual gardens. i don't think the increase in postage will make a difference at all.
MaVie,UPS is going on stike(nation wide) August 1st,Not now.If they settle the contract we won't be going out at all,but there is no way they are on strike now.There are ralleys and stuff, but no strike
I thought UPS just went through a strike, couple years back. Hurt their business then, Fed Ex. got more.
CC: I have both fuschias rooted, waiting on hardy hibiscus to get rooted,(3)different kinds.
Azalea, it is not a flat rate up to 5 pounds. It starts changing at 2 pounds. Any 2 pound box sent via priority mail will cost anywhere from $3.95 to $5.75.
Here's how it works:
Everyone else's zone in the country is determined by your own zip code. Let's say I live in California and I have a friend who lives in Iowa, but we are each mailing a package of equivalent weight to a specific address in New York City. The zone for that New York City address will be different for my friend than it is for me.
So, to find out what the zones are for everyone else in the country, you will need your "zone chart". This depends on the first three digits of the zip code you are mailing from. Look it up here: Postal Zone Charts: http://postcalc.usps.gov/Zonecharts/
Once you know the zone you are mailing to. You can look up the cost by going to the "Ratefold Chart" http://www.usps.com/ratecase/_pdf/notice123.pdf.
You will need the "Adobe Acrobat Reader" software http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html (it's free) to read it. For the "Priority Mail Rate Chart", look on page 6 of the Ratefold Chart (the bottom, left hand corner of the window will tell you what page you're on).
You can call the Unites States Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777. Ask for the Priority Mail department and have them mail you a zone chart for your zone and rate chart.
:)
Better yet, ask for the "Zone Chart Department" at the USPS National Customer Support Center at 1-800-238-3150. Ask them to send you both a "Zone Chart" and a "Rate Chart" and they will be happy to do so.
You just need to know the zip code of where your outgoing mail is leaving which for most of us is the same as our home zip code.
Toooo complicated!!
To compare Priority Mail Rates to Parcel Post Rates, Look up Parcel Post Rates here: http://www.usps.com/ratecase/html_rates/R700.htm#Xaa82834