When you use shipping software, you’ll get access to the deepest level of discounts USPS offers, known as Commercial Pricing. Instead, you’ll always capture the deepest discounts when you use shipping software to buy postage online. Here’s the kicker about First-Class Package Service: while it’s the cheapest shipping service that USPS offers, you’ll never get the best rates when you go to the Post Office. It only costs a buck or so depending on how much value you declare, and it’s worth it in case anything happens to your box or envelope during transit! You’ll Get the Cheapest First-Class Package Rates with Online Shipping Software So, you should always plan to add a little bit of extra insurance for these types of shipments. You should also note that FCP doesn’t come with built in insurance, like Priority Mail services do. There’s no USPS-branded packaging allowed for this service, since USPS only provides packaging for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express! That means you’ll need to use either generic or custom packaging for your boxes or envelopes. When you ship FCP, you have to use your own packaging. The lighter your parcel is, and the shorter the distance to the final delivery point, the cheaper it’ll be. Rates depend on how much your package weighs, and how far it needs to travel to get to the final destination. Simply put, this is the go-to USPS service for sending out lightweight items under 16 ounces (the maximum weight is 13 ounces when you go the Post Office…which you should never do, but more on that later). First-Class Package Service is the Best Way to Ship Lightweight Items Under 16 Ouncesīefore we divulge trade secrets, we’d like to get you more acquainted with First Class Package, or “FCP” for short. Read on for the secret to getting the cheapest First Class Package rates out there…and how to get them for free. That’s why saving the most money every time you ship is absolutely critical. The thing is, the more you ship, the more your costs add up. First-Class Package is one of the US Postal Service’s most popular shipping services, with tens of millions of these shipments sent and delivered every day. The Postal Service’s news release and a fact sheet on the proposed changes to service standards have additional information.If you’re a new shipper, you’ve probably heard the term First-Class Package Service being thrown around more than once. Service standards are not the same as the percentage targets or the actual measured service performance. Service standards are delivery benchmarks for how long customers can expect the Postal Service to deliver different types of mail from origin to destination - point A to point B. Given the continued high demand on the overall air network, the Postal Service is retaining the extra day for Priority Mail transported by air until the reliability of the organization’s key providers improves.Īs part of implementing the new service standards for First-Class Package Service, USPS is removing the extra day that has applied to that service. The extra day was temporarily put in place in April 2020 to account for ongoing global supply chain, transportation and employee availability challenges throughout the organization’s network posed by the coronavirus pandemic. USPS previously received an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) regarding these service standard changes.Īdditionally, the Postal Service is removing an extra day for Priority Mail transported via ground. “By implementing the elements of our 10-year plan, we will deliver the consistent, reliable service that the American people and our customers expect and deserve and grow package volume, spurring revenue growth that can be invested back into the Postal Service.” This action will contribute to our cost savings efforts and improve our reliability across all product classes, including our growing package market,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “Modifying select service standards is a key growth element and enabler of our 10-year plan. Modifying these service standards will allow for additional transport time for long-distance package deliveries, increased network efficiencies and improved use of surface transportation, which is more reliable and affordable than air transportation. This initiative is part of Delivering for America, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan to achieve financial sustainability and service excellence. USPS is taking additional actions to improve its service reliability by implementing changes to service standards for First-Class Package Service, effective May 1. Modifying First-Class Package Service standards will allow for additional transport time for long-distance package deliveries.
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