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I just got a shock! I went to send one of my cats to a customer in California (I'm on the East coast in Connecticut). The old cost I used to charge was a flat $14.00 Priority Mail. I raised my charge to $18.00 thinking that should cover the rise in USPS prices. When I went to send the cat I got a shock! The cost was $37.80! The cost is now double what it used to be 
THen I checked out the cost for Express/one day shipping. IT was $32.80! $5.00 LESS than Priority 3-4 day shipping!! Apparently for anyplace further than half way the length of the USA, it is cheaper to ship Express mail than to ship Priority mail! I will shortly be checking UPS prices 
Karen
Anyone else had this problem?
Wild Thyme OriginalsKaren... I deeply sympathize!!!! I had the same smack in the face "shockaroonie" a couple of weeks ago! From what I've gathered by reading on line as well as chatting with our local P.O. clerks..... there WAS a small rise in the postage costs, but the BIG change is that now if your package has certain measurements, it gets charged much more! I forget what all the specifics are, but you can read about it all here....
http://www.usps.com/prices/welcome.htm
Now... you can get the FREE Priority boxes, and if your bear can fit in one of those.... you can do the flat rate, which is often less than if you are using one of your own boxes.... just based upon the dimentions alone. It's not really even a bigger box/more postage thing.... It's just having odd dimentions.
I guess when we all use boxes that are uniform in size, then theoretically they can fit more into the truck or the hold of the air plane, etc.... So, it might be worth checking to see if one of the Flat Rate boxes would be suitable for your use.
Kim Basta
Back Road BearsPretty soon more and more private currier/shipping services are going to be popping up all over with competitive rates. Then we're going to have shipping fees like Canada has and it's all going to be rediculous. OK, perhaps I'm over reacting but I too was shocked at shipping charges when I went to the PO yesterday. It hurts us but I'm about ready to quit shopping the internet and go back to buying locally!
Yup...I had the same thing happen to me. Its the box size that gets ya now. USPS has switched to package size determining a portion of the price, not to mention weight. I mailed something that should have cost about $14, they tried to charge me $29, BUT when I came home and put it in a little smaller box, it ended up being $18....I dont quite know why USPS thinks this is good for business because people are going to start finding alternate ways to ship. Its a lose, lose situation iof you ask me.
Hugs,
Kim
Newcastle, OntarioI'm really sorry to see USPS go the same way as Canada Post and other countries. I guess they feel like they needed to have rates more in line with other countries. We've been dealing with the "dimension" thing for years. Just try shipping to South Korea or Japan using rates like that. My son has learned to expect smaller parcels and pick up his goodies when he comes home for a visit once a year!
hugs,
Brenda
Sunnie BearsI got the same shock early this week as well. I shipped off a custom order that should have cost $12 to ship... instead it cost over $25 to ship because it wouldn't fit in a standard flat rate box. If you make larger than about a 16 inch bear, look out! Then when shipping my ATC's for the swap, I found out that every single one that went to a foreign country was cheaper than the one I sent less than 100 miles away! go figure!
Little Bear GuyOk I'm just sitting here with a big ol grin on my face 
, I guess someone at USPS was talking with our Canada Post and decided they could make a whole lot more money doing the way Canada Post is doing it. We've been paying outrageous prices for shipping for yrs. NOw granted our mail carriers make really good money, I'm not saying they aren't worth it as it is hard work (don't want to start any disagreements here ).
big hugs
Shane
P.S. Daphne you are right people will start looking for alternatives to the post office, you'll all be amazed at how competitive UPS and FED X's prices will be with USPS now.
BUT, Shane!
It costs $5.00 less to ship One day Express than to Ship 3-5 Day Priority? When I went back to complain they handed me $5.00 and changed my box stickers to Express! What the heck are we doing down here??
Karen
P.S. Need a cat artist in Canada 
This is too crazy!!
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)there WAS a small rise in the postage costs, but the BIG change is that now if your package has certain measurements,
Does you PO have the counter mats with size charts drawn on them? That's for a quick check of sizes, though a lot more are being measured with a tape now in addition to just the weight scale. The counter clerks hate it.
And we've got to remember that its dot Com, not dot Gov. They are a legit business we can use or use another.
Karen, I thought you were going to Alaska... Just as hot in Toronto now and as cold as AK & CT in winter but AK's still the States.
How about the Yukon Territory.. Doesn't that have a nice ring?? I know some great bear-makers up/out there!
Interesting. I've not been making many bears lately so this hasn't happened to me yet. Good to know; Karen, thanks for the heads up and the rest of you for adding to the data on this.
For anyone reading this who doesn't have a clue what we're talking about, do visit the usps website -- www.usps.com -- for more information. I used to order FREE USPS Priority Mail boxes online from that site; they're delivered right to my door. Haven't had to reorder in a while but assume one can still do that. ??? If it helps, in terms to matching their dimensions, you can be sure I'll be using ONLY USPS boxes for USPS shipping from here on out!
Bobbie,
You pegged me right. I am moving, shortly. I'm heading for Seattle. But no need to be sarcastic, this is a crazy time for shipping in the US and I ship a lot! Again, why is it less expensive to ship Express Mail/One Day to California than Priority Mail 3-4 Days? I shouldn't have to move to the Yukon to get an answer 
Karen
P.S. Yes, I've contacted the USPS Headquarters.
Swan Valley BearsYes, Shelli, you can still have the priority mail boxes delivered to your home free. I just ordered and received a bunch.
Little Bear GuyKaren I feel your paing honestly I do sweetie, but I do like it when you get riled up . I know it makes so sense that it would cost 5.00 less someone is wacked in the head.
big hugs
Shane
FenBeary FolkWe have had a similar change in the Uk with our postal service and the charge is now decided on weight and size, it just makes it so difficult to work out the costs.
My first sold bear went to australia, I dutifully checked her weight and size prior to listing and estimated a $25 (£12.50)charge, (I would never want to charge over for the posting as it seems greedy and wrong), anyway when I got to the post office it came to about $34 (£16.70), I am not sure how to price future listings as I don't want potential customers to think I am over charging for post but at the end of the day I have to cover the costs??
Posts: 3,540It boggles the mind. I have yet to ship a teddy since this change was implemented ~ and I'm dreading it!
Just yesterday I went in to find the postage for a regular letter to a friend in Scotland. I'd assumed the postage had gone up for international letters, and wanted to be sure. The clerk was wanting me to fill out a customs form for a letter!!! I peered at the screen, and pointed out that it said 'this item might need a customs form ~ not that it absolutely needed one" With all this paperwork, how does anything go through??
It blows me away what they charge, I think Canada Post was bad, and it isn't fair that you guys now have to deal with the outrageous prices!!!
P.S. I'm Canadian Karen, do I count???
Hugs,
Krista
Oh! Krista,
You count more than you know 
Karen
BruinwerksI really am sorry, it must be quite the shock...I guess for us non-Americans, we've been dealing with this kind of system for years so its just the norm, ya know?
Sorry...just can't get over the free box thing though! 
Cheryl 
Posts: 3,540Yes, but the free box might not be helpful if you end up paying more for using it!! So now 'express' mail is cheaper than 'priority'?
