[admin]

This article was taken from ECommerce-Guide and was originally written by Michelle Megna. This discount can be applied to a bulk shipment, but will not apply to shipping rates that pull up on a Volusion store, as these will not factor in bulk.For the first time ever, the U.S. Postal Service is offering discounts [...]

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[Lightning2000]

Hi,
Frankly, they lost most of our business over the past year. We used them almost exclusively up until their massive price increase last May. At that time, they thought they could just charge whatever they liked and they wouldnt lose any business. They were wrong. If they're offering bulk discounts now, they must be hurting big time and it serves them right for charging the outrageous rates they listed plus their insidious "balloon charges" for larger, oversized packages.

Now, we're shipping mainly with UPS and very happy with them. Of course, we still use USPS for international shipping since UPS still cant seem to compete for reasons that I dont understand.

Just this morning, the USPS clerk asked if I've given most of my business to UPS and I told her, quite emphatically, "yes." Charging $ .75 just to add tracking to a package is utterly ridiculous when their tracking system blows big time as compared with FedEx or UPS. We'll see if this new initiative to get back business works -- I have my doubts.

Here's the link to the article on e-commerce guide:

http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/news/article.php/3739066

[condor]

Wondering if they (USPS) will give free insurance up to $99 value (like Fed Ex) on Priority or International shipping?

[Max Mastiff]

We use stamps.com, will we get any discounts?

[vintagerv]

Very interesting. We use Endicia, so it sounds like we're all set.

By the way, I think the lack of competitiveness by USPS has more to do with their public mission than internal competency. The USPS is designed as a quasi-governmental agency to offer universal service within the US. It's why you can mail a letter anywhere in the country (including Hawaii) for the low, low rate of 42 cents. Its mission is not to be competitive, but to serve Americans as equally as it can. In exchange for universal service (whereas the private carriers can cherry pick) with some products, sometimes they can't be as competitive. I'm much more concerned with the relatively poor quality of USPS service than the price.

[ansky0007]

Big deal... Bulk Rates... They are offering it because they are also raising the rates at the same time. You will still end up paying more than you are now. USPS will never offer free insurance... They loose too many packages.