Postage Rates Going Up in January 2023

[houseofblair]

While at my local post office, I inquired jokingly if the price of stamps was going to go up anytime soon.  To my surprise, she answered yes.  She didn't have the complete details yet but the regular postage stamp is going from 60 cents to 63 cents.  Just thought I would pass this information along.  I'm sure parcel rates will also go up as well.

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

USPS has set up new postage rates in mid-January for several years.  

Parcel Select Ground rates will stay the same, but Media Mail, First Class package, and  Priority Mail rates will go up (at both retail and online levels).  The "Regional" boxes for Priority Mail will be discontinued.  

Here's a link to the new version of Notice 123, which will go into effect on January 22. It's still technically a draft, usually the official final approval comes in about a month before implementation but there are rarely any changes.

https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/January%202023%20Price%20Change%20-%20Notice123.pdf

Here's a link that goes to whatever is the current active version of Notice 123; it will change over automatically on January 22.  

http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/notice123.pdf

[tsme35]

Yep, twice a year now. Be another one around Oct next year or when ever post master general Dejoy gets a wild hair, the board of directors handed him a blank check to run down and destroy the post office.

[mtgraves7984]

"... I inquired jokingly..."

@houseofblair 

You gave me a little giggle. 😖

[tsme35]

Just check the new rates for Jan 22nd, zones 1-4 go up $.08-10 cents, zones 5-9 go down around that. Its because of the seasonal rate increase from last Oct. since they did it by zones. Sad news is I have had to increase 1st class shipping a $1 from Jan 1st this year to the new increase on the 22nd next year.

[b86fiero]

I have a large supply of Regional Rate boxes on hand.  Do you know if we will be able to use them until gone?  I also have some of the board game boxes that were discontinued.

Thanks for any info  🙂

[nobody*s_perfect]

The policy on the Regional boxes will probably be the same as it was for the Regional C boxes after they were discontinued: You can still use them for Priority Mail, at the regular rates that are based on weight and Zone.

USPS said they will still honor the flat rate on the "Game" boxes, they just aren't making them any more.

[ekmadonna]

I just ordered more today through USPS Free Shipping Supplies. They are still being offered on thier website. I would like to know the answer to this also?

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

"... I inquired jokingly..."

@houseofblair 

You gave me a little giggle. 😖

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.60 to .63 for a letter? Where in Shangri La do you live.

CP Canada letter rates: CAD

It goes up from there. Limit 500 grams(Paper items unless you can be super creative). Provincial tax + GST on stamps and domestic parcels. No access to tracked letter for cheap. Fuel surcharge on parcels hovering around 40% compared to 12 to 15% in USA.  Small prepaid box shipped nationally 20.00 +.  Large 32.00+.  I repeat .60 to .63. The horror!!! 😕🙄☹️

-Lotz

[steve_stuff]

As we only really sell, and don't do the fake free shipping bit, we don't pay for shipping, the buyers do. And as the PO always raise prices, we never 'check' - the label people just adjusts the shipping page. The ONLY time we might get 'hurt' is if the rates change before we do label[s] that day. 

BUT The "Regional" boxes for Priority Mail will be discontinued." part you mention is news to us. Have used, will 'miss'

I guess -HOPE all the regional boxes out there will be still be usable as 'plain' priority boxes and not just dumped.

[buyselljack2016]

the usable "regional rate" will be used by the informed, but likely some will be trashed/recycled by the uninformed 🙂

Wish I had gotten more of the "C" boxes before they were discontinued.  I have resized some of them to hold an item that I sell on a recurring basis that does not fit into other Priority boxes, and have been able to maintain  the "under 1 cubic foot" size.  Beats buying a plain brown box at $2 a pop only to end up shipping Priority for the shorter distances.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

the usable "regional rate" will be used by the informed, but likely some will be trashed/recycled by the uninformed 🙂

....

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What is the "usable regional rate"??  The new pricing charts have no regional prices.

EDIT: Nevermind; I thought you meant regional prices, but I guess you meant regional boxes?

[b86fiero]

Just checked USPS website hoping to get more of the Rectangular Regional Rate Box A 2 as I use these weekly.

Nope, removed from the site.  However,  Priority Box 1097 appears to be the same size as Regional A 2.  Measures 13 7/8 x 11 5/8 x 2 1/2" - works for me.

Regional Box A1 and Regional B 1 and B2 are still available.  Get them while you can if you regularly use this size.  USPS will probably make available boxes of the same dimensions without the Regional designation and lower rates removed.

[b86fiero]

Also, come January I expect eBay will remove the USPS Regional Boxes from shipping labels.

Will have to enter the weight and dimensions same as for regular Priority Mail boxes.

[buyselljack2016]

yup, that's is what I meant even though I did not state it clearly.  I knew what I meant. Everyone else is supposed to know what is going on in my mind as well 🙂 😂 🤣 Leaving out one little word (boxes) can lead the thought astray.