USPS dimensional weight rate change in June

[tsme35]

I hope I did it wrong but I just looked into USPS dimensional weight rate change in June, I sell fishing rods using USPS box that is 38"x6"x5", which run 1-2 lbs but if I did it right dim rate would put them at 7 lb. If I did that right I'm out of business, I just checked on a fishing rod I just sold to WA and will increase shipping $10. Shipping today would be $9.85 and in June it will be $21, even more with increase the 27th. Honestly there's NO way I could double shipping rate and still sell fishing rods, that's half my income, I can't even image the tackle boxes I sell would cost.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Good news: you're wrong!

The dimensional weight applies only to packages with a volume over 1 cubic foot, which is 1728 cubic inches.  Your package is 1140 cubic inches so it will ship at the regular weight-based rate, not at a dimensional weight.

https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2018/pb22509/html/updt_002.htm

[tsme35]

Whew,  I miss the part about cubic foot but will still could kill about 15% of sales, any rods that measure over 58" packed and most tackle boxes unless their sold in zone's 1-4.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Yes, 58 inches would put you over the cubic-foot threshold, unless you can reduce one of the other dimensions.

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@tsme35 wrote:

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 ... unless their sold in zone's 1-4.

Alas, the dimensional weight will apply to all zones.  That's one of the 3 big changes coming in June:  (1) dimensional weight will apply to all zones (currently it's just Zones 5 - 9); (2) it will apply not only to Priority Mail but also to Parcel Select Ground and Retail Ground; and (3) the divisor will be reduced from 194 to 166.

So get all the big stuff sold before June!

[johnrj1226]

Your  rods seem   short unless they  are for ice fishing or are sectional style.  My  son who is a crazy  bass  fisherman  get rods  shipped in  round tubes (3'"to 4" dia) 7' to 8' long.  He recently  received shipment to zone 5  via USPS Priority with  no surcharge & UPS ground.  I understand things are  changing mid year - maybe you  fishing rod  sellers need to let  USPS know what you think about it, companies like Academy &  Bass Pro, etc will be  affected too.

[tsme35]

USPS only applies DIM weight to Priority Mail® parcels larger than a cubic foot (1728 cu in), shipping to zones 5-9. this is off the announcement ebay just released, that's why I said zone 1-4? I have calculated shipping for larger items but yea time to clear out the larger stuff.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Starting in June, the dimensional weight will be applied to all zones.

[tsme35]

I mainly only sell 2 pc rods and most fit in usps triangle boxes, I cut and add to boxes up to 60", over that shipping jumps over $20 for priority mail. I tried to ship longer rods parcel post, shipping is a little less but by the time I buy those tubes and add to my cost its the same. I've been looking for years to find shipping tubes, the cost to buy from store or to have them shipped to me and also pay for insurance for parcel post comes close to same price. Also my rural carriers can't fit the long rods in their vehicles so add a 25 mile trip to PO. But yea anything over the cubic foot is gonna double in shipping, a few ppl aren't gonna be happy. Like I said probably cut another 10-15% in inventory I can't sell anymore, shipping increase over the last couple years I've had to stop buying and selling about half the fishing lures I use to, can't sell a $3 lure when shipping is $3

[nobody*s_perfect]

A triangular box doesn't have the same cubic inch volume as a rectangular box. The "height" of the triangle is shorter than any of the sides (yikes, flashbacks to geometry class!). From the usps.com pages on calculating postage:

[tsme35]

I just sold a tackle box to MN, zone 4, 20x12x12 and 6lbs , shipping is $9.71, new DIM will be 21 lb shipping is $22.94

[tsme35]

I guess the teachers were right, you'll need geometry in life lol.

[tsme35]

You would think someone would say or do something about the 10-15% "yearly" USPS increases, if you son buys a fishing rod after June it will be double the shipping cost with the DIM rates.
Back in 2016 USPS double international rates, from $6 to $12, my international sales dropped 95%, it'll be the same with large items for sure. If you look at the announcement ebay posted, it shows USPS rates will be double what UPS and Fedex charge for a 18"x14"x12" box.

[berserkerplanet]

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping-Returns/Where-To-Get-Long-Boxes-for-Shipping/m-p/27238960/hig...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Archive-Shipping-Returns/Shipping-with-USPS-Medium-Tubes-cost-Anybody-...

A lot of that is still applicable, except the 194 divisor will be changing, balloon will be no more, and Z1-4/Z5-8 difference will go away, so all the balloon stuff in that post can be ignored after 1/27/19.

One of the "safe" maximum lengths based on cross sectional tube dimensions, Length+Girth, and the 1cu-ft (1728in³) Dim Weight volume threshold previously calculated is still correct (65" for the O-1098M tube), but for the O-1098S tube things change...

Some surprising good news I didn't realize until playing with the numbers just now - because the Length+Girth balloon criterion is going away, it looks like the new max lengths for the two sizes of USPS triangular tubes frankenboxed, where tube doesn't exceed the 1728 in³ dim weight threshold and just ships at actual weight will be:

   O-1098M medium tubes = 65" (same as before)
    O-1098S   small    tubes = 76" (woohoo!)

(even the 76" O-1098S tube is still under the 108" L+G number to avoid Parcel Select oversize status, and still be Priority Mail "legal")


So a 6' fishing pole can still ship at a 2 or 3 lb Priority Mail rate, and probably even a 6'6" pole if it bends a little to fit in the 76" tube.


Note that if the O-1098S 76" max length is exceeded (or the O-1098M 65"), it gets really ugly really fast since dim weight at 1729 in³ = 1729/194 = 9 lb and in June when the new 166 divisor kicks in it will be 1729in³/166 = 11 lb. A possible 2 lb pkg becomes a 9 or 11 lb pkg from adding 1/2" to the length. Caution is advised.

(I may rework and repost that old triangular tube post later after the dust settles in June to reflect the new situation)

[tsme35]

I use the USPS medium triangle box to ship, max is 59" to zone 5-9, 62" for 1-4 zones, I sell hundreds a rods a year so I know these for sure.

[tsme35]

I looked at those threads you provided, most places around here recycle or reuse the tubes, carpet places sent tubes back to supplier to reload. I am gonna look into a printing shop, didn't know about those. I did a search on ebay and google for 72" tube, if you buy a large lot 50-100 ct, they run about $4 a tube. I'd have to add that to the price, increase in shipping the 27th and looming sales taxes, would be $5-$7 to present shipping price. Something I'll have look into before June, hopefully find free or really cheap tubes