USPS SHIPPING RATE INCREASE SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT 1/27/13

  

Yep, it's that time again...The United States Postal Service new rate increase goes into effect on Sunday, January 27, 2013.  I'm sure you've heard about it---it's been the talk of every forum and message board for the last couple of weeks!

These rates are going into effect with everyone, so you will see these new rates pretty much anywhere you order online that uses USPS for shipping.

We'll start with the US--once again, no substantial rate increase for US customers.  You will see on average .25 cents to .50  cent increases in postage across the board on all 1st Class, Priority Mail and Express Mail shipping products.

Now for International...

We'll start with the GOOD news for Canada...

All 1st Class and Priority Mail will come standard with Delivery Confirmation.  This means that TRACKING should be available past the US Border for your order.  YAY!

The RATES for International Mail are as follows--

Flat Rate Envelopes to Canada will go from our current cost of $14.50 to $19.95 USD.

Flat Rate Envelopes everywhere else worldwide will go from our current rate of $18.00 to $23.95.

1st Class Mail for both Canada and everywhere else International will also be increasing $5.00-9.00 (USD) on average per parcel.

For International customers everywhere except Canada--the delivery confirmation is not yet available, but is scheduled to begin rolling out in Spring 2013.  So hopefully by this Spring, International customers will also have the delivery confirmation in place.

We have multiple International Customers tell us all the time that it is still more economic to order from the US than their own Country because even with the shipping, the fabric is still less expensive than it is to order at home. 

Remember, while the rates will increase, these rates are still substantially less expensive for International parcels than UPS or Fed Ex and NO ADDITIONAL BORDER FEES like UPS charges you to ship across Country borders.

We will have a complete and updated Shipping Rate table on our website's "SHIPPING" link this weekend with all of the new rates for you to view.  You can view new 1st Class, Priority and Express Mail Rates for Domestic and International Parcels.

Thanks!

Happy Sewing ☺

News u can use!

Deeper discounts on fabrics in the "SALE" section on the website

and more fabrics have been added in as well!

And ALL Ty Pennington fabrics are now on sale for a limited time!

Head over to the website and check out the "SALE" section for great deals

Don't forget that the new Flat Rate EXPRESS Mail boxes have arrived~if you need your order fast,

you have options for a speedy delivery whether you are in the US or an International customer.  Add the items to your cart that you need and you'll be able to view the pricing for your location for EXPRESS Mail at checkout!

USPS Shipping Rates increased 1/22/12

The United States Postal Service has put through the next round of increases for certain Postal rates~

The good news is that it doesn't really alter any of the US or International 1st Class Rates~ and Priority Mail rates for US Addresses only went up on average about a Quarter. 

The unfortunate news is that International Priority Mail rates went up on average between $2.00-5.00 depending on the type of Priority Mail package.  :(

Express Mail rates for International packages jumped the most with about a $9-10 increase.

I was bummed as I'm sure alot of you are as well~ But, I was talking to my buddy at the Post Office and he was commenting about the cost of fuel and how it is continuing to rise.  Even with as much as we ship out, I still tend to almost forget that in the equation.  The rates for Priority Mail have not gone up at all--yet the cost of fuel has continued to rise...it does take fuel (and lots of it!) to get packages delivered across the Country and Abroad.  I'm sure alot of you may know, the US Post Office has lost money the last few years in a row.  They had to do something to try and counter that as its getting to the point where they were suffering such a loss, we could actually have no more USPS!  Several Post Offices around the Country closed and/or were shut down last year and lots of folks lost their jobs.  In light of that, when you think of the service being provided, combined with the fact that the Priority Mail rates have not been raised, it seems fair enough.

We get all of these Priority Mail "Flat Rate" package options instead of being charged by weight--if we were charged by weight, it would be no less than double what the Flat Rate cost is now.  So as much of a bummer as it is, we have to try and see the positive side of it --in that in all actuality, we are still getting a deal!  What do you think?