The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced a change in postal prices, to take effect on May 12. The change includes two sets of rates, one for retail customers and a different one for commercial customers. The latter has rates that average 3.5% less for Priority Mail than the retail customer will pay and 3% less for Express Mail. You can download the new rates at http://www.usps.com/prices/.
Do you qualify for the lower commercial rates, or do you have to pay retail?
The good news is that you can obtain the lower rates by shipping online!
According to the USPS website, commercial rates are “Available to customers who tender payment via an authorized online service, Express Mail Corporate Account, or specifically authorized third-party postage vendor.”
In plain words, if you set up an account and process your shipments online, you qualify for the lower commercial rates.
You can process online at the following sites:
www.redroller.com (the company I work for)
www.usps.com (go to print a shipping label)
www.endicia.com (free trial for 30 days)
www.stamps.com (free trial for 30 days)
This is how much you will save by shipping online:
- Priority Mail 3.5% average
- Delivery Confirmation: Free vs $.65 (14%)
- Express Mail 3%
- International Mail
- Global Express Guaranteed 10%
- Express 8%
- Priority 5%
- Flat Rate Box 5%
Shipping Coach 
[…] On May 12, the new changes in the USPS rate structure will provide different rates for retail and commercial shippers. Commercial shippers will save an average of 3.5% on Priority Mail, 3% on Express Mail, and up to 10% on international mail. See my post, USPS Rate Change Includes New Discounts: Do You Qualify? […]