Postal

The U.S. Postal Service is making rate changes in April, both for market-dominant services and competitive products. The USPS received approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission this week. The good news for many small online sellers is that Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express rates are not increasing. But there is negative news for sellers using First Class Package International Service. We checked in with Eric Nash of Stamps.com for help in understanding the impact of the new rates on online sellers.

One year ago, the USPS Inspector General said offering financial services could help generate $8.9 billion in new revenue per year for the Postal Service. Apparently postal workers agree, and their union said Wednesday the Postal Service should also capture a greater share of the growing e-commerce market. And if anyone understands the growth of e-commerce, it's the men and women carrying packages to shoppers’ front doors. 

As the U.S. Postal Service increases efforts to take business away from UPS and FedEx, UPS is asking the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to require USPS to be more forthcoming with information about its competitive products. In a filing on Monday, UPS said there were serious, deeply embedded problems with the manner in which the Postal Service is accounting for the costs of its competitive products business. "These problems prevent the Commission, the public, and indeed likely the Postal Service itself from knowing the true costs associated with this business," the shipping carrier stated in its filing.

I still remember when Oldsmobile ran its memorable ad series using the "it's not your father's Oldsmobile," in an attempt to attract younger buyers and change its image. Watching the U.S. Postal Service lately makes me think of that ad because it's also looking to attract the next generation of customers and change its image. Gone are the days when the Postal Service was all about mail and little else. As First Class mail volumes — the Postal Service's high-profit margin bread and butter — continue to decline, the USPS is looking hard at other sources of revenue.

The U.S. Postal Service is adding package delivery on Sundays during the holidays to meet the expected growing demand as online retailers ship more products to customers. In a press release sent out yesterday, the USPS said it would be delivering packages seven days a week in major cities and high-volume areas starting Nov. 17 through Christmas Day in response to expected double-digit package volume growth.

CNBC's Courtney Reagan looks at which retailers are raising free shipping minimums.

The USPS has published its "mail-by" dates. To ensure that holiday mail and packages are delivered in time for Christmas, the Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines:

Two months into the job, Target's new chief executive has already given the go-ahead to one of the retailer's key holiday strategies: free shipping. Starting Wednesday, Target will offer free shipping on any online purchase — no matter the size — through Dec. 20. In doing so, Target is taking an aggressive stance early on in the holiday season. Typically, retailers require a minimum purchase amount before shipping becomes free. "We've spent time as a team to see how we can differentiate ourselves," Brian Cornell, who began as CEO in August, said in an interview Tuesday. 

Our experts walk you through opportunities to not only cut shipping costs, but also improve shipping service to your customers.

The United States Postal Service is raising rates for Priority Mail when purchased at the post office. But it is lowering rates for those who purchase Priority Mail postage online, a further incentive for merchants to print labels online. The USPS announced the new rates last month, and the Postal Rate Commission issued its order approving the rate changes on Friday, August 15. The new rates take effect on Sept. 7.