As part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing shipping services, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced a comprehensive price change program, set to take effect on July 9th. One of the significant aspects of this program is the introduction of USPS Ground Advantage—a new shipping solution that promises cost savings and an improved shipping experience for customers. With the approval of the Postal Regulatory Commission, USPS Ground Advantage will replace several existing USPS plans, including Retail Ground, First-Class Package, Parcel Select Ground, First Class Package Return, and Ground Returns. Let’s explore the USPS Ground Advantage program’s features, pricing, and benefits for businesses and individuals.
Features and benefits of USPS Ground Advantage
Aside from cost savings, USPS Ground Advantage offers additional advantages to its users. One notable feature is the inclusion of a free package pickup service, available for both residential and commercial addresses. This convenient service saves time and effort for customers who can now have their packages picked up directly from their homes or offices.
Additionally, USPS Ground Advantage provides $100 insurance coverage for packages, with the option to purchase additional coverage up to $5,000. This added protection ensures that your valuable shipments are safeguarded throughout the delivery process.
The USPS is considering repurposing First Class Package Service and Retail Ground to USPS Ground Advantage, allowing for weight breaks of up to 15.999 oz and 1 lb to 70 lbs. This expanded weight range ensures that USPS Ground Advantage caters to a wide variety of shipping needs. With an estimated service delivery time of 2 to 5 business days, customers can rely on USPS to deliver their packages swiftly and reliably.
USPS Ground Advantage pricing overview
The introduction of USPS Ground Advantage brings exciting changes to shipping costs. This new program will provide customers with a 1.4% decrease in pricing compared to previous similar USPS shipping products. Retail prices will see a significant drop of 3.2%, while commercial prices will be 0.7% lower. To learn more about the detailed pricing information, you can visit the official USPS website at https://pe.usps.com/PriceChange
USPS is offering a grace period
The USPS announced on June 27 that it had received approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to launch USPS Ground Advantage on July 9, 2023. The announcement also included a grace period for shippers, allowing the acceptance of all legacy products without penalties or assessments until September 30, 2023. Moreover, the grace period ensures the delivery of parcels already in transit during the implementation of USPS Ground Advantage.
During the transition, the commercial rate change for the old services merging into the new USPS Ground Advantage will be minimal. However, other USPS services will experience rate adjustments:
- Regular First Class (market dominant) rates will increase by an average of 5.4% since their raise six months ago.
- The cost of a stamp will rise from 63 cents to 66 cents, a 4.8% increase.
- Rates for Media Mail and Library Mail will see a 7.4% rise.
- No price changes are planned in July for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Domestic Extra Services, or the majority of International Products.
As the USPS prepares to launch the groundbreaking USPS Ground Advantage program, we at International Bridge are thrilled to be part of this exciting change. We understand the significance of these upcoming improvements and have revised our pricing for Priority Mail and Ground Advantage accordingly.
To experience the benefits of USPS Ground Advantage and explore our new pricing options, we invite you to visit our blue platform starting July 9th. Contact us to discover how our services align perfectly with USPS Ground Advantage and start enjoying seamless shipping today.