Postal Service to Offer Competitive Prices for Express Mail, Priority Mail

Prices to Change May 12

WASHINGTON, DC — For the first time ever, the U.S. Postal Service is offering volume related or other price incentives for Express Mail, Priority Mail and other shipping services, effective May 12. These incentives are now possible as a result from a change in federal law*, enabling the Postal Service to better compete in the shipping market.

Postal Service shipping products are currently priced by a “one price fits all” approach — customers pay the same price per piece regardless of the number of packages sent or the method of payment. Beginning May 12, customers will be able to take advantage of commercial volume pricing, minimum volume rebates, online price breaks and other pricing incentives. For example:

• Express Mail, premium overnight delivery, is switching to an industry standard, zone-based pricing system, resulting in lower prices for closer destinations. Customers will enjoy a 3 percent price reduction by purchasing Express Mail online or through corporate accounts. Up to an additional 7 percent price reduction is available for those who meet quarterly volume minimums.
• Priority Mail, expedited delivery at economical prices, will be available at an average 3.5 percent savings to customers who use electronic postage or meet other requirements.
• Parcel Select, the Postal Service “last mile” advantage of delivery to every door, will feature pricing and volume incentives for large- and medium-sized shippers.
• Parcel Return Service, an easy and convenient way for customers to return items to businesses, will move entirely to a weight-based pricing system, resulting in significant price reductions for lighter packages.

“These innovative published pricing incentives will make our products more attractive to all shippers, especially small businesses,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “We’re pricing our products to sell in today’s competitive shipping market. In the near future, the Postal Service plans to explore contract pricing for larger customers similar to others in the market.”

The new prices are available at usps.com/prices.

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Ship Today — One Rate, Any State

Take Advantage of New Large Flat-Rate Box

WASHINGTON, DC —Starting today, take advantage of the new, Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box from the U.S. Postal Service, now giving customers three different size and shape options — all with convenient flat-rate pricing.

The new box is 50 percent larger than the current flat-rate boxes. If it fits, it ships, for just $12.95 to any U.S. address. There is a $2 discount when shipped to an APO/FPO destination a postal first for the military.

“Flat-rate shipping is the best value in the marketplace,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “This new box is one more way the Postal Service is responding to our customers’ shipping needs.”

Flat-rate shipping, introduced in November 2004, gives customers a single, predetermined rate regardless of the weight or delivery zone and when combined with Click-N-Ship, no scale is necessary.

The new Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Boxes (12" x 12" x 5 ½" or nearly 800 cubic inches) are available without cost to customers in Post Offices nationwide and 24/7 at usps.com/supplies or by calling 800-610-8734.

Some of the new boxes are co-branded with the logo of America Supports You, a Department of Defense program that connects citizens offering support to the military and their families. The America Supports You version of the new box is available online, at select Post Offices near military bases, or by calling 800-610-8734. Either version of the new larger box is eligible for the $2 military discount, as long as it is sent to an APO/FPO address.

The new, larger box extends the Postal Service’s line of successful flat-rate offerings, providing more choices for small businesses and consumers. Two smaller flat-rate boxes (11 7/8 " x 3 3/8 " x 13 5/8" and 11" x 8 ½" x 5 ½"), retail for $8.95 for U.S. addresses, are not eligible for the military discount. All flat-rate boxes can be used for shipping to international addresses.

All Postal Service Priority and Express Mail packages and envelopes are environmentally friendly, exceeding the highest standards for recyclability.

*20-pound weight limit

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2008 Price-Change Stamps Announced

WASHINGTON, DC —The Forever Stamp tops the list of 2008 price-change stamps, the U.S. Postal Service announced today.

Since its introduction in April 2007, the Postal Service has sold 5 billion Forever Stamps and it plans to have an additional 5 billion in stock to meet the expected demand before the May 12 price change.

“We have plenty of Forever Stamps on hand to meet customer demands,” said Stamp Services Executive Director David Failor. “We will also issue — for the first time — most of the price-change stamps in advance of the May 12 increase.”

The stamp subjects are listed below:

Tiffany Lamp – 1 cent

Tiffany Lamp, the third stamp in the American Design series, was first issued in March 2003. The one-cent definitive stamp features artist Lou Nolan’s rendering of a Tiffany lamp. Nolan evokes the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933), considered one of the greatest designers of glass in his era.

Flags 24/7 – 42 cents – First-Class single piece

Each of the four Flags 24/7 stamps features a painting of the American flag flying at a different time of day: sunrise, noon, sunset and night. In 1942, Congress passed a resolution establishing a code of flag etiquette. The code states in part that the American flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset every day, weather permitting.

Tropical Fruit – 27 cents – Postcard rate stamp

Five definitive stamps picture tropical fruits that look good enough to eat. Illustrator Sergio Baradat created art that visually slices or halves five tropical fruits — pomegranate, kiwi, star fruit, papaya and guava — depicting them in eye-catching and mouth-watering color.

Purple Heart – 42 cents – First-Class Mail single piece

The reissuance of the Purple Heart stamp honors the sacrifices of the men and women who serve in the U.S. military. The Purple Heart stamp was first issued in 2003. According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization for combat-wounded veterans, the medal is “the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first award made available to a common soldier.”

Elk – 42 cents- First-Class Mail stamped envelope

The 2008 stamped envelope features the silhouette of a bull elk, set against a shadowy background of evergreen trees. The stamp art is by Tom Engeman of Bethany Beach, DE. Over the years, this artist’s colorful and imaginative designs have appeared on many Postal Service products, including the World War II Memorial stamp (2004) and the nation’s first Forever Stamp (2007), and will appear in the Flags of Our Nation stamps, a new 60-stamp series to be issued over three years beginning in 2008.

Corinthian Capital – 27 cents – stamped postcard

The stamped postcard artwork features an ink and watercolor drawing of a Corinthian capital. The drawing — which was created in 1854 during the enlargement of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. — is from the records of the Architect of the Capitol.

James A. Michener – 59 cents – First-Class Mail letter two-ounce rate

The 10th stamp in the Distinguished Americans series honors James A. Michener (1907-1997). The bestselling author of more than 40 books, Michener is best remembered for his novels, often multigenerational sagas that focus on the history of a specific place while spanning vast periods of time. Created by Mark Summers, the stamp art is based on a photograph of Michener from the late 1970s.

Edward Trudeau – 76 cents – First-Class Mail letter three-ounce rate

The 11th issuance in the Distinguished Americans series honors phthisiologist Edward Trudeau (1848-1915). This noted American physician devoted himself to researching and treating tuberculosis, a highly infectious disease that proved fatal to one in seven people in the 1880s. Dr. Trudeau promoted the treatment and containment of the disease through plenty of fresh air, adequate rest, good food and a positive attitude. His guiding principles were “to cure sometimes, relieve often, to comfort always.” Artist Mark Summers created the portrait on the stamp. As reference, he used a photograph of Dr. Trudeau provided by the American Lung Association.

13 Mile Woods, Errol, New Hampshire – 72 cents – Mexico/Canada letter rate

This international-rate stamp in the Scenic American Landscapes series features a photograph of sunrise on the Androscoggin River in the 13 Mile Woods in Errol, NH. The 13 Mile Woods is a community forest of more than 5,300 acres. Now protected from development, 13 Mile Woods is dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor recreation and sustainable logging. The photograph is by Jerry and Marcy Monkman.

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands – 94 cents – International letter rate

This stamp in the Scenic American Landscapes series features a photograph of Trunk Bay on the northern coast of St. John, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands. St. John is known for its beautiful beaches, abundant plant life and the coral reefs along its coast. The island is also rich in history, and visitors to St. John can see pre-Columbian relics and the remains of Danish colonial sugar plantations. The photograph was taken by George H.H. Huey of Prescott, AZ.

Dragonfly – 62 cents – non-machinable First-Class Mail single piece

This 2008 issuance features the dragonfly, one of the oldest insects in the world. Fossil records show that dragonfly species have existed for 300 million years, which places them well before dinosaurs and 150 million years before birds. The highly stylized illustration of a dragonfly, with leaves in the background, is by Nancy Stahl. The artist has worked with the U.S. Postal Service on numerous projects, including the Bighorn Sheep stamp and Florida Panther stamp, both issued in 2007.

Forever Stamp – First-Class Mail single piece

This stamp will always be valid as First-Class Mail postage on standard envelopes weighing one ounce or less, regardless of any subsequent increases in the First-Class Mail rate. The stamp art depicts the Liberty Bell, which is perhaps the most prominent and recognizable symbol associated with American independence. As of May 12, the Forever Stamp will be available for 42 cents.

Sunflower – 42 cents – First-Class Mail single piece

This 2008 stamp features a photograph of a sunflower in Santa Fe, N.M. Native Americans were the first people to cultivate sunflowers and create new varieties from them. In the 1500s, European explorers took sunflower seeds from North America to Spain, and today more than 50 different species, with numerous varieties, grow in temperate regions around the world. The photograph is by Eddie Hironaka.

To download images of the 2008 price-change stamps, visit: http://usps.marketforward.com/.