USPS begins new service standards that will increase delivery time and price tag for some mail

As part of a plan to stabilize their finances, the United States Postal Service will begin instituting slower delivery times for some mail in addition to a temporary price increase.

According to the USPS, on October 1, the Postal Service began implementing new service standards for First-Class Mail® and Periodicals.

“These new service standards will increase delivery reliability, consistency, and efficiency for our customers and across our network. Standards for single-piece First-Class Mail traveling within a local area will continue to be two days. The Postal Service will increase time-in-transit standards by 1 or 2 days for certain mail that is traveling longer distances. By doing so, the Postal Service can entrust its ground network to deliver more First-Class Mail, which will lead to greater consistency, reliability, and efficiency that benefits its customers. The service standard changes are part of our balanced and comprehensive Delivering for America Strategic Plan and will improve service reliability and predictability for customers and enhance the efficiency of the Postal Service network. The service standard changes that we have determined to implement are a necessary step towards achieving our goal of consistently meeting 95 percent service performance.”

USPS states that “mail traveling the greatest distances will be the most impacted. Current First-Class Mail® 3-day volume will be subject to a 3-, 4-, or 5-day standard depending on the distance between origin and destination.”

First-Class Mail® traveling within a 3-hour drive between origin and destination processing facilities — will maintain its current delivery standard of 2 days or less.

Also, from October 3 through December 25, the cost to ship parcels will increase from 25 cents to $5 depending on the type of delivery service and the distance the parcel will travel.

According to CNet, the temporary increases are as follows:

$0.75 increase for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Boxes and Envelopes.
$0.25 increase for Zones 1 to 4, 0 to 10 pounds
$1.50 increase for Zones 1 to 4, 11 to 20 pounds
$2.50 increase for Zones 1 to 4, 21 to 70 pounds
$0.75 increase for Zones 5 to 9, 0 to 10 pounds
$3.00 increase for Zones 5 to 9, 11 to 20 pounds
$5.00 increase for Zones 5 to 9, 21 to 70 pounds

Zone 1-4: 1-600 miles
Zone 5-9 601 miles or greater

The USPS defines a parcel as anything that isn’t a letter, postcard or flat.

With new service standards being implemented on October 1, USPS offers these tips for consumers:

1. Plan ahead – For mail or correspondence that requires a deadline, the Postal Service encourages consumers to plan ahead and send their mail early. You likely wouldn’t wait to mail your mom a Mother’s Day card the day before or on Mother’s Day, so mail your letters and greeting cards with the Postal Service early so the Postal Service can
ensure it reaches its final destination on-time.

2. When sending mail long distance, mail early – If it would take you more than a day to drive your mail to its destination, make sure to give your long-distance mail some extra time to travel with USPS.

3. Keep mailing letters! The majority of First-Class Mail will be unaffected by the Postal Service’s new service standards. In fact, these new standards mean your letters and mail will be delivered more reliably and consistently than they have been in previous years.