2023 United States Postal Service Rate Changes and Updates

[FidosFlowers]

We’ll share updates, including service disruptions or major slowdowns, from USPS. When new info is available we’ll update this post. 

Here’s a quick look at the updates for 2023: 

January 22, 2023: 

• Priority Mail service prices will increase approximately 5.5%. Priority Mail Express service prices will increase by 6.6 percent and First-Class Package Service prices will increase by 7.8%. 

You can find more details about these changes on the USPS site. 

Priority Mail postage is still cheaper on Etsy

Even with these price increases, Etsy’s discounted commercial rates are still less expensive than the post office. When you purchase USPS Priority Mail labels on Etsy, you’ll save on average 7% off Etsy’s rates, which are already discounted compared to retail rates*—so you can put that money right back in your business.

*Based on a 2 pound zone 4 shipment. 

Quick tip: Bookmark this Forums post so you can come back to reference it as we add new details. You can also click “Subscribe” to get notified when we make updates.

[FidosFlowers]

January 22, 2023:

• Regional Rates

• USPS has discontinued Regional Rate Box prices. This means that this mail class is no longer available when you purchase shipping labels through Etsy. 
• The recommended alternative for Regional Rate Box pricing is Priority Mail Cubic–more details below.
• You can find more details about this change on the USPS site.

• USPS Cubic Pricing

• You now have access to USPS Cubic Pricing–a rate that isn’t offered at USPS retail locations– when you buy shipping labels on Etsy. 
• Cubic pricing rates are determined by package dimensions and distance traveled instead of weight so this can be a great, lower cost option if you ship heavier items that don’t take up much space, like a paperweight. 
• Please note that the cubic rate will automatically apply if the package is eligible for USPS Priority Mail service and meets the qualifications below–there isn’t a way to select this mail class.
  
• To qualify, packages must: 
• Weigh less than 20 pounds 
• Measure up to 0.5 in cubic feet
• Have sides that are less than 18 inches; if a side is too close to this measurement, it might be disqualified. 

[FidosFlowers]

May 1, 2023:

Some United States Postal Service rates on Etsy are getting even cheaper (compared to the post office)! 

Starting May 1, Etsy sellers will save an additional 8% on average when they purchase Priority Mail, Parcel Select, and Cubic Pricing labels on Etsy.* That’s on top of Etsy’s already-discounted retail rates. 

*Additional discount applies to Priority Mail zones 1-4, and weights of 1-5 pounds.

[FidosFlowers]

July 9, 2023:

Hi everyone, 

To provide a simple and more affordable way to ship packages up to 70 lbs, USPS will combine First Class Package Service, Retail Ground, and Parcel Select Ground into a single service: Ground Advantage. This new mail class will be available beginning July 9.

What's changing:

• With the launch of Ground Advantage, the options to purchase First Class Package Service and Parcel Select Ground will no longer be available either at the post office or on Etsy. 
• Instead, you will have the option to purchase USPS Ground Advantage labels.
• Ground Advantage will have the same prices and delivery speeds as First Class Package Service and Parcel Select Ground services.

Updates to shipping profiles:

• Etsy will continue to display First Class Package Service and Parcel Select Ground in shipping profiles, but we’ll show the updated Ground Advantage rates and estimated delivery dates to buyers in listings and at checkout. 
• No action is required from you, but you can update your shipping profiles at any time. 

Other USPS updates: 

• Priority Mail rates are going down: Starting July 9, you can save up to 23% off of current Priority Mail rates on selected mail options when you purchase shipping labels on Etsy.* 
• Media Mail rates are increasing: USPS is increasing Media Mail rates by 7%.
• First Class Letters and First Class Flats: USPS is increasing First Class Letters and First Class Flats by $0.03 and $0.01.

*On packages up to 20 pounds shipping in zones 1-4.

[FidosFlowers]

November 14, 2023:

Each of the major shipping services has a deadline that packages must be shipped by to arrive by Christmas Day (Monday December 25). These are the 2023 dates for packages shipped via USPS: 

USPS Ground AdvantageTM Service: December 16

First-Class Mail® Service: December 16

Priority Mail® Service: December 18

Priority Mail Express® Service: December 20

Find more info about USPS’s holiday shipping deadlines from USPS here.