Should the Postal Service Post its Rates in Post Offices?

Apr 23 2012
9 Comments

Generally, most consumers know the rates for mailing a 1-ounce First-Class® letter. However, many don’t know the prices of other postal service offerings, such as certification, insurance, or return receipt. In some instances, some of these services must be bundled with the mailing type.

Posting the rates for the more commonly used services in a convenient spot in the Post Offices would let customers know approximately how much services cost, allowing them to make informed decisions. For example, displaying rates for the first several ounce increments of First-Class mail, as well as the most commonly used rates for Express Mail and Priority Mail along with the rates for certification, insurance, and return receipt, would help mailers calculate the total purchase price.

Easy access to this information would allow mailers to effortlessly make price comparisons with other providers and clearly reveal the true value the Postal Service provides to consumers.

What do you think? How can the Postal Service present prices in the most effective way?

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Comments (9)

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  • anon

    This is a great idea for all retail products at the Post Office! The criterion for the rate structure is that it should be able to be communicated on a single sheet of paper. This can at least help people understand the different special services such as delivery confirmation or insurance that are available. What would be even more helpful would be an intelligent usage of Automated Postal Centers (APCs) like they have in the airports when you check in. The clerks are there to help for difficult transactions or questions.

    Oct 15, 2012
  • anon

    Seriously now? At this posting, 81% state that prices are not published in post office lobbies. I am aware that "all" prices are not posted. This would be impossible and too confusing. But are the 81% aware that the Postal Service actually pays Mystery Shoppers to ensure that these prices ARE posted? Then in the rare cases when they are not, or in the cases when the shopper says the prices are not posted and the local employees provide photos or other documentation, the managers are harrassed and disciplined on the word of a 30 second visit from a shopper whose identity is unknown and accusations are taken as the truth no matter what. Has this blog simply run out of questions to ask? misleading the public? or unaware of the programs AND POSTINGS already in place? This makes me question the reason of some of the previous questions.

    May 06, 2012
  • anon

    It is nice to have the list of price in all post office so that people know the rates of services they offered

    May 04, 2012
  • anon

    DEFINITELY DON'T bother putting it on the USPS.com website, because half the stuff on there is incorrect anyway! I just returned from my local post office (21075), for which the website says the last pick-up today is 1:45 p.m., only to find that it was in fact 12:45. I don't know why I should have been surprised; it's happened before that I've wasted gas and time going to mail something, based on such info on the website, and found that info was WRONG! And you guys wonder why you're losing money and customers...

    Apr 28, 2012
  • anon

    What! Let's design a new coloring book using Crayola 98. Please..... Why not simply post a sheet with the 20 most utilized postage rates? I dunno... Seems logical, as pointed out already. Why not concentrate your last couple of years efforts {before the so called "buyout"} on PPP's [Public Private Partnerships]. It's embarrassing to work at an organization where some 50% of the hanger-on compliment has one objective, get paid a bonus to retire. I hear it every day.... "I'm not going anywhere till they pay me to go." It reminds me a little of the golden parachute's which are included in top management structure's of the Wishire Index list of companies. How about climbing in an LLV, and deliver some of the standard mail which your studies claim, will support the revenue's necessary to "Save the Post Office". I have an idea. Instead of hauling the BBM/Recycle paper back to the GMF's, thus consuming valuable labor costs and efforts, have the community unemployed handle it.

    Apr 27, 2012
  • anon

    It is a nice idea to post prices in the PO lobby, but Notice 123, Price List, runs to 60 pages, so how do you decide which to post?

    Apr 23, 2012
  • anon

    "Absolutely no one can deliver faster than the post office. To post prices would be a total waste of time, each parcel is different."

    May 18, 2012
  • anon

    I think posting the prices in lobby is waste of time. No one can deliver the mail faster and cheaper than the USPS.

    May 18, 2012
  • anon

    There is a document commonly referred to as the Ratefold, USPS Price List Notice 123, available at pe.usps.gov here http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm in web format and printable PDF. If this information needs to be easily accessible at local Post Offices, it already exists. Maybe the solution is for customers to be able to request a copy and have it sent or printed out on demand, rather than incur the expense of printing and distributing them to every post office just in case someone wants a copy. There are far too many rates for a poster, that is for sure!

    Apr 23, 2012

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