As seen on 9news.com
KUSA - Postal rates are increasing in just a week. For the average postal user, May 14th means stamps are going up to 41 cents, but for businesses the impact is much greater because of "shape based" pricing...
The new pricing will reflect differences in the cost of handling letters, large envelopes (flats) and packages (parcels). The shape of the mail piece will play a larger role in the pricing of First-Class Mail.
Today, letters, flats (large envelopes) and parcels over 1-ounce have the same price at every weight increment. The new rate is designed to recognize each of these shapes with substantially different processing cost and will have separate prices.
Letters measuring larger then 6" by 11.5" or thicker then .25 inches will be processed as flats. Letters weighing over 3.5 ounces will be subject to the rates for flats. Flats measuring thicker then .75 inches will be processed as parcels.
The new Shaped-base pricing structure could have a significant impact on the mail budgets of most companies for the coming year. For additional information, visit the USPS web site to view all of the new postal service rates increases or the Neopost Web site.