New USPS Shipping Rates

[Beercanpete]

I'm sure a lot of you know that the US Postal Service increased many of their shipping rates on January 9. I am in the process of shipping a fairly large number of cans to someone and I made some comparisons today that I thought might be or interest. Most of the cans I'm shipping are 24 oz., and I tried several different sizes. Here's what I found:

1. A box that is 12 x 12 x 12 would hold 24 24 oz. cans, and from my address to his would cost about $12.55, depending on exact weight.
2. A box that is 19 x 14 x 17 (available at WalMart) would hold at most 60 cans (I don't have the actual box in hand to test). Based on a good approximation of the weight, same address, this box would cost about $54.10.

This means that if I use the 12 x 12 x 12 box the cans will cost just about 50 cents apiece to ship--but if I go with the bigger box, the cans would cost about 90 cents apiece!

Conclusion: If you are shipping a large number of cans to someone, lay in a supply of 12 x 12 x 12 boxes (I got mine at a local U-Haul store). You will save a huge amount of money that way! A 12 x 12 x 12 box is 1728 cubic inches. If your box is even ONE cubic inch larger (a 19 x 13 x 7 box would be exactly 1729 cubic inches), the cost is 50% more--and that difference increases as the size of your box increases.

[Senator Seebs]

Thank you for this. This is exactly why I send all my cans in Mylar Bags.

[mtracy64]

USPS rates have penalized for any side exceeding 12" for many years. Based on the numbers above, it appears that penalty went up significantly, while the rate for the 12" x 12" x 12" went up less than a dollar. I don't know what the weight allowance is, but empty beer cans will fall well short of incurring additional cost for weight.

Marc

[pinnacle-project]

Yes, larger boxes are always disproportionally more expensive because the USPS infrastructure does not work as efficiently for larger boxes. If you have something big to send, UPS and FedEx will always be your best bet.

[OhioCanGuy]

Yes, larger boxes are always disproportionally more expensive because the USPS infrastructure does not work as efficiently for larger boxes. If you have something big to send, UPS and FedEx will always be your best bet.

This is spot on. The USPS system was designed around mail (envelopes), not packages. I know they are slowly converting, but it's a big task. In my area, the only USPS delivery vehicles we ever see are the Jeeps. Not a lot of room in those as compared to say a brown UPS truck. I routinely see the Jeeps dive by, packed window to window, front to back, stuffed full of packages. Like packing peanuts in a box.

[VNV]

USPS rates have penalized for any side exceeding 12" for many years. Based on the numbers above, it appears that penalty went up significantly, while the rate for the 12" x 12" x 12" went up less than a dollar. I don't know what the weight allowance is, but empty beer cans will fall well short of incurring additional cost for weight.

Marc

Yes, but not quite.

It's actually called Dimensional Weight, and you will fall into that bracket once your package is greater than one cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches). To do this, use the formula L x W x H. Anything under 1 cubic foot will be vastly cheaper than over.

There are calculators on the web to calculate the dimensional weight.

They have been doing this for actually over a year or two since the influx of Amazon packages, etc. which tend to be smaller in size.

It's been killing me for ever, I usually ship boxes of 96 cans and often because of this the cost is more to send it domestic than overseas. It's been driving me crazy for over 2 years.

[oldindiapaleale]

The USPS formula for DIM weight:

package dimensions are multiplied, Length X Width X Height. If the result is more than 1 Cubic Foot (1728 cubic inches), divide the result by 166 to determine the Dimensional Weight.

Example 1729 cubic inches divided by 166 = 10.41 pounds rounds up to 11 pounds

If the package weighs 3 pounds you pay for 11 pounds

Here's the example from the first post:

A box that is 19 x 14 x 17 (available at WalMart) would hold at most 60 cans

If the total weight is 10 pounds and it is 4522 cubic inches divided by 166 = 27.24 28 pounds or $104 to zone 8

Zone 8 (cross country) is an extreme amount of $, other zones:

28 lbs= z1,2=29.55 3 =34.55 4=43.70 5=58.25 6=72.15 7=86.95 8=104.00

I looked this up on google "usps formula for dimensional weight" and it was confirmed by the usps web site calculator.

That's enough math for tonight. -Postmaster Billy

[Beercanpete]

My thanks to Postmaster Billy for your post!! I actually clicked the link to that on the USPS before I started this thread but I didn't bother to read it all the way through. I'm sure glad you had more patience for it than I did.

Back in the 1980's (and maybe later) you could send parcels overseas with a special "steamship rate" that was slow, but cheap. I remember I could send a box to Australia for less than it would cost to send from Connecticut to California. Looks like what goes round, comes round ...

[willssoda]

Not sure if it applies now but in the past USPS offered an oversized flat rate box. It was like $19. I once shipped 9 Suzuki samurai drive shafts for a flat rate of $19 something from Tennessee to California. I think I sent a box full of heavy flats too and came out like a bandit. These boxes are not kept out front snd you have to request them. Pricing has probably changed now.