The USPS gave sellers a grace period for switching to USPS Ground Advantage, a consolidated service it introduced on July 9th that replaced First Class Package Service, Parcel Select Ground, and Parcel Select Cubic.
This week, the USPS reminded sellers that the grace period would end on October 31st.
So what happens if a shipper sends something using one of the old services after the deadline?
“While packages bearing legacy product markings will not be refused, non-compliance fees may be assessed, systematically,” according to Wednesday’s announcement.
While Amazon added USPS Ground Advantage in August, it continued to offer the legacy services. On Monday, Amazon announced that USPS Ground Advantage was available on Amazon Buy Shipping.
The USPS said Ground Advantage is a more affordable way to ship packages up to 70 pounds in 2-5 business days, and features:
- $100 worth of included insurance for both retail and commercial customers, USPS Ground Advantage outbound and return parcels
- Package forwarding and return-to-sender endorsements
- Free package pickup on a carrier’s route
I’ve had the same basic shipping package for 10 years on Etsy. USPS (through Etsy as the enforcer) charged my “payment account” for a flat-rate box. I use a flat shipping fee, the same box, and same packing material so Etsy’s shipping calculator can’t short me. Now the USPS has decided that my package owed $10 over the usual fee long after it was delivered. Etsy buried the charge in “payment account” and doesn’t offer ways to refute the charge, but does allow the post office to take money. The email with link is pretty phishy too, since it doesn’t show up in the app. Seems like a pretty big one-way surprise, like the surprise 15% marketing penalty. So much money out of our pockets but not much into our pockets. We make these giant corporations money, but get very little to no benefit. It reminds me of all the record executives or magazines telling musicians and photographers that it will be good for your portfolio to work free for us.