The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) is inviting stakeholders to consult on USPS rate increases, and shippers have until the end of July to make their voices heard.
In its mandated review of rate-setting in 2020, the PRC did not give USPS full authority to set rates for market-dominant rates, but it did give it the power to accelerate the pace of rate increases, as this Government Executive article explained at the time.
But with the recent passage of postal reform that eases the Postal Service’s financial burden, industry groups are calling for the PRC to rethink its 2020 ruling. And so is Congress.
In a dry statement on its website, the PRC said in a nutshell that in response to a House of Representatives report, interested persons could provide input via email to stakeholderinput@prc.gov or by letter to the Commission at 901 New York Ave., N.W., Ste. 200, Washington, DC 20268 by July 31, 2022.
An association of industry players called “Keep Us Posted” had a more understandable take on its website where it discussed the PRC’s consultation process, saying it “should lead it to reconsider its 2020 ruling which gave Postal Service leadership the power to initiate postage rates that far outpace surging inflation levels.”
Keep Us Posted didn’t mince words, saying there were “grim consequences” to the Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s planned postage hikes and writing the following:
“If allowed to continue, these excessive rate increases will make mail more unaffordable for all Americans, as well as newspapers, nonprofits, and businesses that depend on the Postal Service. DeJoy’s plans will ultimately create more economic instability while hurting the Postal Service’s ability to keep delivering for our country by decreasing mail volume and revenue.”
The organization also linked to a petition that called for the PRC to rescind the additional rate setting authority granted to the USPS and begin a new review process. “Now that the Postal Service Reform Act is law, USPS no longer needs to raise rates so often. The American people deserve to gain from postal reform,” it stated.
Hope they can do something, government don’t care. I checked their FB and didn’t see alot of activity going on but did sign up for newsletter, hoping to see some action
Unbelievably, the USPS is single handedly murdering America.
The mail is America’s Achilles Heel.
And they know it will bring us to our knees.
They seem to think they won’t pay the ultimate penalty.
The surcharges that begin when a package is 22 inches long is going to kill those who ship rolled arwork, schematics, and plans. The core of my business is reproduction artwork and printing of large format PDF files. Adding a $15 surcharge to a Priority Mail package that is 38″ long but only weighs 1 lb is insane. The same package shipped via UPS 2nd Day is half of what the US Post Office charges. Additionally, insurance on that Priority Mail is only included up to a value of $50, otherwise you pay even more. UPS gives you up to $100 insurance coverage for no additional fees. I cannot pass these exhorborant fees to my customers, and I do not plan on paying extra for something of so little value. Also, the US Post Office tends to destroy about 1/3 of my tubes, one even had the bootmark from where the carrier bent the tube around his foot in order to fit it into a mailbox!
UPS delivers to your door, half the price of the USPS, includes more insurance, and has a 99% package survival rate.
USPS is twice the cost. Does not deliver to the door in most areas, only offers up to $50 free insurance on Priority Mail, and has a miserable 66% package survival rate.
Where is the incentive for me to contine using USPS? There is none. I’ll use them to send letters and small parcels under 11oz. But for anything else, they are not worth the cost.