1st-class packages; 30-cent to $5.85 surcharge added to shipping costs

[GSPTOPDOG]

According to what I see the "surcharge" spread looks absurd, a 1st class package is under 13.1 oz. (and 15.9 oz. if bought on line on certain sites). So how can I sell a $19 knife that cost me $5.25 to ship already and then get a $5.85 "surcharge" on top of the already high shipping cost? Then take off the fees, gas to drive to the post office.

How will I know what the surcharge will be before I sell? Someone in Maine might buy a knife and that is about as far as you can get from me ($5.85 surcharge?)... or someone in California might buy it and there might be a $.95 surcharge. Looks like a big mess to me... It only gets worse... Prices go up again TWICE in 2023. Will this affect any sales on this site, or am I just worried that the "sky is falling" like I always seem to think it is?

Thank the Lord that "Sleepy Joe" is cancelling all that student debit for all them there doctors and lawyers and engineers so that inflation will stop and prices will come back down.

From the news:

"USPS says it's hiking prices for holiday shipping — starting in October."

"First-class packages will see a 30-cent to $5.85 surcharge added to shipping costs from October through January 22, the USPS said. Again, the amount of the surcharge will depend on package weight and distance."

And it only gets worse: It looks like there will be Two more price increases coming in 2023...

"The United States Postal Service plans to increase stamp prices next in July 2022 and will begin to boost prices twice a year in 2023, warning the increases may be steep.

The decision to accelerate to a twice-a-year schedule prompted criticism from mail industry groups, with the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers labeling it “a death spiral accelerator” for the financially troubled federal agency."

[Samb]

Might be cheaper to use UPS or FEDEX for knife shipment.

[gsmith7158]

With the price of diesel fuel creeping back over $5 a gallon you should expect further increases in shipping costs. What with you being a high end knife dealer perhaps you will be able to use your new $85,000 electric mustang to quickly and efficiently deliver your products.

[GSPTOPDOG]

With the price of diesel fuel creeping back over $5 a gallon you should expect further increases in shipping costs. What with you being a high end knife dealer perhaps you will be able to use your new $85,000 electric mustang to quickly and efficiently deliver your products.

Yep, I think I'll take out a loan on one of them there fancy new 'lectric' vehicles and then just not pay the loan off and wait for
the Democraps to forgive the owed money just before a big important election so I will keep on a' voting for 'em

[cody6268]

I just got the email from Stamps.com last week. I cringed. It's gone to the point flat rate boxes are incredibly overpriced, and now First Class, which I tend to use instead unless the package is heavy for the size, is going up too.

In my opinion, it is largely the diesel costs.

FedEx got a lot better as a result of the pandemic--UPS has always had it in gear. The USPS got even worse. From issues with their system to misdirected packages going from a rare fluke, to a given (I've had packages coming from a town 30 minutes from me; and also has the same regional sorting facility end up in Illinois before going back to WV and VA).

And then there's the whole massive contract to replace the LLV with a really oddly designed Oshkosh. No doubt, pork barrel politics was involved, as Oshkosh is a huge defense contractor. Oshkosh doesn't even make delivery vehicles normally.

Most European countries (if not all) use off-the-shelf commercial vans. Most of them are sold here, and the USPS has already purchased large numbers of the Mercedes Metris (Vito) and RAM Promaster (Fiat Ducato) as interim LLV replacements. FedEx only uses Sprinters here and has largely gotten rid of the large step vans. UPS uses a few RAM Promasters on smaller routes. All of them have RHD variants, and pretty much all of them have an electric model available. Also, A LOT cheaper and parts are also easier to come by and cheaper, being as they are commercial products. And, any dealer can service these vehicles.

[cudgee]

I wanted some sharpening stuff from an American company, small parcel came to $30US, Postage - $60US.

[Madmarco]

I wanted some sharpening stuff from an American company, small parcel came to $30US, Postage - $60US.

YUK!!!

[cudgee]

I wanted some sharpening stuff from an American company, small parcel came to $30US, Postage - $60US.

YUK!!!

Needless to say, i emptied my cart. I might look stupid, but i'm not that stupid.

[just bob]

Like the T Shirts say - Shop Local. We will all be doing that before long.

[Mumbleypeg]

It’s the Green (red) New Deal.

The USPS attempted to buy new vehicles having combustion engines to replace their aging fleet, but were not allowed to do so. Instead they were required to purchase more expensive electric vehicles (which we taxpayers are already subsidizing - oh goodie, we get to pay for them twice!).

Y’all don’t understand - it’s for our own good, don’t you see.

Ken

[GSPTOPDOG]

It’s the Green (red) New Deal.

The USPS attempted to buy new vehicles having combustion engines to replace their aging fleet, but were not allowed to do so. Instead they were required to purchase more expensive electric vehicles (which we taxpayers are already subsidizing - oh goodie, we get to pay for them twice!).

Y’all don’t understand - it’s for our own good, don’t you see.

Ken

Oooh, right! Obey! Obey! Obey! B.B.I.W.Y. !!!

[CluelessNick]

It seems that everything the government touches anymore is slowly crumbling away. Whether it is by design or just incompetence it's hard to know.

[cody6268]

I just had a package from Red Wing, Minnesota end up getting sent to the facility in Oakland, California after no updates whatsoever after it was picked up on Monday. I had expected it to show up today. However, knowing how long the facility in Oakland takes to process packages, I doubt it will even be here by the Friday estimate.

[Mumbleypeg]

It seems that everything the government touches anymore is slowly crumbling away. Whether it is by design or just incompetence it's hard to know.

Yet we somehow have about half of the people wanting the government to take care of them.


Ken

[peanut740]

Small priority boxes are going up .75 in October.

[cody6268]

Small priority boxes are going up .75 in October.

That will put them at over $10, correct?

[CluelessNick]

It seems that everything the government touches anymore is slowly crumbling away. Whether it is by design or just incompetence it's hard to know.

Yet we somehow have about half of the people wanting the government to take care of them.


Ken

Now THAT i believe is by design. The Feds want all of us beholding to them for everything.

[GSPTOPDOG]

I just shipped a fixed blade knife in the box that was a total weight of 12 oz. to the east coast. I bought the shipping ON-LINE and it was $6.28, but it really cost me $7.22 because I pay a 15% fee on the shipping cost (the money I get for shipping) and I pay 15% on top of the sales tax collected!!! If there is $20 in sales tax collected I pay $3 to FleBay... how is that not a giant RIP-OFF? I AM JUST ABOUT DONE with these damned fools!

[peanut740]

Small priority boxes are going up .75 in October.

That will put them at over $10, correct?

Yes

[Jeffinn]

I’m considering closing my online shop because of this.
The continual escalation in costs for everything from donor knives to handle material, buffing wheels, grinding belts etc. has really started to add up. Now I can add shipping and handling cost increases to the long list of things that may have just become too expensive to be feasible.
There’s only so much that you can reasonably charge for upgraded knives (if you want to sell them).
It might just be easier to unpack all of my knives and put them on the shelf.
Jeff

[GSPTOPDOG]

I’m considering closing my online shop because of this.
The continual escalation in costs for everything from donor knives to handle material, buffing wheels, grinding belts etc. has really started to add up. Now I can add shipping and handling cost increases to the long list of things that may have just become too expensive to be feasible.
There’s only so much that you can reasonably charge for upgraded knives (if you want to sell them).
It might just be easier to unpack all of my knives and put them on the shelf.
Jeff

That is a shame, you do beautiful work but there seems to be no end to these continual price increases. I have a TON of stuff I want to get rid of, things collected over 40 years worth of stuff and trying to sell at a flea market or yard sale well, you get next to nothing for it. but I am just about done after looking at every increasing FleaBay fees, a 1099 from/for the IRS after selling $600 worth of stuff and two more USPS price increases coming next year and the insane appearing USPS "seasonal" price hike coming Oct. 2nd.

[tvic]

It’s pretty disturbing to see the actual “payout” I get after selling something on Ebay - and then I have to subtract what I paid for shipping from that!
I don’t know if it’s just the area I live in, but FedEx never delivers on the date they are supposed to. I’ll look up the tracking number, see what the estimated delivery date is, and then it’s always several days later as the tracking just keeps saying “in transit.” UPS is much more dependable here.

BTW, a store owner here reported to the police he had found several undelivered FedEx boxes in the woods behind his business. Found out a FedEx driver had just dumped the boxes - why? Who knows!