The ban covers any devices that use a lithium or lithium ion battery; rechargeable or not. This means that companies cannot ship mobile phones, tablets (including iPads) , laptop computers, other items with these types of batteries using the United States Postal Service to locations outside the United States. Even if the batteries are not physically inside a device but in the same package, it is prohibited.

Graphic above from FastCompany.com

Shippers that need to send these type of items outside of the U.S.A. should look towards FedEx and UPS.

Remember: If you are insuring with Shipsurance your packages are not covered if they do not follow the carrier rules and regulations.

View the complete bulletin here: http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22336/html/updt_004.htm

Remember, First Class mail has limited tracking and sometimes having tracking makes a difference between a lost package and a delayed package.

Once again following UPS, FedEx has announced their 2012 rate changes. The changes will take place on January 2, 2012; the same day that the new UPS rates take place. Below is a list of some of the changes

FedEx Rate Changes for 2011:

• Rates increased an average of 5.9%. The rate increase was partially offset by adjusting the fuel price at which the fuel surcharge begins, reducing the fuel surcharge by 2%.
• Minimum rates for FedEx Express services changed.
• SmartPost rates increased.
• Additional Handling Surcharge increased from $8 to $8.50.
• Delivery Area Surcharge - The surcharge for commercial and extended commercial shipments increased from $1.85 per package to $2 per package.
• FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services- The surcharge for residential shipments increased from $2.75 per package to $3 per package.
• FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services – The charge for Direct Signature Required increased from $3.25 per package to $3.50 per package

The rate change that Shipsurance can help offset is the  annual raise in Declared Value cost:

• Declared value fees for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services – Increased from $0.75 to $0.80 per $100 of value. For U.S. package services, the charges apply to shipments valued in excess of $100, and the minimum charge increased from $2.25 to $2.40.

Once again, the surcharges take a big hit, especially their declared value fees. Charges will increase from $0.75 to $0.80 per $100 of value. U.S. package services charges will apply to shipments valued in excess of $100, and the minimum charge will increase from $2.25 to $2.40

• Declared Value will increase $0.05 per $100 to $0.80 per $100 of the value declared, with a minimum charge of $2.40.
• The On-Call Pickup Area Surcharge for extended residential addresses will increase $0.25.
• The charges for Delivery Confirmation Signature Required and Delivery Confirmation Adult Signature Required will increase $0.25.
• The Residential Surcharge for UPS Ground Services will increase $0.10

Once again, Shipsurance is not raising our shipping insurance for UPS shipments with the new year, so even more savings will be realized!

For a complete list of rate changes, visit: http://www.rates.ups.com/

United States Postal Service - http://about.usps.com/news/service-alerts/2011-federal-holidays.htm

• Saturday, January 1 - New Year’s Day
• Monday, January 17 - Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday
• Monday, February 21 - Washington’s Birthday (President’s Day)
• Monday, May 30 - Memorial Day
• Monday, July 4 - Independence Day
• Monday, September 5 - Labor Day
• Monday, October 10 - Columbus Day
• Friday, November 11 - Veterans Day
• Thursday, November 24 - Thanksgiving Day
• Monday, December 26 - Christmas Day (Observed)
• Monday, January 2, 2012 - New Year’s Day (Observed)

UPS - http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/imp_exp/operation.html

FedEx - http://www.fedex.com/us/service-guide/holiday-schedule.html

The overall average price increase across all mailing services is capped by law at 2.1 percent. The new prices were filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission on Oct. 18, 2011 and the Commission has 45 days to review the prices.

Main increases include:

• Mailing First Class letters will cost an additional one cent to $0.45
• Mailing a postcard will cost an additional three cents to $0.32
• Mailing letters to Canada or Mexico will cost an additional five cents to 85 cents
• Mailing letters to other international locations will cost an additional seven cents to $1.05.

On a positive note, the USPS will now offer free Delivery Confirmation services for several parcel products.

More details can be found here.

The Administration recognizes the enormous value of the Postal Service (USPS) to the Nation’s commerce and communications, as well as the urgent need for reform to ensure its future viability. USPS faces a long-term, structural operating deficit that has been exacerbated by the precipitous drop in mail volume in the last few years due to the economic crisis and the continuing shift toward electronic communication.

Absent legislative intervention, USPS will be insolvent by the end of September 2011. Bold action is needed to ensure that USPS can continue to operate in the shorterm and achieve viability in the long-run.

To that end, the President is proposing a comprehensive reform package that would:

• Restructure Retiree Health Benefit pre-funding in order to reduce near-year Postal payments;
• Provide USPS with a two-year Federal Employees Retirement System employer contribution holiday to take into consideration the current $6.9 billion surplus in Postal contributions;
• Reduce USPS operating costs by giving USPS authority to reduce mail delivery from six days to five days;
• Allow USPS to offer non-postal products and increase collaboration with state and local governments; and
• Give USPS the ability to better align the costs of postage with the costs of mail delivery.

These reforms would provide USPS with over $20 billion in cash relief over the next several years and in total would reduce the federal deficit by more than $10 billion.

Absent from the reform package was the USPS proposal to reduce labor costs.

From AMPC

Tip: View it in full screen mode to clearly see the demo screens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-4SlWmJpQs

www.shipsaver.co

http://applications.ebay.com/selling?ViewEAppDetails&appType=1&appId=insurance.inkfrog.com

Mail that was held in the U.S. Postal Service network since the work stoppage began is being released today and transported to Canada in stages. Customers will experience some delays in service due to the large volume of mail that was being held. The U.S. Postal Service is working closely with Canada Post to keep these delays to a minimum and return service levels back to normal for all products as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) remains the best option to avoid delays in service. GXG is a premium, date-certain international shipping option with international transportation and delivery by FedEx Express. GXG is available online at www.usps.com and at thousands of participating retail locations throughout the United States or through Click-N-Ship at www.usps.com.

Additional information and updates regarding acceptance and movement of international mail is available at www.usps.com/communications/news/serviceupdates.htm.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2011/pr11_077.htm

“As a convenience to our customers and to minimize service disruptions, we arranged to accept mail destined for Canada as long as possible,” said Giselle Valera, vice president, Global Business. “We will continue to closely monitor the strike situation, and once Canada Post resumes operations, the Postal Service will again begin accepting mail for Canada. We also will then resume processing any Canadian-destined mail currently held in our network.”

To avoid service disruptions or delays — regardless of the duration of the strike at Canada Post — USPS customers can continue to send letters and packages using GXG — the premium, date-certain international shipping option with international transportation and delivery by FedEx Express. GXG is available online at usps.com and at thousands of participating retail locations throughout the United States.

Click here for additional information and updates regarding acceptance and movement of international mail.