USPS Is Discontinuing Regional Rate Boxes
As of January 22, 2023, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will no longer offer Regional Boxes for shipping. This change affects online sellers who use these boxes to ship their products. Here's what you need to know about the discontinuation of Regional Boxes and how it will impact your business.
What Were USPS Regional Rate Boxes?
Regional Rate Boxes were a special type of shipping option offered by the United States Postal Service. They allowed customers to send regional packages for a discounted rate, beneficial for those sending orders that weren't considered urgent, but needed to be delivered within the same regional area. These boxes typically included specific measurements and weight limits, allowing customers to take advantage of a number of different size options when they needed to ship an item. Regional Rate Boxes only required first-class postage, making them even cheaper than standard flat rate options while still providing fast delivery times. Although they are no longer an available shipping option at the USPS, regional rate boxes can still be found in a wide range of shipping services today.
When Is The United States Postal Service (USPS) Discontinuing Regional Boxes?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently announced a plan to discontinue regional rate boxes by January 22, 2023. This change will affect customers who have used regional boxes in the past, as they will no longer be available. Although regional boxes may no longer be available after January 2023, it is good news that other postal services will still remain open.
How Will This Change Effect Your Mail?
The Regional Rate Box delivery option is seeing a significant decline in usage due to other services competing for the same market share. This means that for those who still use Regional Rate Boxes, you may experience delays or longer wait times before delivery as demand for this service decreases as we approach the discontinuation of the service level. If you find yourself using Regional Rate Boxes often, you may want to reevaluate your options and look into alternate mail carriers and service levels.
Why Are Regional Rate Boxes Being Phased Out?
The costs of regional rate boxes have become so prohibitively expensive that they are no longer economically viable. Shipping costs, materials costs, and labor costs have skyrocketed over the past decade as demand for these boxes has declined. As a result, many shippers have opted to switch to a more affordable cubic rate pricing structure instead of continuing to pay for inefficient packaging costs associated with the regional rate box system. Although it was once extremely popular, this type of shipping option is slowly being phased out and replaced by new technologies that provide faster, cheaper delivery options. USPS is encouraging Regional Rate Shippers to switch to cubic pricing.
What Is USPS Cubic Pricing?
Cubic Pricing is a rate courtesy of the United States Postal Service (USPS). Cubic Pricing applies to customers who are shipping smaller parcels that weigh less than 20 lbs and measure less than 0.5 cubic feet. Cubic Pricing offers lower rates for perfectly-shaped packages, such as boots or shoes, small electronics, and other items from small vendors or businesses. Cubic Pricing only charges one rate regardless of the destination ZIP Code which makes it a great option when shipping multiple packages at once. Cubic Pricing is also an ideal shipping solution for customers who have a tight budget but require quick delivery times.
Conclusion
As of January 22, 2023, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is discontinuing regional rate boxes. This means that if you have been using these for your business shipping needs, you'll need to find a new solution. While it may be difficult to find an affordable option that offers the same benefits as regional rate boxes, it's important to act now and find a replacement before your customers are affected. Are you currently exploring new shipping options? Let us know in the comments below.
