FEBRUARY 2008
Volume 6 No. 1

Recent Service Announcements from the U.S. Postal Service

New Bigger Priority Flat-Rate Box
The Board of Governors approved a bigger Priority flat-rate box with a first-time Military discount. The new flat-rate box (12" x 12" x 5 ½") can be used for both domestic and international shipments. There is a special version of the box for military, with a $2 discount, if shipped to an Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office (APO/FPO) address. The flat-rate boxes give customers a single, predetermined rate regardless of the weight or delivery zone. Customers can begin using the new larger boxes March 3, 2008.

Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box Prices are listed below:
Domestic Shipping $12.95
Military Shipping - APO/FPO Addresses $10.95
International Shipping - Canada/Mexico $29.95
- Other Countries $49.95

The Postal Service will continue to offer its original Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes, which currently retail domestically for $8.95. The USDA Mail Center already stocks the smaller flat-rate boxes and will also stock the larger boxes.

USPS Premium Forwarding Service Now Permanent
The U.S. Postal Service announced recently that Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) now is a permanent service. With PFS, all mail is forwarded including magazines and catalogs. Mail is reshipped once a week to a customer's temporary location for a fee. Expedited services mail, such as Express Mail, Priority Mail, and Registered Mail are forwarded separately at no extra charge. Customers can enroll at the Post Office serving their permanent address (a government issued photo ID and proof of permanent address are required). There is a one-time application fee of $10, and the weekly forwarding fee is $11.95.

Temporary Change of Address and Hold Mail services remain available at no charge.

 

Departmental Administration, Office of Operations
Mail and Reproduction Management Division