The USPS announced today, March 16, 2020, that seven partnering international carriers will be altering their services due to the ongoing Coronavirus situation. USPS packages addressed to the following countries will be affected by the changes in service:
Australia
Australia Post has suspended written proof of delivery on
inbound items until further notice.
Austria
Austrian Post has announced that for the time being it is no
longer able to meet its obligated delivery standards. Due to the Austrian
government’s regulations, delays are expected until April 14th.
Cyprus
Cyprus Post has advised customers to expect delays on
inbound letters and packages. Additionally, items that would typically require
proof of delivery will instead be delivered to the addressee’s mailbox or a
secure location.
El Salvador
Correos de El Salvador has announced a workforce reduction
to its logistics chain. Delays can be expected for all inbound packages and
letters.
Lithuania
Lithuania Post has suspended the collection of written proof of delivery services. All items requiring signature will be delivered to customers indirectly.
Netherlands
PostNL has suspended signature on delivery services until
further notice. Customers receiving items that previously required a signature will
instead be asked the last three digits of the recipient’s ID reference number,
this information will be collected by the postal carrier.
Saudi Arabia
Saudia Post has advised that all items requiring signature
will be delivered to customers indirectly. Customers receiving items requiring
proof of delivery will be sent a code to their mobile phone to confirm
delivery.
We have spent the last several months learning more than we
ever imagined about this novel coronavirus that has been named COVID-19.
We have been monitoring the rapid spread of this virus and the resulting sudden
impact it is now having on the global economy. Our thoughts and prayers go out
to all those who have already been affected by this crisis, and we hope that
all of our customers and partners and all of their families, friends and
colleagues stay as safe as they possibly can as this crisis unfolds.
Stamps.com and its family of companies began planning for an
approach to this situation several weeks ago. Our plan first and foremost
focused on the health and well-being of our employees, vendors, partners, and
our communities. We have now begun implementing the first steps of that plan
which includes having our employees work remotely as much as possible in order
to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission of this virus in our
workplaces around the globe.
We are very adept as an organization and we are
extraordinarily well prepared for this type of situation. As we shift to
this remote working employee model, Stamps.com management does not expect any
changes to the service and support that we provide to you.
We are here to help guide you and your company through this
crisis. We will keep you up-to-date on the latest news including any interruption
of service from our portfolio of mailing and shipping carriers around the
world. In addition, we will share the latest information on the many
safety precautions our carriers are taking to keep their drivers, vehicles and
packages safe for you and your customers.
If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Care
team at 1-888-434-0055 or at [email protected].
And above all else, stay safe and take care of yourself, your family and your
friends.
Starting March 6, 2020, the United States Postal Service
will no longer accept handwritten customs declarations forms. Customers sending
packages from USPS retail locations on or after March 3 will be required to use
PS Form 2976-R, USPS Customs Declarations and Dispatch Note. Packages found
with handwritten customs declarations forms will be deemed unbailable and
returned to the sender.
Note: Military Mail items sent from Military Post Offices will temporarily be exempt from this new regulation until further notice.
When to Use a Customs Form
Customs forms are required when USPS mail is sent to an
international destination or sent via Military Mail and weighs more than 16
ounces. As of the publication of this blog post, the USPS offers several
customs forms for international mail—the weight, value, mail class and
destination of the package determine which form to use. However, with the
upcoming changes to USPS customs declaration policy the following forms will be
discontinued and replaced with PS Form 2976-R:
PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22
PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch
Note CP 72
PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express
International Shipping Label and Customs Form
Stamps.com Makes International Shipping Easy
Stamps.com customers have access to automated forms for
every USPS shipping scenario—you will never have to worry about looking for the
appropriate form or sending a package with an outdated form. Customers can fill
out all necessary forms in the Stamps.com interface, print out postage, address
labels, and forms, all in one easy step.
To complete USPS customs forms in Stamps.com, you’ll need to
supply some basic information, including whether your package is a commercial
sample, gift, document, return or other. You’ll also be asked to specify the
quantity of each unique item, along with a description, value, weight, country
of origin and HS tariff number.
The 2020 USPS postage rate increase is just around the corner. Here are some FAQs to help you better understand the upcoming changes.
When do the new USPS rates start?
The 2020 USPS postage rates go into effect on Sunday,
January 26, 2020.
Is the price of a
First Class Mail letter (1 oz.) increasing in 2020?
First Class Mail letter (1 oz.) rates ARE NOT increasing for
2020. If you purchase postage at the Post Office, the rate will remain
$0.55. If you print postage online (via Stamps. com), the Metered Mail
rate will remain $0.50 in 2020, a 5 cent discount off the Post Office price.
Each additional ounce will cost $0.15 (no change from 2019).
When printing postage
online for First Class Mail letters, do I get a discounted rate?
Yes, customers who print postage using Stamps.com save 5
cents per letter, paying only $0.50 instead of $0.55 (Post Office rate) – a 9%
savings! This discount is known as the “Metered Mail” rate and is
available for all postage printed using an approved PC Postage/online postage
vendor such as Stamps.com or through a postage meter.
Can I buy $0.50
“Metered Mail” rate postage stamps at the Post Office?
No, the “Metered Mail” rate of $0.50 postage stamps can only be printed using an approved PC Postage/online postage vendor such as Stamps.com or through a postage meter. The “Metered Mail” $0.50 stamps cannot be purchased at the Post Office.
When printing
shipping labels online, do I get a discounted rate?
Yes, customers who print postage online automatically
qualify for discounted shipping rates (known as Commercial Base pricing) when
purchasing Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express or First Class Package Service.
This discount applies for both domestic and international deliveries. These
discounted rates are automatically calculated when you print a shipping label
inside the Stamps.com platform.
What is the maximum
weight of First Class Package Service?
The maximum weight for First Class Package Service is 15.999
ounces. It’s important to note that 15.999 ounces is lower than 1 lb. (16
ounces). When packages that use First Class Package Service are determined to
weigh 16 ounces or more, the USPS will automatically increase the mail service
to Priority Mail, and the additional cost will be taken out of your Stamps.com
account.
Does Stamps.com have
an option to ship merchandise using First Class Mail International Large
Envelopes/ Flats?
Yes! Stamps.com provides a service for online retailers to
ship merchandise in a Large Envelope/Flat to an International destination at a
significant cost savings compared to First Class Package International Service.
The savings can be $10.00 or higher using International Flats compared to First
Class Package International Service.
Did the USPS
Dimensional (DIM) Weight divisor change?
Yes, back in June 2019, the USPS changed the DIM divisor for
packages over 1 cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) from 194 to 166. DIM
pricing is applied to all packages over 1 cubic foot for Priority Mail,
Priority Mail Express and Parcel Select Ground.
The USPS was in the
news regarding international shipping and the Universal Postal Union. Has
anything changed with USPS International Shipping?
In September 2019, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) agreed to allow certain countries, including the U.S., to change the international shipping rates for small packages/bulky letters being imported into host countries. While USPS International Shipping services will remain unchanged, it’s possible the rates to ship items from the U.S. to international destinations could increase starting July 1, 2020, based on the UPU agreement.
I am a Stamps.com
customer. Do I need to take any actions to get the new rates after January 26,
2020?
No, if you are a Stamps.com customer, you do not need to
take any action. Stamps.com will automatically update all USPS rates inside the
software and web-based version (Stamps.com Online) on Sunday, January 26, 2020.
The busy holiday season is over, and now you can sit back and relax, right?
Well, not exactly. Your business is still doing business,
and along with normal operations that you have to manage on a daily basis,
you’ll probably have to deal with items that customers are returning for
exchanges or refunds.
Here are five tips that will help you to manage returns as
efficiently as possible, keep your customers happy, and learn tips for even
great success next holiday season.
Good customer service includes making it easy for customers
to return items. After all, if you do your best to give your customers what
they want, they’re likely to continue to give you their business. A clearly
marked and easily accessible returns portal on your website helps facilitate a
smooth and easy returns process. If a customer is returning an item, they may
already feel a certain level of frustration or disappointment, and a
complicated return process only exacerbates the situation. Your customers will
appreciate a quick, simple solution for returns.
This is beneficial for both you and your customers. Let them
know exactly what to expect in terms of deadlines, refunds, exchanges, etc.
Much confusion and frustration can be avoided if your terms are clearly spelled
out. Post clear, easy-to-understand policies on a page of your site that is
specifically designated for returns and/or shipping policies.
You should consider it part of your responsibility as an
e-commerce retailer to keep your customers informed regarding the status of
their packages. It’s a good policy to send an email when their return is
scanned at the post office or when you receive the package. This also makes it
easier for your staff, as return tracking information can help alleviate the
number of calls coming into your customer support team. Customers can see
clearly where their package is in the shipping process and when they can expect
it to arrive.
As a retailer, you’re concerned with customer satisfaction.
But you also have to keep an eye on the bottom line. So it’s important to know
how much a return is costing your business—in both dollars and work hours. This
includes the cost of shipping itself, customer service calls, restocking, etc.
If you do all the calculations and find that it costs as much or nearly as much
to return the item as it would to simply purchase another one wholesale,
consider letting the customer keep it instead.
Each time an item is returned, use it as an opportunity to
learn something about your customers and products. What items are returned and
why? Could it be a sign of a bigger problem, such as inaccurate product
descriptions, low-quality merchandise, poor customer service, or something
else? Learn from your returns, and make needed changes to reduce the number of
returns in the future.
Remember, returns don’t always equal failure on your part.
It’s just part of doing business. Keep this aspect of your customer service as
positive and convenient as possible and learn from your returns. If you do,
you’ll find that your customers—even those who have returned something—will be
back again.
We’ve all seen an infomercial that promises to let you return an item if you’re at all unhappy with your purchase. “If for any reason you’re no longer satisfied with your Snuggie, simply return it for a full refund. No questions asked.”
Many e-commerce return policies are based on this philosophy of risk-reversal. If you take away the risk of purchasing with a generously crafted return policy, people will be more likely to buy … But wait there’s more!
There’s much more to this story, as uncovered by a recent report from researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Published in The Journal of Retailing, the report looks at the effects of return policy leniency on purchases and returns in retail.
While the effects of return policy on retail sales are fairly well known, less is understood about the factors that influence people to return — or not to return — a product they’ve purchased. This report answers important questions for retailers about how they can use their return policy to achieve better business results.
The 5 Essential Elements of Return Rates
What are the ways to minimize returns and increase online sales? The report looked at the five most important elements of return policies and how each affects the rate of returns and overall profitability. These five elements are:
1) Time Leniency This is the time period during in which a return is accepted by the retailer. Is it a 30-day return policy, 60-day return policy?
2) Money Leniency This is how much money the retailer refunds for a return. Do you provide a 100 percent money-back guarantee, charge a restocking fee, etc.
3) Effort Leniency The amount of hassle for the consumer to complete a return. Does it involve filling out a form or presenting identification to complete a return?
4) Scope Leniency These are the products covered by the return policy. Are sale items included?
5) Exchange Leniency What consumers get for returning the good. Are they given cash, store credit or replacement goods? Report Results: Ways to Reduce Returns & Increase Sales If you want to increase sales, the study shows that hassle-free returns (effort leniency) and money-back guarantees (money leniency) are the best incentives for buyers. To decrease the dreaded returns, your policies should decrease the return options (exchange leniency) and increase the return periods (time leniency). Interestingly, people are actually less likely to return a product they’ve had for a longer period of time. It’s been theorized that this phenomena occurs because people often become more attached to items the longer they have them in their possession. That translates to longer return policies actually working to lower return rates and improve profitability.
Crafting the Right Return Policy How will you use the findings to help reduce returns? As the report shows, crafting the right return policy can help drive more online sales for your e-commerce business. It can also help you avoid more returns in the mail. Look at each of the five return policy dimensions against your own policy to find new opportunities to grow and become more profitable.
