The Postal Service is consolidating its current services—USPS Retail Ground, Parcel Select Ground, and First-Class Package Service—into one service called USPS Ground Advantage. This is part of an initiative to improve package offerings by increasing reliability, lowering prices, and simplifying services.
TL;DR on USPS’ Ground Advantage
- Effective July 9, 2023
- Domestic shipments only, not international
- Transit time: 2-5 days
- Weight Range: 1 oz – 70 lbs
- Retail rates will be reduced on average 3.2%, and commercial rates will decrease by 0.7%.
What is USPS Ground Advantage?
Ground Advantage is a new USPS service that will feature two-to five- day service standards for packages up to 70 pounds.
The Postal Service is incorporating three services—USPS Retail Ground, Parcel Select Ground, and First-Class Package Service—into this new Ground Advantage service.
See the full press release on this new offering from USPS.
What are the USPS Ground Advantage Costs?
Pricing will be tiered—under a pound, at 4 oz. increment levels (4 oz., 8 oz., 12 oz., and 15.999 oz.), and over a pound, at 1 lb. increment levels, up to 70 lbs.
The new service brings a drop in published prices, 1.4% lower than the current prices of both Parcel Select Ground and First-Class Package Service.
USPS Ground Advantage retail rates will decrease 3.2%, and commercial rates will decrease 0.7%.
See the full USPS pricing table here.
How Ground Advantage Will Affect Ecommerce Shippers
There are some clear benefits to the new Ground Advantage service. They include:
- More flexibility. First Class mail was categorized as an AIR service, which meant no Dangerous Goods could be shipped via First Class. Now that USPS Ground Advantage is a Ground service, customers will have more flexibility, including the ability to ship Dangerous Goods with this new service.
- Same free returns. Returns (both undeliverable and refused) will still be able to come back free of charge.
- Insurance coverage. USPS is considering adding free $100 insurance coverage for the new Ground Advantage service. This is still to be determined.
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Tags: Shipping carrier updates
