A piece from our Sales Director, Guy Cliffe…

When you’re posting a marketing campaign, or magazine overseas, it’s very easy to choose the cheapest supplier without thinking through the ramifications of your choice – particularly during these crazy COVID times. Some destinations worldwide are harder to reach than others, with delays to countries including popular destinations like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the US.

Remember there are different service options available depending on how quickly you might want to deliver your items. ‘Direct Entry’ means we might look at using the postal authority of the receiving country and post on a local service. So if you are posting something from the UK to the US, we could use a direct USPS service. But remember the US has different weight and dimension restrictions, so a UK size Letter may need to post as a Large Letter in the US, which could increase your anticipated costs. Similarly, all countries have different weight breaks and sizing bands, so the rules for posting on a Direct Entry service are different from posting on an International postal service. Alternatively, we could use Royal Mail, but this is likely to be more expensive and they still have to hand traffic over to be delivered locally in-country, so paying a premium for a Royal Mail service may not solve any potential delivery delays. And we can also post using another international postal authority and this might be cheaper, but take longer (certainly as long as Royal Mail, but possibly longer than a direct service). There are also a myriad of local country alternatives to the main postal provider (just like we have alternatives here in the UK like Whistl, Citipost, The Delivery Group, etc.). However whilst this may reduce prices, the service may take slightly longer to deliver, depending on the country – unlike the UK where the delivery time is comparable (and on occasion even quicker!)

There’s also the thorny issue of Priority/Non Priority/Standard/Economy; what do they all mean? Most countries don’t have a 1st and 2nd class postal delivery like exists in the UK, they just have a single post service. And whilst a UK 1st class service might take 1-2 working days to deliver domestically, a US 1st class service has a delivery expectation of 1-4 working days and for 2nd class that rises to 4-9 working days! So a UK 2nd class service will likely deliver quicker than a US 1st class service when comparing domestic services, so there is no like for like and it can add to the confusion when you’re managing a campaign that is delivering to multiple countries across multiple continents.

So there are many different options available and I have always found that being completely transparent about all the options means I can provide the best possible advice. There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer!

I’d be happy to discuss and provide the best advice for any future campaigns you might be considering posting and it’s never been more important to make sure you are using the most appropriate service to match your needs/requirements and get the best value for money.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/guycliffe/

As covered in our news story on the 17th August, the United States Postal Service (USPS) filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for a temporary price increase. Unfortunately, on 4th September 2020, the PRC approved this temporary change, taking effect on 18th October 2020 until 27th December 2020. 

The planned temporary price adjustments are in response to increased expenses and heightened demand for online shopping package volume due to the coronavirus pandemic and expected holiday eCommerce. As a result of these changing conditions, the Postal Service is planning a timed limited price increase on all commercial domestic competitive package volume from 18th October until 27th December 2020. Retail prices and international products will be unaffected. 

The planned price increase would go into effect at 12:00 am Central on 18th October 2020 and will remain in place until 12:00 am Central 27th December 2020. 

The planned prices, approved by the Governors of the Postal Service on 6th August, would raise prices on its commercial domestic competitive parcels – Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select, and Parcel Return Service. 

The time-limited adjustment will increase prices for our commercial customers in line with competitive practices without impacting customers at the retail level. In doing this, the Postal Service is protecting the retail consumer during the vulnerable economic period while increasing prices on commercial volume during heightened volume levels. 

No structural changes are planned as part of this limited-time pricing initiative, allowing customers the greatest ease in implementing the new prices with minimal complexity. 

The Governors believe these temporary rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the agency with much needed revenue. The forecasted additional revenue from the time-limited increase will depend on the volume of packages shipped between 18th October and 27th December 2020 at commercial rates. 

If you have any questions regarding the temporary increase, please don’t hesitate to give your Account Manager a call. 

The United States Postal Service (USPS) filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today of a temporary price change taking effect on 18th October 2020. 

The planned temporary price adjustments are in response to increased expenses and heightened demand for online shopping package volume due to the coronavirus pandemic and expected holiday eCommerce. As a result of these changing conditions, the Postal Service is planning on a time-limited price increase on all commercial domestic competitive package volume from 18th October until 27th December 2020. Retail prices and international products will be unaffected. 

The planned price increase would go into effect at 12:00 am Central on 18th October 2020 and will remain in place until 12:00 am Central 27th December 2020. 

The planned prices, approved by the Governors of the Postal Service on 6th August, would raise prices on its commercial domestic competitive parcels – Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select, and Parcel Return Service. 

The time-limited adjustment will increase prices for our commercial customers in line with competitive practices without impacting customers at the retail level. In doing this, the Postal Service is protecting the retail consumer during the vulnerable economic period while increasing prices on commercial volume during heightened volume levels. 

No structural changes are planned as part of this limited-time pricing initiative, allowing customers the greatest ease in implementing the new prices with minimal complexity. 

The Governors believe these temporary rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the agency with much needed revenue. The forecasted additional revenue from the time-limited increase will depend on the volume of packages shipped between 18th October and 27th December 2020 at commercial rates. 

If you have any questions regarding the temporary increase, please don’t hesitate to give your Account Manager a call. 

Are you affected by the price hikes on post to the US from July 1st?

Prices are literally doubling from some suppliers – with Royal Mail announcing a £4.46/kg increase for all formats as well as further increases to their price per piece for eCommerce items.

Why the sudden change? 

The United States has changed the way they work with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and how deliveries made by the United States Postal Service (USPS) are calculated. The US took this decision to discourage overseas imports and to encourage US citizens to buy direct from US sellers, which in turn has resulted in international postage price rises from the 1st July.

How can UKPW help?

Put simply, we have a strong and reputable relationship with USPS, with whom we have been working in partnership with for over ten years. And we have our own office in the US in New Jersey. The result – direct injection of your post and parcels into the US on a direct USPS service.

So talk to us NOW for an up to date quote or for a more detailed analysis of why the prices are changing.

Email: info@ukpworldwide.com
Call: +44 (0) 1844 398880

UKP Worldwide and Whistl are collaborating to offer their customers a seamless customs clearance service for mail and parcel customers who operate internationally.

The collaboration enables both their customer’s goods to pass through UK customs approved processes without unnecessary delay and means they’re the only ones offering an inhouse customs clearance service ensuring efficiency, reliability and regulatory compliance without having to engage in third parties to do so.

The relationship covers international mail, packets and parcels through both tracked and untracked service options and fully managed returns from certain countries.

We also have a unique agreement with the United States Postal Service (USPS) allowing customers direct access to USPS services through our facility in New Jersey USA.

Lee Bucktrout, CEO UKP Worldwide, said:

“Whether you import, export or tranship parcels it’s imperative to select a partner who understands local and international regulations. By choosing UKP Worldwide (an Authorised Economic Operator – AEO) you will benefit from compliant customs procedures as well as a secure supply chain solution.”

“This collaboration allows UKP Worldwide to provide clearance solutions and seamless transfer to the Whistl carrier network with a single point of contact for customs clearance, final mile delivery and managed returns.”

Nick Wells, CEO Whistl, said:

“As the UK’s trading relationships with the wider world are changing it is important for customers to be working with experts in the international import and export mail and parcel sector who can navigate this complex compliance journey.”

“For example, recent research from Whistl found that 26% of respondents said the cost and complexity of customs/import charges stopped people making international online purchases. So, by working with UKPW, Whistl continues to simplify the delivery management process by taking away unnecessary hurdles that can impede sales and ensure efficient and reliable delivery both in the UK and internationally.”