I have been wondering why so few people are in line mailing packages at the post office the past few months. I now know, as I was shocked yesterday mailing a tripod to my family in Arizona. The box weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces. It was 22 by 17 by 7 inches. By weight, the postage should be about $42, but because it is over one cubic foot, it’s rated at dimensional weight — at 16 pounds. That rate is $73.50.
As the employee explained it to me, that is what a box that size should weigh. So, I am required to pay an additional $31.50 for my box to take that amount of space on an airplane. It’s no wonder once someone is shocked silly mailing something at the post office, they stop dead in their tracks; no more of that!
So we go online and order gifts on Amazon with free shipping, or buy tiny gifts to fit a flat rate box. I expect the post office will close up shop soon. If people refuse to pay the outrageously high additional postage and all online retailers get greatly reduced rates, it can’t survive. Keep raising the price of a stamp, but that little stamp can’t support the post office if all of America just stops mailing packages.
— Laura Ferguson
Palmer
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