E-Packet deliveries from China will cost a lot more in shipping soon

[Beamslider]

Why is the USPS always cash strapped?

A lot of it seems to be pension and healthcare cost for pensions. They are required to prefund them by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. So having to make billions in payments to funds to pay future benefits. Not like the rest of the Government does so.

 

[untar]

Hasn't the UPU ended China being allowed to send parcels as letters as of 1.1.2018?
Is this about something else?

 

[Beamslider]

E-Packet is the equivalent of USPS first class small package in the US. Not letter mail

 

[untar]

Before 2018 China could send parcels/packets as letters (or for letter rates). In Germany they were delivered by DHL (or Hermes if you angered the gods) like all other packets.

 

[Beamslider]

Well technically they are first class mail. First Class Mail is the same as letter rate in the US. A package 13 ounces or less can go first class USPS for individuals and Companies with USPS accounts can send up to 16 ounce packages first class. After that it has to go either parcel post (slow) or Priority or Express.

However a lot of the time Priority Mail is cheaper by weight than first class or parcel mail. Especially if the distance is near by. Priority and Parcel mail costs are based on zones. First Class costs the same to any US location

Edited to add: There are also Priority boxes and envelopes provided by the post office that are set price and don't matter the weight. You can shove into them anything to fits inside the box or envelope. Mail options are a mess.

 

[bnrkwest]

Well if I need something from FT I think I'll order soon LOL I have one order in on cheap shipping rates, cost me $.40, can't send a letter in US that cheap.

 

[VHRB2014]

China will just undercut it's work force even more. Will hardly effect the US consumer. This can already be seen in the market. And USPS had as much blame in this as China. Will be a good thing. MAGA!

 

[VHRB2014]

POTUS is an outside topic.

SMH. Does this come from a moderator, or are you in charge?

 

[bombastinator]

SMH. Does this come from a modetator, or are you in charge?

It comes from the forum rules. Political arguments are not allowed and trust me, it was about to get quite political.

A lot of it seems to be pension and healthcare cost for pensions. They are required to prefund them by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. So having to make billions in payments to funds to pay future benefits. Not like the rest of the Government does so.

Not the biggest problem by any means. But again, politics is not allowed.

 

[ScottP]

Tomato tomato. If FT suddenly costs $50 to use their days of under cutting US sellers by 60% are gone. The only reason to use FT is cost savings.

I have been known to order from China when what I want is completely out of stock in the US. Most recently I ordered 3 hcigar VT 75D mods from GearBest b/c that was the only place I could find it in stock AND it was on sale.

 

[ScottP]

Overall I think abolishing this treaty, for China at least, is the right thing to do. It was designed to help poorer emerging markets to grow. 144 years later and I don't think China can be considered a poor emerging market anymore.

 

[untar]

144 years ago there wasn't a republic of China. It's part of the UPU since 1914 and the fee system was first implemented in 1969. It just doesn't sound as impressive if you put it like that.

Look, I'm all for countries looking after themselves. But if the answer is always to get out of international treaties and creating a "the whole world is after us" narrative then I naturally have a skeptical attitude towards that.
Leaving the UPU just because of China? There's like 191 countries in that organization.
To me that's the diplomatic equivalent of a temper tantrum.

Yes, things have to change, but we don't have to abandon every advance in international cooperation in the process. In the end the consumer will still pay all the bills.

 

[IgnorantCig]

Yes, things have to change, but we don't have to abandon every advance in international cooperation in the process.

Sure we do.

If somebody is in a bad business relationship and they are getting the short end of the stick, the smart thing to do is to just end it.

There is zero reason to be party to bad, lopsided deals that were made eons ago and that are no longer functioning properly for the benefit of all parties. The US will be negotiating a new deal and if it works out then great, if not, then that's fine too.

"If negotiations are successful the administration is prepared to rescind the notice of withdrawal and remain in the UPU," according to a statement from White House press secretary Sarah Sanders.

There is something very wrong when a package costs less to send from China to the USA, than it costs to send from within the USA to another location in the USA.

The manufacturers association boss had sent a letter in April to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin complaining that the UPU system allows China to receive increasing subsidies from the U.S. Postal Service, which it says cost the USPS $170 million last year.

The UPU is also now a part of the U.N., and I hope to live to see the day when the US withdraws from that corrupt organization too, but that's another topic I suppose.

US Dispatches Goodbye Letter to Universal Postal Union

 

[HazyShades]

Why is the USPS always cash strapped?

Deleted the obvious...never mind.

 

[untar]

If somebody is in a bad business relationship and they are getting the short end of the stick, the smart thing to do is to just end it.

Except running a country isn't like running a business, that's an oversimplification. Every time something suddenly is very easy and obvious you should become suspicious. With really complex things there rarely are really simple answers.

 

[HazyShades]

Deleted the obvious...never mind.

The reason I deleted my comment above in reply to Lefty is that it might be interpreted as political commentary
which in reality needs not be elaborated on as it would be stating what is obvious to any reasonable observer.

In my humble opinion this entire thread belongs in the 'Outside', not because the information presented isn't relevant or valid, especially to us vapers, many of whom rely on or are used to "vapemail" from China..
It belongs 'Outside' because in order to properly address the subject one need get political.

The OP mentions "*****'s history of accusatory rhetoric", given the definition of rhetoric;
"language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content."
Said statement is a judgment call which opens the door to political debate
and therefore belongs Outside.

 

[bombastinator]

The reason I deleted my comment above in reply to Lefty is that it might be interpreted as political commentary
which in reality needs not be elaborated on as it would be stating what is obvious to any reasonable observer.

In my humble opinion this entire thread belongs in the 'Outside', not because the information presented isn't relevant or valid, especially to us vapers, many of whom rely on or are used to "vapemail" from China..
It belongs 'Outside' because in order to properly address the subject one need get political.

The OP mentions "*****'s history of accusatory rhetoric", given the definition of rhetoric;
"language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content."
Said statement is a judgment call which opens the door to political debate
and therefore belongs Outside.

Yes and no. The fact of the change is valid news. The why whatfor and whether or not it was wise are political though.

 

[United States]

If it costs $2.99 to have it shipped from an American company to my house and now $3.99 from Asia.....
That's an easy choice. I'm cool with that.

I mean seriously, when I was getting "free shipping" on small items from across the planet? Something isn't kosher there and somebody is paying for it. Turns out it seems it was the US taxpayers? Nope, homie can't like that one.

 

[dom qp]

I rather pay an extra couple dollars on my income taxes and have a professional postal service employing dozens of thousands with livable wages. At least I rather that than my local vape shop employing a couple extra guys at minimum wage that draw from social services to supplement their income: food stamps or tax credits because they don't make a livable wage.

When it comes to my country (Canada) vs China, we will never be able to compete due to cost of labor and overhead. It's just not possible. But rather than winning that fight I think it's better to focus on the things where they can't compete: quality and customer service.

I don't mind paying a couple extra hours worth of wage to get something like a Hexohm. Or even something designed locally but produced internationally, like my B2K or KRMA. I don't do it because these products are made by people who have maple syrup running through their veins, I do it because they provide a better quality product.

At the end of all of it, the way I see it, it's all about whether people prefer quality and craftsmanship over a couple dollars. In a free market both should exist and the consumer should dictate the size of both.

I also own my fair share of Chinese produces vape products. But i'm not the kind of guy to order from fasttech over my B&M to save $5. One month of waiting is not worth the $5 i'd save. But that's just me.

 

[untar]

somebody is paying for it. Turns out it seems it was the US taxpayers?

Are you trolling or do you actually believe that? USPS isn't subsidized by taxpayer money.
You'll find that would be illegal...

But at least now your local vape manufacturers can finally go into business and

oh...