Ready for a repeat of the 2020 holiday season shipping logistics madness? Ready or not, it’s coming. Yesterday the USPS put its holiday surge pricing into effect. The increases most likely to effect your t-shirt fulfillment business are the $0.30 to $0.75 increases for first-class packages, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. If the past year is any indication of future changes, the temporary surge is only until another rate hike goes into effect at the end of the holiday season, December 26. If you offer flat rate shipping, it’s probably time to revisit what you charge.

You can thank the postal service’s 10-year Delivering for America plan for the deliberate slow down of first-class mail delivery that went into effect last week. Mail and package delivery standards are extending from 1-3 days to 1-5 days. Mail traveling to greater distances will be most impacted, as air transportation is being cut back in favor of ground transportation. This, along with all the other ongoing supply chain issues, is a good reason to encourage your customers to place their holiday orders early.