If you’ve ever shipped odd-shaped or oversized items, get ready. New USPS fees could hit merchants with higher shipping costs starting this July. The Postal Service will begin charging extra for packages it considers “nonstandard”. This includes things like tubes, cans, wooden or metal boxes, and even certain polybags. These fees aren’t small either. They range from $2 to $15 per package, added on top of your regular postage.
Not surprisingly, shipping advocacy groups like the Package Shippers Association and PostCom are pushing back. They’re calling the new fees “punitive”. Pointing to examples where costs jumped by as much as 93% for some Priority Mail shipments. Their concern is clear. Vague definitions and inconsistent enforcement could make it especially tough for small sellers to plan or absorb the added costs.
And that’s where the real issue lies. According to PostCom, USPS still hasn’t clearly defined what qualifies as “nonstandard,” which opens the door for inconsistent application across different post offices. Even worse, there’s no straightforward process for shippers to dispute a charge once it’s been applied.
How New USPS Fees Could Raise Shipping Costs for Merchants
If your store ships anything outside of a standard rectangular box like posters, rolled textiles, or oddly shaped items, this could upend your entire shipping game. You might get hit with surprise fees, have to change your packaging, or even rethink how you price shipping for customers.
These aren’t just minor increases. A $15 upcharge on a $10 product can quickly kill margins, especially if the fees catch you off guard.
What You Can Do Right Now
- Audit your packaging. Look at what you’re shipping now and identify any items that could be flagged as nonstandard.
- Test new rates. Use shipping calculators or software to see how fees affect your costs.
- Consider packaging changes or alternate carriers. A small change in box dimensions or switching carriers might save you big.
Also, keep an eye on other USPS changes that are coming down the line.
Why USPS Shipping Costs Keep Rising and What Merchants Should Expect Next
The Postal Regulatory Commission is proposing to limit rate hikes for services like First-Class and Media Mail to once a year starting in 2025. That might help bring some predictability back. But not everything is slowing down, USPS still plans multiple price increases this year for Ground Advantage and other shipping services.
Translation: even if you avoid nonstandard fees, more rate changes are coming your way.
Don’t Let Rate Hikes Wreck Your Workflow
When fees, rules, and shipping costs change without warning, your fulfillment setup needs to be ready. New USPS fees could hit merchants with higher shipping costs, and that’s just one example of how fast things can shift. With Ordoro, you get real-time rate visibility, smart packaging insights, and tools to help you stay ahead of surprise charges.
Chat with an Ordoro expert to make sure your back office is built to flex, no matter how USPS redraws the map.