As we reported in February, the Postal Service is expanding nonstandard fees in July to apply to more packages. The USPS officially announced in May that the nonstandard fees will also apply to round or triangular tubes; a can, or a wooden or metal box; and packages with other characteristics it considers nonstandard as of next month.
But PostCom stated in its comments on Competitive Price Changes, PRC Docket No. CP2025-7, that the criteria for what constitutes a “nonstandard” package remain unclear and subjective. It said the Postal Service’s “vague criteria” makes it difficult not only for average shippers to reliably assess compliance, but for postal employees as well.
“The past experiences of PostCom’s members suggest that implementation is unlikely to be consistent across the Postal Service’s network, creating a distinct possibility that fees will not be assessed in a consistent and uniform manner. We are also concerned that there may be variation in the zealousness with which individual postal personnel may see the Non-Standard fees as a revenue enhancement opportunity.”
PostCom said small and independent businesses that rely on USPS for affordable shipping may be disproportionately affected by the changes to USPS nonstandard fees coming in July, which could hinder their competitiveness and viability.
