I received this info to share with our FRG memebers, but thought it was worthy of sharing with everyone.....I have say, it's about time too!



STARTS MARCH 3 --- boxes available online beginning Feb 20

The U.S. Postal Service is rolling out a new, larger flat-rate box that
will feature - for the first time in Postal Service history - a military
discount for those mailing to APO and FPO addresses!!

Regardless of how much they weigh, the boxes will cost $12.95 to mail for
the general public, and $10.95 if mailed to an APO or FPO address, postal
officials said. The boxes themselves are free.

The larger new box will provide about 50 percent more space to stuff items
than the old version, officials said, with a volume of about half a cubic
foot, compared to about one-third cubic foot for the two existing flat-rate
boxes. The new box measures 12 inches by 12 inches by 5Ѕ inches. The two current flat-rate boxes cost $8.95 to mail to domestic and APO or FPO
addresses, and will still be available. They come in two different shapes.

Customers can begin using the new flat-rate box at the new mailing rates
March 3. The boxes will be available online by Feb. 20 at
Redirect to Supplies Page, or by calling (800) 610-8734 , but will be weighed and charged at the usual postal rates if they are mailed before March 3, said Postal Service spokeswoman Melissa Dodge.

Postal officials will provide a special version of the box for the
military, featuring the logo of "America Supports You," a Defense
Department-sponsored program designed to bring together more than 300
charitable and support groups and connect them with service members and
their families. The new package also will feature an address box for APO and FPO addresses. The military boxes will be distributed on a more limited
basis, Dodge said, primarily in areas closer to installations. But the
discount depends on the address, not the box, she noted. All of the larger
flat-rate boxes will receive the $2 military discount if they are mailed to
an APO or FPO address. The Postal Service's Board of Governors approved the box Jan. 17, and stated in their decision that the discounted mailing fee
"provides an opportunity for the Postal Service to assist American troops
stationed abroad and their families."

The larger box also can be used for international shipping, but is more
expensive if not sent to an APO or FPO address - $29.95 to Canada and Mexico and $49.95 to all other countries.
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"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

Thank you, great for when hubby and others are deployed. It's about time they did something like this.

FANTASTIC! I'll call and get some boxes delivered! I wonder if PP is going to have these listed as a shipping option?
I ship about a dozen pkgs a month to APO & FPO from eBay sales --- not counting boxes going to my nephew, which I use PP to print shipping label. Guess I'll email and ask them.

Thanks so much, mabear!

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Mary

This is super news - especially for those in the middle of the country or those sending to opposite coasts. Nearer to the military post office, sometimes a FRB isn't the way to go....but can't wait to get some of these new boxes and see how it goes. Will the $8.95 box still be available??

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

From what we were told this is an addition, not a replacement......I'm hoping the 8.95 box will still be available because those are perfect for the kids to send to Dad.....

__________________
"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

Thanks for the information. I passed it on to several in my family.

Yes, thanks for the info! It has not been cost effective for me to offer Miitary and/or PO boxes to my business shipping because of the cost. With the larger boxes, I'll be able to offer at least some of our products via priority now! YEAH!

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Thanks for the info. That's great news. It's so hard to put everything you want to put in the boxes available now.

I had seen mention of this in an Auction Talk thread:

$12.95 - New Flat Rate Priority Box


Good to see it went thru.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.