USPS rolls out new Express Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope

The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced this week that it has rolled out an Express Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope.

USPS said the new envelope is 9.5 x 12.5 inches and can be ordered online for free at www.usps.com, effective August 2, and it can be sent to nearly every U.S.-based location overnight at $17.75 for either commercial or online customers.

And USPS officials also said that this new offering is part of its Express Mail Flat Rate product line, which also includes an Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope and an Express Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope, both for $18.95, and a new Express Mail Flat Rate Box introduced last January retailing for $39.95.

What’s more, the USPS said the Express Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope follows in the footsteps of the Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope, which rapidly is best suited for e-commerce shippers needing a lightweight fulfillment shipping option.

“The Express Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope is just like the Priority Mail version – only it gets there faster,” said Gary Reblin, vice president, Domestic Products, in a statement. “It’s a great option for shippers who need to get lightweight items to their destination overnight because it offers businesses and consumers the great combination of convenience, speed and value. Flat-rate pricing saves time and effort on mail preparation and makes it possible to more accurately predict shipping costs.”

This was echoed by Doug Caldwell, VP EMEA, at AMFS.

Caldwell told LM that this new envelope is ideal for small merchandise items, such as jewelry, CD’s and DVD’s, small electronic items, and books.

“The Postal Service introduced the Priority Mail padded rate envelope in February of 2011, and it’s proved to be a big hit,” he said. “In fact, it’s now their most popular Priority envelope. And a lot of people don’t realize that Express mail is the only service offering from any carrier that delivers on Sundays and holidays. In addition, any location with a US Zip Code is considered ‘domestic’ with the Post Office, including Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands. Those are international with the other carriers. Express mail also has a money back guarantee and $100 in coverage, so it’s a pretty good value. I’m sure it will prove to be popular.”