Higher Shipping Prices
I don't know if anyone has seen this, but as of May 14th. Postage rates have gone up again, at every level. I work in a business where we ship things internationally on a daily basis, and let me tell you these new rates are OUTRAGEOUS.
For example, via USPS, the cheapest possible way to ship a 40lb package to Japan is now $165. It's something like $85 for 20lbs to the UK.
It used to be that there were slower "economy" ways to ship packages overseas, but they don't appear to exist anyomre, leaving air the only (and much more expensive) method. I dunno about any of your jobs, but this could have a HUGE impact on my place of business, and I wouldn't be suprised if it causes massive inflation everywhere else as well since shipping is something that every business has to at least be on the receiving end of.
It seems that in some ways this massive increase will damage foreign relations simply because people will have to look to their own countries for products unless they're willing to pay insane shipping costs. I know I've bought stuff overseas off e-Bay a lot, but doubt I'll do it much now.
My boss said that he thinks the rates went up because the Post Office has to employ new expensive security measures, which may be true. If that is the case, score 1 point for terrorists in that they've put a hamper in international relations.
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Pebbs 4 Life
For example, via USPS, the cheapest possible way to ship a 40lb package to Japan is now $165. It's something like $85 for 20lbs to the UK.
It used to be that there were slower "economy" ways to ship packages overseas, but they don't appear to exist anyomre, leaving air the only (and much more expensive) method. I dunno about any of your jobs, but this could have a HUGE impact on my place of business, and I wouldn't be suprised if it causes massive inflation everywhere else as well since shipping is something that every business has to at least be on the receiving end of.
It seems that in some ways this massive increase will damage foreign relations simply because people will have to look to their own countries for products unless they're willing to pay insane shipping costs. I know I've bought stuff overseas off e-Bay a lot, but doubt I'll do it much now.
My boss said that he thinks the rates went up because the Post Office has to employ new expensive security measures, which may be true. If that is the case, score 1 point for terrorists in that they've put a hamper in international relations.
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Pebbs 4 Life