Monday, June 13, 2011

De Facto Choice Pushes the Envelope

Real estate forms, property deeds, leases, business plans, taxes and legal settlements — these are just some of the documents customers might find inside legal-sized envelopes.

And they’re the reason USPS expanded its offering of Legal Flat Rate Envelope products. The Priority Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope provides 2- to 3-day service for $4.95 ($11.95 to Canada and Mexico, $13.95 to other countries).

The Express Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope guarantees overnight service for $18.30 ($26.95 Canada and Mexico, $29.95 other countries).

As a product designed primarily with businesses in mind, Legal Flat Rate Envelopes are not stocked in retail units — but they may be shipped by individuals and businesses alike, and postage can be paid at a retail counter. Customers can order them online at The Postal Store or from the Expedited Package Supply Center at 800-610-8734.

In addition, unmarked Priority Mail and Express Mail legal-sized envelopes may still be available at many Post Offices. But remember:

-- Priority Mail legal-sized envelopes ship for the same flat rate of $4.95, regardless of whether they are preprinted with “Flat Rate” on the envelope.

-- And when it comes to Express Mail, only envelopes preprinted with the words “Flat Rate” ship for the flat rate price of $18.30. Unmarked legal-sized Express Mail envelopes ship for the weight/zone-based rate.

Why the difference? USPS wanted to preserve options for customers shipping Express Mail legal envelopes to close destinations for less than the flat rate of $18.30.

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