TIME SENSITIVE: Don’t Wait to Mail Your MPD Gifts

Act quickly-mail your MPD gifts before the new surcharge begins on April 26, 2026.

I’ve been writing about USPS’s  financial difficulties for some time. I read an article last month that the U.S. Post Office was appealing to Congress for reforms. The Postmaster General is concerned that the USPS will run out of cash within the next year. Some considerations include moving to a 5-day work week and closing some P.O. locations.

Shortly after, I read a USPS announcement that  the U.S. Post Office will begin an 8% fuel surcharge on package services – from April 26, 2026. to January 17, 2027 – due to  rising diesel fuel prices. The surcharge applies to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select.

 

Holiday Gifts

I don’t know how this new decision affects holiday rates. I assume the USPS will also impose higher rates on packages from September through January. These rates were instituted by all shipping companies in 2020.

If you usually send Christmas thank-you gifts to ministry partners, consider mailing some now to avoid higher holiday rates.

Google Gemini and Your Plans

I’d already been thinking about mailing some things to our daughter and some gifts to several ministry partners. Now, this announcement gives me a deadline to send them out in the next few weeks(unless I can find cheaper options with other companies).

I asked several questions on Google Gemini and ended up with a recommendation to buy a USPS Ground Advantage label on Pirate Ship. I’ve never used Pirate Ship, but a few people have recommended it to me. They use commercial rates to lower our shipping costs.

Use a series of prompts with the Google Gemini AI tool to refine your shipping questions. As you create a thread, you’ll clarify your situation and receive a tailored response.

To compare shipping options, try these prompts in Cru’s Google Gemini (your safe place for AI):

• Ask for a chart of potential costs to ship a (give the weight and dimensions) package from your zip code to your recipient’s zip code. Ask for the lowest price across all shipping platforms.
• Ask if the dimensional weight of your package will affect your shipping options.
• Ask if the USPS Flat Rate will be a better option for your package.

Some things I learned from my dialogue with Gemini:

• UPS may have a better price than USPS for heavier packages shipped over longer distances.
• If any dimension is over 12″, you will pay more for the size, not the weight, of a USPS package.
• The cheapest service is the UPS Ground Saver. UPS handles the long haul, then delivers the package to your post office for the final delivery.
• USPS Ground Advantage costs just a little more than UPS Saver and may deliver your gift sooner.
• USPS offers a special “Cubic” rate limited to .5 cubic feet for small, heavy packages.

I already know how to use Media Mail to get the lowest prices on mailing books and music. Follow the link to find out about restrictions.

First-class Postage

America’s 250th Anniversary

First-class stamp prices are not going up with this new surcharge, so why not order some stamps to use on your prayer letters during various summer holidays?

The new Figures of the American Revolution stamps are available starting April 10, 2026, at USPS.com.

NOTES:

• Double-check AI responses for accuracy before mailing packages.
• Packages photo by Hümâ H. Yardım on Unsplash
• The “Figures of the American Revolution” stamps screenshot is taken from USPS.com.