Recently, the United States Postal Service (USPS) sent emails to several service providers holding its preferential (discount) accounts, clearly stating that it will unilaterally terminate its partnerships and no longer provide discount account services. A large number of relevant service providers have already received similar termination notices, and the industry’s logistics chain may face adjustments.
01
Key Information on USPS Account Termination
According to the email sent by USPS, this termination of cooperation with discount service providers is primarily based on the Standardized Commitment (SCC) regulations. The email serves as a formal written notice, and the termination period is 30 days after the service providers receive the email.
Specific timeline:
Discount account service providers who received the notice this month can still use their discount accounts normally;
After mid-September, these discount accounts will be gradually closed;
Starting in late September, the number of USPS discount accounts in the market will be significantly reduced, with only a small number of service providers remaining.
02
Low-price competition looms, risks require careful attention
Since most USPS discount accounts only have 30 days left, many service providers may compete for customers to receive more shipments within the remaining timeframe. This may lead to a period of low-price competition in the industry in the short term, but this carries multiple risks that require vigilance:
01
Risk of service providers abandoning orders
Some service providers may accept large quantities of shipments before their accounts are closed, but subsequently refuse to process them, or even abscond with funds or engage in operational irregularities, resulting in losses of sellers’ goods and funds.
02
Active “water-laundering accounts” increase fraud risks
This change in partnership may lead to a surge in the number of “water-laundering accounts” within the industry. These accounts are difficult to identify, but they often offer “overly low” prices. If you encounter a quote significantly below the market average, be wary of potential risks and avoid falling into compliance and financial traps.
03
USPS Adds New Verification Methods and Clarifies Rules
At the same time, the USPS is conducting a large-scale, unprecedented crackdown on postage fraud and has issued an industry alert clarifying several new methods for detecting fraudulent waybills. Specific rules will take effect on September 1, 2025:
The “Premium Shipper” and “No Intercept” lists have been discontinued. All packages must complete payment information before entering the logistics system; otherwise, they may be intercepted.
Tracking numbers must remain unique for 120 days and are strictly prohibited from being reused.
Business Mail (BME) packages sent via postal guides must submit a Shipping Service File (SSF) and may not be withheld due to refusal to pay fees.
All packages paid by billing slip must be accompanied by an SSF.
Clarifying that “the sender is responsible for properly paying postage” and that “postage must be fully prepaid at the time of mailing.”
Important Note: If a package has entered the express delivery network but is found to have unpaid shipping fees during spot checks, it will be treated as abandoned and may be intercepted or destroyed.
04
Avoid Illegal Operations and Ensure Shipment Safety
The USPS has repeatedly upgraded its regulatory systems and is continuously strengthening its efforts to investigate illegal activities. Weefreight would like to remind everyone:
Avoid using illegal shipping documents such as “technical shipping documents” and “watered shipping documents.” If caught, you could end up losing both your money and your goods.
When choosing a service provider, avoid blindly believing promises of low prices. Prioritize verifying the provider’s qualifications, account compliance, and past experience.
Pay close attention to the logistics status of your orders and promptly confirm shipping document payments and transactions with the service provider to proactively mitigate risks such as abandoned orders and interceptions.
This adjustment to the USPS discount account may have a short-term impact on logistics costs and supply chains. Sellers should plan ahead and minimize potential risks through compliant operations and careful cooperation.
If you have any international logistics service needs, please contact us by clicking the floating chat icon in the lower right corner or using other contact information in the lower right corner of the page.
