Shipping

The Postal Service announced today that it will study more than 3,600 local offices, branches and stations for possible closing. Currently the post office operates more than 31,000 retail outlets across the country, down from 38,000 a decade ago, but in recent years business has declined sharply as first-class mail moved to the internet. In addition, the recession resulted in a decline in advertising mail, and the agency lost $8 billion last year.

OneStopPlus.com, a web mall for plus-size women and big-and-tall men, announced it's launched international shipping as part of a broader strategy to cultivate its rapidly expanding business.

AFMS, a parcel consulting firm, filed an amended complaint against defendants UPS and FedEx, stating violations of Sherman Acts 1 and 2. AFMS claims that UPS and FedEx have violated federal antitrust laws. Furthermore, it alleges the parcel carriers are engaged in monopolistic and collusive actions. The lawsuit is the result of UPS and FedEx’s 2010 policies to not participate in bids or rate negotiations that involve third-party negotiators (3PNs) like AFMS.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) has introduced the Postal Reform Act of 2011. The USPS is looking forward to working with Issa as the bill makes its way through the legislative process.

A report released by the National Retail Federation said that import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to remain at about the same levels as last year through July before starting to resume increases later this summer.

Williams-Sonoma, a specialty retailer of high-quality products for the home, announced today that Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma will offer international shipping, joining PBteen in its partnership with FiftyOne Global Ecommerce, a provider of international e-commerce services and infrastructure to U.S. retailers. Customers in more than 75 countries will now be able to shop online for Williams-Sonoma products.

Consumers and carriers are squeezing e-tailers: customers expect free shipping and carriers keep raising prices. Residential shipping costs are skyrocketing out of control. What’s a shipper to do?

Barneys New York, the luxury specialty retailer, announced today that its e-commerce website, Barneys.com, has introduced international shipping to 90 countries including Canada, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia and China.

Newegg Inc., the largest tech-focused pure-play online retailer, announced the official opening of its first-ever "Will-Call" pickup location. Customers of Newegg.com and NeweggBusiness in the Los Angeles area now have the opportunity to save time and money by ordering online and then picking up their orders directly from the Newegg warehouse.

Good news for Gilt shoppers — effective immediately, shipping will be reduced to a flat fee of $5.95 for UPS ground shipping no matter the size of the purchase. Returns can also now be made via a USPS mailbox or a UPS drop-off location.