A 30-day grace period has been initiated, starting from mid-September 2025

The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently issued formal notices to multiple service providers, stating that it will unilaterally and on a large scale terminate the cooperation with their discount accounts in accordance with the Transportation Service Contract (SSC). It is expected that by the end of September, the vast majority of USPS discount accounts in the market will be shut down, and only a very few compliant service providers will retain their usage rights.

1.Chaos and Risk Warning during the Buffer Period

Currently, USPS offers a 30-day grace period, but two types of high-risk behaviors have already emerged in the market:

1? ? low prices to attract customers and potential exodus

? Some service providers take advantage of the last time window to acquire goods at low prices. There may be situations where they do not handle the payment after receiving it or even abscond with the money.

? reminder: Be cautious in identifying partners. Soliciting goods at extremely low prices is very likely to be a trap.

2? a high incidence of waterlogged accounts and shell fraud

? Bad freight forwarders use shell companies to apply for discount accounts, collect shipping fees from sellers and then delay USPS postage until the accounts are blocked.

? If sellers use such accounts to ship goods, not only will the goods be detained, but they may also trigger account suspension on the e-commerce platform.

2.USPS Rule Upgrade and Key Points of Strict Inspection

1? ? the scope of account clean-up has been expanded: It not only cleans up "inactive accounts" that have not been used or paid for for two consecutive years, but also extends to accounts with "abnormal operations".

2? ? core of technological upgrade: Starting from June 2025, the "Postage payment - scanning Time synchronization verification" system will be launched to strictly verify the sequence of payment and scanning times. If the scan occurs earlier than the payment (such as when the order is placed at night and the payment is made the next day), an alarm will be triggered immediately and the package will be temporarily detained for inspection.

3? ? uniqueness of waybills and documentation specifications:

? the tracking number must be unique within 120 days;

? BME parcels sent by postal guide must submit shipping service documents (SSF);

? All packages paid by metering strip must be accompanied by SSF.

4? ? quality shippers' "no interception" list: discontinued as of September 1, 2025.

? Special warning: Counterfeit Postage waybills such as "technology waybills/delayed waybills/official website waybills/platform waybills" have been classified as "counterfeit postage" by USPS (counterfeit Postage). Once detected, the package will be regarded as postal property and confiscated directly!

3.Suggestions for Sellers to Comply and Save Themselves

1? ? payment link:

? ensure that postage payment is completed in real time to avoid operations such as "printing at night and paying the next day";

? make good use of USPS Ship real-time deduction and SCF delay service to avoid verification risk.

2? logistics mode:

? Shift to overseas warehouses for shipping, achieve local fulfillment, reduce costs and enhance compliance;

? Master the USPS appeal and refund process to safeguard your own rights and interests.

3? ? cooperation options:

? refuse prices that are significantly lower than the market rate. Low prices often hide high-risk risks such as confiscation of goods and freezing of accounts.

? confirm the compliance of service providers and avoid cooperating with shell companies.

With the launch of the USPS artificial intelligence order review system and the continuous tightening of global cross-border policies, compliance capabilities have become the core competitiveness for sellers to survive and develop. Although the short-term increase in costs brings pressure, in the long run, only by strengthening the compliance defense line and making early plans for the transformation of logistics can we operate steadily in the increasingly severe international environment.