Daniel,
Rates for a BOX (UPS and FedEx are not supposed to transport letters) are about equal among the carriers.
Both UPS and FedEx carry far less volume and handle the package worldwide, the USPS ends at the borders to the USA. BUT, FedEx and UPS both manage a very nice profit and, when last I looked, UPS had a GREAT wage, benefit plan.
So, this leads to the conclusion that two private enterprises have BOTH managed to do what USPS does, and MAKE A PROFIT!!!
But, I agree the free boxes ARE unnecessary, but cool and they have kept us with USPS in the face of a better cost for shipping with UPS (along with Canada hating UPS).
Customers all over the world do comment that our shipping is reasonable, even though we are charging actual USPS for international.
So, I guess it's another thing we "take for granted" as USA consumers.
Oh, the proposed increase IS 2 cents and that would be 4.54545%, just to stay factual!