Those surcharges are going to be in place for nearly 4 months, even though they are described as "holiday surcharges."

For smaller packages (like small padded envelopes, but all packages under 10 pounds) the surcharge is 25 cents for nearby delivery zones, and the surcharge is 40 cents for farther destinations.

If you go to the post office rather than using computerized services like PayPal, Stamps.com or Pirate, the surcharges are 30 cents and 60 cents.

Heavier packages will have as much as a $6.50 surcharge, but we're talking long distances and more than 25 pounds.