USPS does have free tracking with their flat rate boxes, you used to have to pay extra for that. Prices for shipping have been going up for over a decade while options have been cut. I think the USPS is jacking up the rates because they are firing people left and right and those who are left have to deliver most small packages along with the mail so they need to get the volume down. If I had to guess congress wants to ditch the USPS all together so that private carriers can jack up their rates and terminate services to rural areas ($$$$ bribes).