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PRC okays USPS' competitive products price increase

Ellen Keohane April 11, 2008

The Postal Regulatory Commission authorized the US Postal Service's planned price increases for its competitive products yesterday. "Based on the notice and supporting material... the commission finds no reason to conclude that the planned price adjustments for competitive products are not in compliance with applicable statuary provisions," wrote Steven W. Williams, the PRC's secretary, in the order.

USPS releases new address standards for flat-sized mail

Ellen Keohane April 09, 2008

The US Postal Service has released new address standards for flat-sized mail. These new standards are set to go into effect as of March 29, 2009. The new address standards will assist the USPS in its implementation of its new Flats Sequencing System (FSS), which will sort flat-sized mail into delivery sequence, thereby reducing carriers' time spent manually sorting mail.

USPS reducing Standard Mail barcode discount

Ellen Keohane March 27, 2008

In response to the Postal Regulatory Commission's review of the US Postal Service's proposed rate change for market-dominant products, the USPS said it will reduce the 1.4-cent discount for using a barcode on mixed automation area distribution center Standard Mail letters by 1.1 cents.

USPS offers data table file identifying vacant addresses

Ellen Keohane March 26, 2008

In order to help mailers identify vacant addresses, the US Postal Service has developed a new data table file to be used with commercial address matching software. "What the postal service is attempting to do is provide additional tools to help mailers identify mail that can become undeliverable-as-addressed," said Jim Wilson, manager of address technology for USPS.

USPS gets greener

March 24, 2008

The USPS has launched a pilot Mail Back program that allows customers to recycle small electronics and inkjet cartridges by mailing them free in envelopes available in 1,500 post offices. Postage is paid by Clover Technologies Group, a remanufacturer of inkjet cartridges, laser cartridges and small electronics. Nineteen other companies bid for the contract.

PRC verifies USPS rate increases

Cara Wood March 19, 2008

The Postal Regulatory Commission has completed its first review of the US Postal Service's price adjustments under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, finding that all rate increases announced February 11 and set to go into effect May 12 are within the required Consumer Price Index cap.

More pressure for do-not-mail

Ellen Keohane March 14, 2008

The rallying cry for do-not-mail bills in several states grew stronger last week. A do-not-mail campaign to "stop junk mail" launched on March 11 with the support of celebrities including actor Adrian Grenier from HBO's Entourage and Daryl Hannah, known for her roles in Splash and the Kill Bill series. The campaign is the product of a nonprofit organization called ForestEthics.

USPS to offer price incentives for competitive products starting in May

Ellen Keohane March 12, 2008

The US Postal Service plans to start offering pricing incentives, such as volume-related discounts, for its competitive mail products including Express Mail, Priority Mail and other shipping services as of May 12. "Just providing service at a great price is our goal," said Steve Kearney, VP of pricing and classification for the USPS.

USPS to develop standards for Slim Jims

Ellen Keohane March 11, 2008

The US Postal Service announced on Monday that it is in the process of developing new mailing standards for folded self-mailers, booklets and folded booklets mailed at automation and machinable letter rates. Following last year's price increases for flat-size catalogs, more mailers started using letter-size booklets and folded mailers (also called "Slim Jims"), according to the USPS.

Luring customers with content

Joe Pulizzi, founder and chief content officer, Junta42 March 10, 2008

I recently received a US Postal Service direct mailer on variable data printing (VDP). It's a nice piece. It had my name all over it, very personable. The only thing: Iwas bothered by a bit of the copy. The last line read, "As a large business looking for new ways to appeal to customers, personalization may be the exciting new temptation you're looking for." Irun a small business, but still the question begs: As marketing pros, do we look for "new temptations" to reel our customers in?

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