Mailers who use the U.S. Postal Service’s Automated Barcode Evaluator program should remember that today marks the first day of the second phase of the customer-applied barcode quality examination program.
Although the first phase of the program, which began in May, was designed to ensure that at least 70 percent of barcoded mail pieces met ABE requirements to get barcoded discounts, the second phase raises the acceptance level to 80 percent.
While there has always been an appeal process for mailers who score between 70 and 79 percent, during phase two the USPS will take the original test mail and send it to another designated ABE site and test the mail there to see whether they get the same results.
“Then, based on those results, the appeal will be made,” said Paulette Kelly, USPS marketing specialist. “Right now all appeals are going through the RCSC [Rates and Classifications Service Center]. Of course, mailings during this phase will [also be examined by this division], but the RCSC will make their decision based on scores from the appeal site.”
Phase two was expected to begin in July, but the USPS postponed it because the first phase was moving along successfully.
