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Postal Affairs Blog

USPS delays Move Update fines - DMNews.

In what is turning into a common theme for the Postal Service, it was announced via a DMM Advisory today that they will NOT implement the mandatory tray-based preparation for First-Class automation flats on May 11, as had been scheduled. Mailers may continue to prepare First-Class automation flats in either bundles or trays under current standards.

I fully expect this type of indecision and push back on schedules by the USPS to continue. The advisory about FIrst-Class trays starts off with “In response to customer feedback…” My advice to the USPS is to seek out, listen to, and understand your customer feedback earlier in the process, and you won’t waste everyone’s time.

What should your trigger be in order to get started with Intelligent Mail (if you haven’t already)?  Although Intelligent Mail barcodes will not be mandatory for USPS bulk mail discounts until 2011, and the Full Service Intelligent Mail discount ($1 per 1,000 Standard Mail, $3 per thousand First-Class Mail) does not go into effect until November 29, 2009, there are some good reasons to migrate to the IMb right now:

1.  Right now -take advantage of USPS OneCode services.  If you are a current Traditional ACS and/or Confirm user, trasition over to a single barcode and free up valuable address-block real estate.  Both Basic and Full-Service Intelligent Mail users can utilize OneCode ACS (with lower rates than Traditional ACS) and OneCode Confirm services.  If you have not used these USPS services in the past, incorporate the possibilities into your Intelligent Mail barcode planning.

2.  Avoid last-minute issues.  Adoption of the Intelligent Mail barcode now will have you in a better position to be guaranteed to be ready to go when the discounts do become available in November ‘09.  Those who wait too long to get going may end up getting left behind, unable to catch up.

3.  In May 2009, access new IMb value-added services, such as Start-the-Clock container information and Full Service address correction information.

Questions?  Comment this blog, or drop me a note…

Although there has been no official word, Postcom.org is reporting the following:

“The Postal Service also intends to postpone the implementation date of the Move Update Non-Compliance charge for Standard Mail pieces, from May 11, 2009, to January 4, 2010. This new charge will be applied to Standard Mail that fails to comply with the Move Update standards. Delayed implementation will provide our Standard Mail customers with additional feedback from new postage verification systems. This change will reduce Standard Mail revenue over the rest of 2009 by about $4.5 million, and decrease the percent increase for Standard Mail from 3.781 percent to 3.759 percent.”

As soon as I see anything official from the USPS, I will update this post.

USPS Fact Sheet.
Interesting Fact sheet regarding the Postmaster General’s testimony before Congress earlier today.

A new MTAC workgroup is forming, WG #129, “Eliminating Obstacles to Mail Growth”.  The Issue Statement for this group is “Facilitate mail volume growth by identifying regulations or requirements that add no postal and/or customer value hence hindering mail growth, and proposing modifications or elimination of those barriers as practical.”

I will be participating on behalf of my sponsoring Association, NASML.  I will report back as the work gets going.

First-Class Mail
PS Form 3600-R (PDF)
Postage Statement - First-Class Mail & Priority Mail (5/11/2009)

Standard Mail
PS Form 3602-C (PDF)
Postage Statement - Consolidated - Supplement Standard Mail and Nonprofit Standard Mail (5/11/2009)

PS Form 3602-N (PDF) Postage Statement - Nonprofit Standard Mail (5/11/2009)
PS Form 3602-R (PDF) Postage Statement - Standard Mail (5/11/2009)

Periodicals
PS Form 3541 (PDF)
Postage Statement - Periodicals - One Issue or One Edition (5/11/2009)

Package Services
PS Form 3605-R (PDF) Postage Statement - Package Services (5/11/2009)

International Mail
PS Form 3700 (PDF) Postage Statement - International Mail (5/11/2009)

Price lists at usps.com/prices/pricechanges.htm.

If you haven’t visited www.maildat.org lately, head there.  The entire IDEAlliance website has been updated, and the Mail.dat pages in particular are greatly improved.  Learn all the Who What and Whys about Mail.dat.  Mail.dat continues to grow in importance, especially with the possible uses for Full Service Intelligent Mail.

Postal Service Continues Aggressive Steps to Cut Costs - 3/21/2009 10:35:00 AM - Graphic Arts Online.

…has just been posted. Access the Full Service Guide to User Access and Reports at RIBBS here.