DMM Advisory - New Mailing Standards
Well folks, this one is a doozy. My mouth dropped open as I read this latest communication from the USPS. From a DMM Advisory yesterday, there are new proposed standards for Domestic Mailing Services in an advance copy of a Federal Register notice to be published for comment. According to the DMM Advisory, the proposed standards include several mail classification changes, modifications to mailpiece characteristics, and terminology changes. These Standards are to support the May price changes.
It is IMPERATIVE that all mailers read the notice, here - because you are not going to believe the proposals!
http://pe.usps.com/May2009_Domestic_Mailing_Svcs.pdf
The first item of note will have mailers scratching their heads in disbelief.
“We propose to revise standards for window envelopes on letter-size mailpieces, restricting the size of an address block window to extend no closer to the bottom edge than 3/4 inch when the window is within 4-3/4 inches of the envelope’s leading edge and no closer than 1 inch to any other edge. For best compatibility with processing, we recommend a window size no greater than 2 inches by 4-1/2 inches.”
That’s right folks, standard #10 Envelopes will no longer qualify. And the USPS want this implemented in MAY 09, which is three and a half months from now. The 3/4 inch from the bottom edge restriction probably also eliminates ever other envelope any mailer has in inventory, and that is currently in production.
I’m almost to the point where I don’t know what to say in comment. The USPS seems to be trying to regulate and restrict all mailers to the point where we all go out of business.
Another highlight:
“We propose new static charge and the coefficient of friction standards for automation and machinable letters to ensure they do not produce excessive static charge and can be handled efficiently when inducted and removed from processing equipment.”
Better ramp up all your staff physicists and science experts. These types or rules are borderline ridiculous and mostly unenforceable. My static in Connecticut is almost certainly going to be different from the static levels in, say Florida or California. Or from summer to winter, for that matter. It seems that the engineers have taken over, and business has taken a back seat.
Comment period on these rules will be announced once they are published in the Federal Register. I expect there to be an overwhelming flood of negative comments. More on that to come.
