USPS® Proposes New Incentive "Credit" for Full-Service Intelligent Mail®

In the Federal Register Notice (FRN) dated October 17, 2012, the United States Postal Service (USPS) proposed a new incentive called the Full-Service Technology Credit ("Tech Credit"). This incentive is designed to encourage mailers to convert to Intelligent Mail Full-Service and is intended to help offset the investment required to implement the necessary hardware and software changes to support Full-Service mailings. If approved, the Tech Credit will take the form of a postage credit, meaning there will not be cash or check going back to the recipient, rather the credit amount will be used against new mail being put into the system. Read on for just a few of the details...

Eligibility

The mail volume of all "Permit Holders" and "Mailing Agents" (as identified on postage statements) will be determined by an evaluation across qualifying permits for each business location/Customer Registration ID (CRID). Each CRID that exceeds 125,000 qualifying pieces annually would be eligible for the Tech Credit. To determine if a CRID has reached a qualifying volume, the USPS will take the following steps: Mail volume associated with each "Permit Holder" and/or "Mailing Agent" permit will be examined. Eligible permit types are:

• Permit imprint
• Meter
• OMAS Imprint
• OMAS Meter
• Precancelled Stamp
• Periodicals
• Ghost

Full-Service eligible mailings included in the eligible volume are:

• First-Class automation letters, cards, and flats
• Standard Mail automation letters and flats (including IMb Enhanced Carrier Route (ECR), except saturation flats
• Periodicals automation/barcoded letters and flats (including ECR letters and flats)
• Bound Printed Matter barcoded flats

Some of the other requirements for the Tech Credit include:

• Permits must be opened (and CRIDS established in PostalOne!) prior to the date of the initial industry notice for the associated volume to be considered to be considered for the Tech Credit.
• Mail volume for a one-year period prior to the promotion will be used in the volume requirement calculation.
• When determining qualifying volumes, the USPS will compare the "Permit Holder" and "Mailing Agent" volume by permit for each CRID and use the higher of the two amounts to determine the final Tech Credit awarded to that CRID. (This scenario should only come into play for Mail Service Providers).

For complete details, read more at www.windowbook.com/etips

Cool New Things from Window Book

Recent enhancements and upgrades to Window Book's industry leading software:

Are you the Techie who's using Window Book software?
Important Reminder for Window Book software users

Have you ever subscribed to a software program (like DAT-MAIL or Postal Package Partner) that you have to use on a daily basis to get your job done? And then one day you run into a problem or have a question and you call in to the Support group only to find out that you're 2 releases behind the current release? How frustrating is THAT?

At Window Book, we ALWAYS communicate with you when there's a new version of software available. If you're not getting these notices, there are a few things you can do to correct that.

Follow these simple steps to get Software Update Notes emails automatically as soon as they are released:

Set up account
http://www.windowbook.com/Login

Request Release notes
http://www.windowbook.com/UpdateNotice

If you already have an account, simply visit http://www.windowbook.com/Support/SoftwareUpdates
aand select your software to receive the Update Notes.

Help us serve you better:
The last thing you can do if you are NOT receiving these CRITICAL software update notices from us is to email us at postalspecialist@windowbook.com and we will figure out what's not working and fix it for you!

Network Auto-Update System Debuts to Happy Clients

You asked for it - you got it... automatic workstation updates!
In October Window Book debuted a new software installation procedure that has many clients extremely excited. Our Network Auto-Update system lets you automatically update all your workstations once new software has been installed on your server, so you don't have to manually update them individually!

If you would like more information on how to set this up in your environment, simply email TechSupport@windowbook.com for more information.

 

November Webinar Series

We are often asked what we charge to attend our webinars. Zip. Zero. Nada. They're FREE!! Visit http://www.windowbook.com/webinars to register for upcoming webinars. You can also view archived webinar recordings from here: http://www.windowbook.com/recordedwebinars
In this economy every penny counts! So, while you sign up for our free webinars, check out this link to see what other complimentary services we offer. Visit www.windowbook.com/postalinfo to see everything...

Are You Ready??

2013 is right around the corner. Do you have a plan to meet all the requirements for implementing Intelligent Mail barcodes in 2013?

Upcoming important dates in 2013 

• January 13 & 27: New Mail.dat® 13-1 specification: Must catch: Jan 13, Must send: Jan 27.
• January 27: New USPS mailing and shipping rates go into effect
• January 28: Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb) are required for automation discounts.
• January 28: Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) becomes required for tracking of parcels and for Extra Services. Shippers of presort parcels (except STD Class) will need to print IMPb's on labels and submit PTS 1.6 files. This is a requirement for continued use of presort and drop ship rates.

Mailers: Your Check List for January 2013

• Update presort and post-presort software with new January rates and postage statements
• Business Customer Gateway: https://gateway.usps.com
  - Set up your account
  - Apply for MIDs and CRIDs - it's FREE!
• Review Intelligent Mail Guides & Technical Specifications: https://ribbs.usps.gov
• Transition barcodes on all mailpieces from the old POSTNET barcode to the Intelligent Mail barcode:
  - This applies to all mailpieces, including infrequent mailings & reply mail pieces
• IMb for Letter & Flats:
  - Will you outsource or upgrade to generate and print IMb?
• Start using eDoc so you can participate in USPS promotions - AND get ready for 2014 when it will be required for automation discounts
  - Mailers can - and should - participate in eDoc with or without Intelligent Mail Full-Service - Electronic documentation is the best way to submit accurate information to the Postal Service™
• Arm yourself with free educational info on eDoc, PostalOne!, Intelligent Mail, Mail.dat and more: www.windowbook.com/whitepapers

Shippers: Your Check List for January 2013

• Work with your shipping service providers and software vendors NOW to get converted to the Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb)
  - Required to obtain shipment tracking information and presort and destination entry pricing
  - Need to get RE-CERTIFIED with the USPS, both for your label format and your electronic file transmission format
  - Adopting IMpb involves sending electronic files and printed labels to Memphis, where staff is limited and where it can take weeks to get approved.
  - Make sure you can print IMPb's on labels AND submit PTS 1.6 files



Need help with your Check List? Just email us at postalspecialist@windowbook.com. There’s no time to procrastinate!!

 

New Parcel eMail Address

In recognition of Window Book's growing support of the Parcel shipping industry, we created a new email address for all you Parcel shippers. If you have questions about Postal Package Partner, Priority or Express Mail Open & Distribute - or anything related to packages and parcels - simply email us at ParcelSpecialist@windowbook.com.

This month in postal history

November 7, 1776 - Benjamin Franklin's term as Postmaster General ends. Congress chooses his son-in-law, Richard Bache, to succeed him.

November 3, 1917 - The price of delivering letters and packages rose to 3 cents for the first ounce and an additional 3 cents for every ounce thereafter.

November 29, 1970 - the first group of Postmasters appointed on merit alone took office under the Postal Reorganization Act.

A Day to be Thankful

As most of us will be sitting down to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family in the comfort of our homes, there will still be people struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Please take a moment to say a prayer, think a good thought - or however you choose to remember those good people. And if you feel the desire to help, visit the Red Cross at www.redcross.org and make a donation to those in need.

Mailers Save Money Every Week with Free Postal Concierge e-Tips

Money-saving postal knowledge delivered directly to your inbox.
Window Book helps those in the mailing industry conveniently keep up with important Postal information and insights by offering complimentary weekly Postal Concierge e-Tips. Since 2009 the e-Tips subscriber list has grown to over 14,500 mailers, mail service providers and USPS personnel - with many mailers saving money on resources, materials and postage by taking advantage of the information presented in the e-Tips. Postal Concierge e-Tips include information on new and proposed USPS regulations, notices about when USPS data files (i.e., Labeling Lists) change and links to a whole host of other free educational resources.

Click here to view some of our recent e-tips and sign up to receive important industry news!

Complimentary Educational Resources

Did you know that Window Book offers various complimentary educational services? To educate mailers and the Postal industry as a whole about the critical changes happening with the United States Postal Service®, Window Book offers a wealth of free services. Check them out: weekly PC e-Tips, online Postal weekly webinars, recorded educational webinars, White Papers, Monthly newsletters, Postal industry articles of interest, Postal affairs blogs and more.

 

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