Labeling List Changes - effective March 30, 2012
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced changes to the Labeling List data, effective January 14, 2012, with a mandatory use date of March 30, 2012. The Labeling Lists affected are L001, L002, L003, L004, L005, L006, L007, L008, L009, L011, L201, L601, L602, L605, L606, and L801. The USPS has also changed the location of the Labeling Lists so that they are easier to find, under the Additional Links tab on Postal Explorer.
Read MorePostal Prices Increase January 22, 2012
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) made a number of changes to the way that parcels will be handled in 2012. Some changes involve classification or preparation changes, others involve price changes, and some a combination of all three.
Read MoreParcel Changes for 2012
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) made a number of changes to the way that parcels will be handled in 2012. Some changes involve classification or preparation changes, others involve price changes, and some a combination of all three.
Read MoreFinal Rules for Folded Self-Mailers
The USPS® has published the final regulations for folded self-mailers (FSM's) and other unenveloped pieces in the December 1, 2011 Federal Register. These final rules are based on the proposed regulations published in an earlier Federal Register on August 15, 2011. The USPS renamed pieces designed to carry discs and expands the standards that apply to tabs to include folded self-mailers (FSM's). These new rules do not apply to cards, envelopes, booklet style letters or mailpieces designed to carry discs.
Read MoreUSPS Postpones Mail Network Optimization Updates
As we told you in a previous E-tip, the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) has plans for a network optimization initiative, which includes the potential closure of hundreds of postal facilities and adjustments to the delivery service standards. However, due to feedback from a number of US Senators, the USPS recently announced the postponement of this initiative until May 15, 2012.
Read MoreImplementing Mail.dat and January 2012 Postal Changes
As we have been telling you in recent E-tips, there will be a change in the prices for the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) market-dominant and competitive products effective January 22, 2012. Also undergoing change during this time is the Mail.dat® file specification. The current Mail.dat file specification version is 11-2, with the older version 11-1 files still accepted by the USPS. Shortly, the version will change to 12-1 to accommodate the new rate and regulation changes that take place on January 22, 2012. In preparation for all these changes, software companies such as Window Book are in the process of coding the necessary software modifications to accommodate all the changes. Since there are so many changes, we thought it appropriate to walk through the schedule of upcoming changes and associated dates for Mail.dat versions so that you can plan better for this transition.
Read MoreUSPS Network Optimization Updates (April 2012)
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) recently filed a request for a non-binding advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) regarding their plans for network optimization. The network optimization plans include USPS closure of hundreds of postal facilities and adjustments to the delivery service standards. The USPS plans to publish soon a Federal Register notice with additional details on the proposed changes, with a 60-day comment period. Based on this comment period, plus an additional 30 days for implementation of the final changes, we anticipate that changes to the existing delivery service standards will be implemented in April 2012.
Read MorePostal Shipping Prices to Increase in January
The United States Postal Service announced last week their intention to increase postage on competitive shipping products by an average of 4.6%. This increase, which still must be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), includes Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select, Parcel Return Service, Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International, and Priority Mail International. The price increase for the competitive products and the previously announced increase for the market-dominant products will be implemented on the same date - January 22, 2012. The USPS also announced they plan to maintain a unified implementation date for both sets of products moving forward into the future.
Read MorePRC Approves January Postage Increase
As we told you in our October 28, 2011 E-tip, the United States Postal Service announced their intention to increase postage on market dominant products by an average of 2.133%, effective January 22, 2012. This increase was approved on Tuesday 11/22/2011 by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC).
Read MoreLabeling List Changes
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced changes to the Labeling List data, effective November 12, 2011, with a mandatory use date of January 28, 2012. The Labeling Lists affected are L001, L002, L003, L004, L005, L006, L007, L201, L602, L605, L606, and L801. The USPS has also changed the location of the Labeling Lists so that they are easier to find, under the Additional Links tab on Postal Explorer.
Read MoreUSPS To Pursue Exigency Rate Increase
The United States Postal Service recently announced plans to pursue the exigency rate case that was originally filed back in July of 2010. The USPS will file at a later date the amount it plans to pursue, along with the timing of the price increase and what specific classes and processing categories of mail will be impacted. The USPS estimates that the lost contribution due to exigent circumstances to be $2.3 billion.
Read MoreUSPS Network Optimization Updates
The United States Postal Service recently announced plans to revamp their network of processing facilities to optimize the use of these facilities and close down a number of facilities with the ultimate goal of reducing costs. At the same time, the USPS also proposed modifications to delivery standards for certain classes of mail. The USPS has now consolidated all the information regarding these proposals at one web site.
Read MorePostal Prices to Increase in January 2012
The United States Postal Service announced on October 18 their intention to increase postage on market dominant products an average of 2.133%, effective January 22, 2012. This increase is based on a price cap calculated by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) using Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, and will apply across each Mailing Services class of mail.
Read MoreUSPS Data Release Schedule (2011-2012)
There is a host of data resources from the United States Postal Service (USPS) which need to be updated periodically to reflect changes. Examples of these data resources are the Labeling Lists, Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) data files, Mail.dat specifications, PostalOne! specifications and software.
Read MoreUSPS Labeling List Changes (effective October 3, 2011)
Labeling List Changes (effective October 3, 2011) were announced by the United States Postal Service® (USPS®). The mandatory use date is December 17, 2011. The Labeling Lists affected are L001, L002, L003, L004, L005, L006, L007, L008, L011, L201, L601, L602, L605, L606, L607, and L801. The USPS has also changed the location of the Labeling Lists so that they are easier to find, under the Additional Links tab on Postal Explorer.
Read MoreMail.dat® Versions
Mail.dat 09-1. Mail.dat 11-1. Now we hear Mail.dat 11-2 is getting ready – and 12-1 is not too far behind. Who can keep track of all of these numbers and what does it all mean? Mail.dat is the mailing industry standard format for the relational database file set that represents all of the details regarding a specific mailing (with the exception of the recipient names and addresses). The number is the version number of the specification for the Mail.dat file format. Mail.dat 11-1 is the version currently in use, but we are rapidly approaching the implementation of version 11-2, and there is another new version just around the corner.
Read MoreCurrent USPS Situation for Mailers
Here is an article from Brown Printing Company concerning the current situation with the USPS: The rumors are rampant and some mailers are already formulating contingency plans if the U.S. Postal Service ceases operation. Let's stop and think about this. First and foremost, the U.S. Postal Service is NOT shutting down anytime soon. Here's an idea; let’s start to focus our attention on fixing the problem.
Read MoreFirst-Class Package Service
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) introduced a new competitive product called First-Class Package Service in a Federal Register notice on August 18, 2011. This new product will replace and remove First-Class Mail® commercial base and commercial plus parcels from the market-dominant product offering. First-Class Mail retail single-piece parcels remain a market dominant product offering. What this means for mailers is that the First-Class Mail commercial base and commercial plus parcel services are still available and at the same current prices, but the services will now have a different name, will have slightly different labeling and marking methods, and will now be subject to the competitive product price increase schedules.
Read MoreSingle Source Mailer Information
Trying to find important postal information? Let’s face it, in this digital age, we all want to access key information that we need in an instant. But how do you find what you are looking for when you are dealing with something as complex as mailing? There is a little-known area that is jam-packed with all sorts of great mailer resources.
Read MoreEvery Door Direct Mail™
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM), which not only benefits the USPS with additional mail volume, but also helps the mailing industry gain new business.
Read MoreProposed Rules for USPS Folded Self Mailers
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) published proposed revisions to the regulations for folded self mailers (FSM's) and other unenveloped pieces in the August 15, 2011 Federal Register. The USPS has in the past published a number of proposals for revision to the rules for these types of mailpieces. These proposals have been based on a series of tests, conducted with the collaboration of the mailing industry, to help identify the characteristics of FSM's that are successfully sorted on automated letter processing equipment. The proposed rules are intended to be a balance of processing efficiency and creativity.
Read MoreLogical vs. Physical Entry Points (Postal Facilities)
Back in February 2011, we did an e-tip on "Direction and Re-direction of Mail". In that e-tip we discussed the definitions of the various types of postal facilities and talked about drop shipping mail to these facilities. But how exactly is a postal entry point identified, and how do mailers prepare their mail and postal documents for these entry points?
Read MoreLabeling List Changes (effective August 2011)
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced changes to the Labeling List data, effective August 1, 2011, with a mandatory use date of October 15, 2011. The Labeling Lists affected are L001, L002, L004, L005, L006, L007, L009, L201, L606, L607, and L801. The USPS has also changed the location of the Labeling Lists so that they are easier to find, under the Additional Links tab on Postal Explorer.
Read MoreMTAC Forms 3 New Work Groups
The Mailer's Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) recently formed 3 new Work Groups numbered 144, 145 and 146. Details about these groups, including who to contact to join are listed.
Read MoreUSPS Proposes Changes to Move Update Requirements on Mailing
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) published a notice in the July 12, 2011 Federal Register regarding a change to the proposed rules for Move Update requirements. The original proposed changes were published by the USPS in September of 2010.
Read MoreUSPS to Launch New Web Site
USPS to launch new web site, effective July 25, 2011. Based on how you ship and mail, the new site is designed for users to find what they need more quickly and easily. The site will feature task-based navigation, "Quick Tools" section, and a number of new or redesigned applications. The web site address will remain www.usps.com, but the site will have a more modern, updated feel and will have easier and more consistent navigation.
Read MoreRevised Options to Combine Standard Mail & Periodicals Mail
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) revised the regulations that allow mailers to combine individual flat-size pieces of Standard Mail and Periodicals Mail into the same bundles (comailing), or to combine flat-size bundles of Standard Mail and Periodicals Mail on to the same pallets (co-palletizing). As we told you in our March 11, 2011 e-tip, the first draft of proposed regulations for this combination of mail was planned for implementation on June 6, 2011. However, based on input from the mailing industry, the regulations have been revised, and a new implementation date of January 22, 2012 established.
Read MoreMobile Barcode Incentive News Update
In two previous e-tips, April 28, 2011 and June 9, 2011, we told you about a new incentive to be offered by The United States Postal Service® (USPS®), for mailers who include mobile barcodes in or on certain mailpieces. This is a limited time incentive, available to mailers starting today, July 1, 2011, and running through August 31, 2011. Since those e-tips, the USPS made some "tweaks" to the rules.
Read MorePostalOne Release 27 and FAST Release 17.0
The United States Postal Service (USPS) will deploy PostalOne! Release 27 and FAST Release 17.0 on Sunday, June 26, 2011. These updates are primarily to support the new postage statements, effective on June 26, 2011.
Read MoreLabeling List Changes (effective June 6, 2011)
Labeling List Changes, effective June 6, 2011, were announced by the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) with a mandatory use date of August 20, 2011. The Labeling Lists affected are L001, L002, L003, L004, L005, L006, L007, L009, L011, L201, L601, L605, L606, L607, and L801. The USPS has also changed the location of the Labeling Lists so that they are easier to find, under the Additional Links tab on Postal Explorer.
Read MoreNews Update on Mobile Barcode Incentive for Mail
An update on the mobile barcode new incentive offered by The United States Postal Service® (USPS®), is available to mailers from July 1, 2011 to August 31, 2011 for a limited time. As a reminder, QR codes are two-dimensional matrix barcodes that are readable by dedicated QR scanners & camera phones equipped with QR applications. It is important to note that to fully benefit from mobile barcodes, text, data, or links embedded in the barcode should bring the user to a mobile-friendly application.
Read MoreUSPS Shares New UAA Data on Mail
USPS shares new UAA data from a 2010 Undeliverable As Addressed (UAA) study at the recent Mailer's Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) meeting. The treatment of UAA mail by the USPS varies by class of mail and the service requested by the mailer. There are three different treatments by the USPS for UAA mail: it is forwarded to the new address, it is disposed of as waste, or it is returned to the sender.
Read MoreNational Postal Forum Highlights
The annual National Postal Forum (NPF) was held in San Diego, CA on May 1-4, 2011, with approximately 4,000 attendees. There were a number of announcements from the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) during the NPF including FREE Confirm Data and FREE First-Class Mail® Second Ounce.
Read MoreClearing Up Customs Forms Confusion
If you mail or ship items internationally, you know these processes are not always easy, and one of the most confusing areas is that of the customs forms. How do you know when customs forms are needed? How do you access the correct customs forms? How do you insure the customs forms accompany the package? The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) recently announced that customs forms will now be required for shipments to US territories, effective June 6, 2011, so we thought this would be a great opportunity to shed some light on this often confusing subject.
Read MoreUSPS Offers Mailing Incentives for Mobile Barcodes
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced a new market test, planned as a limited time mailing incentive program, for mailers who include mobile barcodes in or on certain mailpieces. The USPS has filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for approval to offer this special incentive. The targeted dates for this incentive are July 1, 2011 to August 31, 2011.
Read MoreLabeling List Changes (effective April 17, 2011)
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced changes to the Labeling List data, effective April 17, 2011, with a mandatory use date of July 2, 2011. The Labeling Lists affected are L001, L002, L004, L005, L006, L007, L009, L010, L011, L201 and L606.
Read MoreGetting Ready for April 17 Price Increases
As mentioned in previous e-tips, the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) prices for non-competitive products will increase on April 17, 2011. Prices for competitive products went up earlier this year in January.
Read MoreACS Notes on Price Increases
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) issued a reminder to the mailing community regarding the upcoming increases in some Address Change Service (ACS) prices on April 17, 2011, and a notice regarding a refund process for Periodicals mailers.
Read MoreNew USPS Products for Parcel Select and Priority Mail
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced three new products that will be offered in the future.
Read MoreNew Options to Combine Standard Mail® and Periodicals Mail
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced that it is formalizing a pilot program that has been in place for a while, allowing mailers to combine individual flat-size pieces of Standard Mail and Periodicals mail into the same bundles (comailing), or to combine flat-size bundles of Standard Mail and Periodicals mail on to the same pallets (co-palletizing). The currently announced effective date for this new option is June 6, 2011, although the complexity of the rules may prohibit software providers from being able to meet this deadline. There is also consideration being given to making this optional in June, but required preparation - for participants - in November.
Read MoreNew Simplified Address Mail Preparation Options
The United States Postal Service®(USPS®) announced that it is extending the simplified address mail preparation option to Periodicals and Bound Printed Matter flats and irregular parcels. The new simplified address mail preparation option, effective January 2, 2011, was originally designed only for Standard Mail® saturation (carrier route) flats and irregular parcels. Based on inquiries from the mailing industry, the USPS has now opened up this option to additional classes of mail.
Read MoreThe Direction (And Re-Direction) of Mail
Do you know where your mail is going? (Wow, that's a loaded question!) If you enter all your mail at your local Business Mail Entry (BME) office, you do know where your mail goes, at least up to the point where it enters the postal system. However, if you drop ship mail to additional entry points, you know how confusing all the postal facility acronyms can be. How do you know which facility should be the entry point for which portions of your mailing? Drop shipments require delivery appointments (with few exceptions) and it is often then that mailers find out that the USPS is "re-directing" mail to a different postal facility. And all those Labeling Lists! Who can make sense of it all?
Read MoreLabeling List Changes
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced changes to the Labeling List data, effective February 7, 2011, with a mandatory use date of April 23, 2011. The Labeling Lists affected are L001, L002, L003, L005, L006, L007, L201, L606, and L607.
Read MoreDid You Know - Facts about the United States Postal Service (USPS)
This week's e-tip is all about fun, little-known facts about the United States Postal Service® (USPS®).
Read MoreRevisions to Optional FSS Mail Preparation Requirements
The United States Postal Service published revised preparation requirements for the Flat Sequence System (FSS) mail in the January 27, 2011 Postal Bulletin. We first told you about these new optional mail preparation requirements in August, 2010.
Read MoreNew Postal Incentive Programs in 2011 for Mailers
The United States Postal Service® announced several new mailer incentive programs for 2011, geared toward increasing mail volume and revenue. The incentive programs include Reply Rides Free and Saturation and High Density Incentive Program.
Read MorePostal Rate Prices to Increase in April on Mailings
The United States Postal Service announced yesterday their intention to increase postage on non-competitive products an average of 1.741%, effective April 17, 2011. This increase is based on a price cap calculated by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) using Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, and will apply across each Mailing Services class of mail. Increases for competitive products, such as Priority Mail and Express Mail, took place on January 2, 2011.
Read MoreMailing Industry News and Changes for 2011
There are a number of recent developments affecting the mailing industry, particularly with regard to USPS® changes scheduled to be effective in January, 2011.
Read MoreUSPS Labeling List Changes
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced changes to the Labeling List data, effective December 6, 2010, with a mandatory use date of February 17, 2011. The Labeling Lists affected are L001, L002, L004, L007, L011, L201, L601, L605, L606, and L801.
Read MoreMore Intelligent Mail® "Myths" in the Mailing Industry
Last week's e-tip covered some of the prevalent myths in the mailing industry surrounding Intelligent Mail. Turns out there are even more myths out there surrounding this topic.
Read MoreIntelligent Mail® Barcode Myths
It seems like no matter how much information is communicated regarding Intelligent Mail (IM), there are always some misconceptions that persist. This week's e-tip will cover some of the more prevalent "myths" surrounding Intelligent Mail.
Read MoreUSPS Announces New BSA Agreements
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced new Business Systems Administrator Agreements (BSA's). These agreements describe the terms and conditions for the use of USPS computing systems and Business Customer Gateway online services. Essentially, any mailers using
PostalOne! to conduct electronic transactions with the USPS will need to read and accept the new agreement in order to continue access to the Business Customer Gateway. The new agreements were effective November 1, 2010, but mailers have a grace period until sometime in 2011 (yet to be announced) to accept the new agreement.
Read MoreUSPS Announces Shipping Rate Price Increases
The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced this week plans to increase shipping prices by an average of 3.6%, effective January 2, 2011. These rates must be reviewed and approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) before they can be implemented. The price increase will include the USPS' competitive products (Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select, Parcel Return Service, Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International, and Priority Mail International).
Read MoreResolving Postal Issues
As complex as the mailing rates and regulations are, it is little wonder that at some point mailers will take issue with a ruling from their local post office or in-house Detached Mail Unit (DMU). Although it is always best to try to head off these situations before the mailing occurs, that is not always possible, particularly given the rapid pace of change in postal requirements.
Read MoreIntelligent Mail Non-Compliance Assessments for Full-Service Mailings Postponed Until January 2, 2011
As we informed you in our June 3, 2010 e-Tip, the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced earlier this year that, beginning November 7, 2010, they would be assigning negative postage assessments to mailers with non-compliant Intelligent Mail Full-Service (IMFS) mailings, or parts thereof. The USPS reasoned that since the IMFS discounts ($.003/piece for First-Class Mail® and $.001/piece for Periodicals and Standard Mail®) were implemented in November of 2009, it had essentially provided mailers with a one-year "grace period" in which to work out any IM implementation issues. The USPS has now decided to postpone these negative postage assessments until January 2, 2011.
Read MoreMigrating to Intelligent Mail® Barcodes
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced that effective May 2011, flat-size and letter-size mailings with POSTNET™ barcodes will no longer be eligible for automation discounts. As of that date, mailers wishing to obtain automation discounts must print the Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb) on their mailpieces rather than the POSTNET barcodes. This applies to letter and flat-size mail only, not to any parcel mailings.
Read MoreIntelligent Mail® Package Barcode
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) recently published a Federal Register notice regarding the optional use of the Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb™) starting no later than January of 2011, with mandatory use of IMpb on all domestic packages by January 2012. This is the next step in Intelligent Mail barcode services as currently IM is available only for letters and flats. This is not a final rule, and mailers are encouraged to submit their comments regarding these proposals as described in the notice.
Read MoreeDoc for Comailed & Copalletized Mailings
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) recently published a Federal Register notice regarding the upcoming requirement for electronic documentation (eDoc) on all comailed and copalletized mailings. The effective date for the new requirement is January 2, 2011. This new requirement is different from the existing electronic documentation requirements for Intelligent Mail® (IM) Full-Service mailings; those requirements have not changed. This new requirement not only adds the electronic documentation requirement, but will also require comailed and copalletized mailings to include Intelligent Mail tray labels on trays and/or sacks. Intelligent Mail container labels must also be used on pallets - or similar containers - when making comailed or copalletized mailings.
Read MorePostal Service® Form 8017
There is a little-known Postal Service form that is recently coming to mailers' attention - the PS Form 8017, Expedited Plant-Load Shipment Clearance. This form, similar to PS Form 8125, provides proof to the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) that a shipment of mail was verified and paid for at the origin - entry post office. The difference between the two forms is that the PS 8017 is used with Expedited Plant-Load shipments, which do NOT qualify for drop-ship discounted pricing, whereas the PS 8125 is used with Plant-Load Verified Destination Drop Shipment (PVDS) mailings that DO qualify for drop-ship discounted pricing.
Read More
USPS Labeling List Data Changes
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced changes to the Labeling List data, effective August 2, 2010, with a mandatory use date of October 14, 2010. The Labeling Lists affected are L001, L002, L005, L007, L009, L201, and L606.
Read MoreOptional Mail Prep Standards for FSS Flats
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) published a notice in the August 23, 2010 Federal Register regarding proposed changes to mail preparation requirements for flat size mail destined to Flat Sequencing System (FSS) ZIP codes. These preparation changes would be optional for mailers, and would be made effective on January 2, 2011.
Read More.LA NDC Mailing Facility Closed August 23
The Los Angeles CA Network Distribution Center (NDC) will be closed for one day on Monday, August 23, 2010. The closure is due to major facility work which necessitates a full power outage from 0500 to 1700 hours. NDC's are the new name for the facilities previously known as Bulk Mail Centers (BMC's).
Read More...Business Mail Academy
Whether you are new to the mailing industry or a seasoned veteran, there is always occasion for expanding your knowledge. The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) offers a number of classes and certifications, both online and at their National Center for Employment Development (NCED) training center in Norman, OK. The USPS has made it easier to access this training information with a new web page for their Business Mail Academy (BMA).
Read More...
USPS Files Exigency Rate Increase
The United States Postal Service® filed an exigency rate case with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on July 6, 2010. In this case, the USPS is asking for an average price increase of 5.6%, with an effective date of January 2, 2011.
Read More...Intelligent Mail® Dates
There are a number of key dates that mailers need to be aware of as they begin or continue implementing IMb™ services into their operations. These dates, established by the Postal Service™, are major milestones in the IM integration process, so mailers need to prepare for them.
Read More...Labeling List Changes from the Postal Service
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced changes to the Labeling List data, effective June 17, 2010. The Labeling Lists affected are L001, L002, L003, L004, L005, L007, L008, L009, L011, L201, L606, and L607. Read More...
Postal Terminology
Just when you think you are up to speed with postal terminology, along come some changes that require us all to change the way we speak. Well, at least during our working hours! With the implementation of Intelligent Mail®, "postal-speak" is becoming almost a new language, even to veterans in the mailing industry. Aside from the plethora of new acronyms - which the Postal Service™ is famous for! - some of the old, familiar terms used to describe the PPU (physical preparation units) of mail are changing.
Read More...Non-Compliance Assessments on Intelligent Mail® Full-Service Mailings
Effective November 7, 2010, The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) will begin applying negative postage assessments to mailers with non-compliant Intelligent Mail Full-Service (IMFS) mailings, or parts thereof. The IMFS discounts ($.003/piece for First-Class Mail® and $.001/piece for Periodicals and Standard Mail®) were implemented in November of 2009. This has essentially provided mailers with a one-year "grace period" in which to work out any IM implementation issues. Once this grace period is up, however, mailers may be subject to loss of their IMFS discounts on any mail not meeting certain IMFS criteria.
Read More...USPS Clarifies Policy on Bills of Lading
In a recent DMM Advisory, the USPS announced it has agreed to sign (upon request) Bills of Lading for drop-shipped mail. Based on their Sarbanes-Oxley requirements, the USPS was originally concerned that signing the bills of lading might imply acceptance of the content of the mail in the shipment, and be mistakenly used as a replacement for the USPS Form 8125. (The 8125 form is the official USPS clearance document, which is completed at the point of postal entry, and indicates that the mail has been verified and paid for.) Representatives from the mailing and logistics industry met with the USPS to discuss the situation and to explain the industry use of the bills of lading as proof of delivery only, not as a replacement for the 8125.
Read More...Confirm® EMD Support to Continue
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced this week that they plan to continue supporting and accepting the traditional Electronic Mail Data (EMD) file for use with the Confirm® service. The EMD function of Confirm is critical to allow mail tracking by mailers who do not use Intelligent Mail® services and therefore do not have access to Start-The-Clock data. Start-The-Clock, as we described in last week's e-tip, is the point at which the USPS first scans the IM container label barcode for purposes of identifying when and where the mail was accepted. Start-The-Clock data is critical information in terms of service performance measurement for the USPS and for monitoring delivery times for mailers.
Read More...Start-The-Clock
In last week's e-tip, we discussed mail tracking and how it relates to Intelligent Mail® (IM). If you'll recall, we told you that just because you are using the IM barcodes (IMb's), that does not mean you will automatically get tracking information on your mail. Tracking your mail requires subscribing to and using the USPS® Confirm® service. This week, as promised, we will elaborate on the Start-The-Clock portion of mail tracking.
Read More...Intelligent Mail® and Mail Tracking
Despite the wealth of information available on Intelligent Mail, there is still a common misperception in the industry that using Intelligent Mail® barcodes (IMb's) automatically allows mailers to track their mail. While the additional data included in the IMb certainly facilitates the ability to track the mail, using the IMb, in and of itself, does not provide for accessing mail-tracking data. In order to take advantage of mail tracking, mailers must also use the USPS® Confirm® service.
Read More...Is Your Postal Distribution Mailing Data Up-to-Date?
Have you ever tried to go on a road trip using an old road map or outdated GPS system? Frustrating, isn't it? You probably had to re-route a few times and likely did not arrive at your destination when you planned to. Well, that is exactly what happens to your mail if you don't keep your postal distribution data up-to-date.
Read More...Summer Postage Sale from the USPS
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced another Summer Sale on postage for this year. The sale offers a 30% credit to Standard Mail® customers with an increased volume of letters and flats over a predetermined threshold (5% volume increase over the same period in 2009). The sale period is from July 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010.
Read More...New Options for Letter-Size Booklet Mailpieces
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) recently announced the long-awaited new options for design of letter-size booklet mailpieces that will qualify for automation rates. The USPS has made a number of revisions to the regulations for what are often called "slim-jims" in the mailing industry. The last round of revisions were fairly restrictive, and negatively impacted the design options available to direct mailers. In response, the USPS asked the mailing industry to submit samples of desired designs for letter-size booklet pieces so that these pieces could be tested for machineability on USPS sorting equipment. That initiative created this most recent revision, which provides for nine new simple spine designs and one oblong booklet design.
Read More...Postal Education - Learn how to Mail with USPS
Who can keep up with all the changes going on in the mailing industry? Postal regulations are so complex, and it seems like they become more complicated all the time. Buzz words abound, and it is often difficult, even for experienced mailers, to stay up-to-date on all the terms and initiatives. Luckily, there are some good resources available for detailed information on some of the hottest mailing topics.
Read More...USPS Changes to PMOD (Priority Mail Open & Distribute) Requirements
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) has announced changes in the requirements for Express Mail® Open and Distribute (EMOD) and Priority Mail® Open and Distribute (PMOD). These changes are effective April 5, 2010.
Read More...New Postage Statements Available for Mailers
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) has made available the new postage statements, which reflect the verbiage changes for the conversion of the former Bulk Mail Centers (BMC's) to Network Distribution Centers (NDC's). Although these new statements were effective March 14, 2010, and the USPS encourages mailers to begin using the new statements as soon as possible, mailers have until May 27, 2010 to use the old January 2010 versions of the postage statements. After May 27, the March 14, 2010 postage statements will be mandatory. Window Book software has been updated to include the new postage statements.
Read More...Round Stamp Eliminated for Postal Service: What Will You Do?
Effective March 15, 2010, the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) plans to discontinue the process of placing the red round date stamp on hard copy postage statements presented at postal facilities equipped with PostalOne!®. For facilities not yet equipped with PostalOne!, the USPS will continue to round-stamp hard copy postage statements.
Read More...USPS 8125 Checklist for Mailers
In an effort to ensure consistent adherence to existing policies and procedures at its business mailer acceptance docks, plants and Post Offices, the USPS recently published an 8125 Checklist for mailers.
Read More...Eligibility on USPS Commercial Flats Mail Pieces Failing Deflection
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) is publishing a Federal Register notice with the final ruling on the price eligibility for commercial flat size pieces that fail the deflection or "droop" test. The USPS published the proposed rule on this topic in December 2009, and based on the comments received on that posting, have now issued the final ruling. As background, the USPS first planned to make the new deflection standards effective in May 2009, which was then postponed and then finally deferred to become effective on June 7, 2010. We provided information on these changes in our November 12, 2009 and December 3, 2009 E-tips.
Read More...Important Sites, Links and Numbers for the Postal Service
Every once in a while it becomes necessary to stop, dig through emails, documents and/or stacks of paper on your desk to find a phone number, email address or website to use to get help or research something about the Postal Service. This week's E-tip will, hopefully, put a lot of the very important contact information easily within your reach.
Read More...STIDS: Service Type Identifiers on Intelligent Mail, Class of Mail and other services
A key part of the Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMb) is the Service Type Identifier (STID). (See the green area in the figure below). The STID identifies three major characteristics of a mailing: the Intelligent Mail option, the class of mail and any additional services being requested by the mailer. Mailings may consist of multiple STIDs: for example, there may be a combination of Full-Service, Basic Service and Non-Automation pieces in a single mailing.
Read More...Postage Statement Changes on Mailings
The United States Postal Service® (USPS® ) recently announced changes to the format and handling of postage statements, effective in March 2010. The format of the statements will be changing to reflect the conversion of Bulk Mail Centers (BMC's) to Network Distribution Centers (NDC's). The handling of the statements will change for hard copy statements vs. electronic statements, and these handling differences will depend on whether or not the acceptance unit is connected to the PostalOne!® system.
Read More...Understanding CSA's (Customer/Supplier Agreement)
With the implementation of Intelligent Mail® comes the addition of new postal acronyms. One of the most widely used is "CSA", which is the abbreviation for Customer/Supplier Agreement. A CSA is a written agreement between the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) and a commercial mailer, and is designed to spell out the requirements for origin-entry mail preparation and the acceptance-window times necessary for mail to be considered entered into the postal network. CSA's may also include schedules of transportation times, mail containerization specifications, designated postal mail facility entry locations, and time-sensitive mail entry instructions. Read More...
Priority Mail Open and Distribute for Mailers (along with its Creative Uses)
Many mailers assume that Priority Mail® is used only for shipping small packages, but there is a service in Priority Mail that can be used by mailers of letters and flats. It is called Priority Mail Open and Distribute (PMOD), and this service is used to drop ship mail of various classes and processing categories. Even if you don’t currently drop ship your mail, perhaps due to small volumes, PMOD may be a cost-effective option to look at. If you do currently drop ship mail, you may want to take advantage of PMOD for small volume entries. Read More...
January 4, 2010 Changes for Postal Service (regarding new prices on mailing and shipping)
Just a reminder regarding some of the mailing and shipping changes that become effective on January 4, 2010: United States Postal Service® (USPS®) prices for non-market dominant products (e.g. Express Mail®, Priority Mail®) increase. We described these changes in our December 10, 2009 Postal Concierge E-tip. If you have not yet updated your Window Book software to the newest release, which includes the new rates, we encourage you to download these updates as soon as possible. The new price lists are also available online at the USPS web site. Read More...
Keeping Up with Intelligent Mail Issues
Whether you are deep into your Intelligent Mail (IM) integration or have not yet started, the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) offers a variety of methods to keep up-to-date with what is happening in the world of Intelligent Mail. A lot of mail service providers and software vendors also offer newsletters and broadcast emails to help their clients stay informed. Read More...
Move Update Non-compliance Penalties on Mailings - Effective January 4, 2010
Just a reminder that the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) plans to implement postage penalties on mailings not meeting the Move Update requirements in 2010. These penalties will become effective January 4, 2010. These Move Update requirements have been in place for quite some time for First-Class presort mailings, and in November 2008, these requirements were extended to Standard Mail. Although the requirements have been in place for a while, there was no postage penalty attached to mailings determined to be non-compliant, but that will change starting in January. Read More...
Shipping Rates Price to Increase in 2010
FedEx® recently announced their planned price increases for their shipping services for 2010. FedEx Ground rates will increase by 4.9%, while the Express rates will go up by 5.9%. The Express increase will be somewhat offset by a 2% reduction in the fuel surcharge. The changes for the international rates for FedEx have not yet been announced. The new FedEx rates become effective January 4, 2010. Read More...
USPS Revises Flats Deflection Requirements Again
As we discussed in our November 12, 2009 e-tip, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be implementing new standards for flats deflection. The USPS has announced that these new standards will be deferred once again, this time to June 7, 2010. These changes were to have taken effect on January 4, 2010. Read More...
Barcode Readability Thresholds to Increase
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) announced at the recent Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) meeting in Washington DC that the Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) and Postnet Barcode readability thresholds will be increased. The readability threshold for IMb is currently set at 70%. That threshold will increase to 80% effective November 30, 2009 and to 90% effective March 15, 2010. Read More...
Submitting Postage Statements: Intelligent Mail Integration
The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) has issued the guidelines for submitting postage statements during the implementation period for Intelligent Mail® (IM) and during the period between the implementation of the IM prices on November 29 and the new rates (for non-market dominant mail classes) that become effective on January 4, 2010. Read More...
USPS Revised Flats Deflection Requirements (a.k.a The New "Droop Test")
The United States Postal Service® (USPS) will be implementing new standards for flats deflection, currently scheduled to be effective January 4, 2010. This change was originally scheduled to be implemented on September 8, 2009, but was postponed in an effort to give mailers sufficient time to make the necessary changes to their mailpieces. Read More...
Intelligent Mail - All or Nothing?
As we mentioned in a previous e-tip, mailers who wish to take advantage of the Intelligent Mail (IM) benefits are required to pass a testing process (Test Environment for Mailers-TEM) to obtain authorization from the United States Postal Service® (USPS®). So, what happens once you receive your authorization? Are you now required to send all your mailings using Intelligent Mail? Read More...
Intelligent Mail - Testing Environment for Mailers (TEM)
Did you know that in order to take advantage of the Intelligent Mail (IM) Full Service benefits which become available on November 29 you need to pass a test? Well, it's true! The United States Postal Service® (USPS) requires that mailers claiming IM rates must be authorized to do so, and the only way to do that is to go through a testing process. The tests include submission of Mail.dat® files and electronic documents in a testing environment called Test Environment for Mailers (TEM). This test environment uses the same software that is used by the USPS for production on PostalOne!, so it mimics what will occur during live production. Read More...
Revision to Regulations for Slim Jims
As we described in an earlier e-tip, the United States Postal Service® (USPS) modified the regulations for letter size booklet type mailings, sometimes referred to in the printing industry as slim-jims. The new regulations went into effect on September 8, 2009, but there were issues with some smaller size mailpieces which could not accommodate the new tabbing requirements without overlapping the tabs. Read More...
Keeping Up-to-Date Labeling Lists and Drop Ship Data
As we have mentioned in previous e-tips, the United States Postal Service® (USPS) is in the process of re-aligning their network of mail processing and transportation facilities. This is being done in an effort to streamline processes and reduce costs, as well as to reflect the drop in mail volume these facilities are handling. One of the most recent examples of this initiative was the change of Bulk Mail Centers (BMC's) to Network Distribution Centers (NDC's). Read More...
Intelligent Mail University
The United States Postal Service® (USPS) has scheduled an additional Intelligent Mail (IM) University session to be held on October 6, 2009 in Columbus OH. The USPS has hosted a number of these informative sessions in the past and if you have not yet attended one, we strongly encourage you to do so. The registration fee is $79, which includes a full day program, continental breakfast and lunch. You will also receive a $79 credit towards your 2010 National Postal Forum (NPF) registration. The 2010 NPF will be held April 11-14, 2010 in Nashville TN. Read More...
New Intelligent Mail Guide Available
The United States Postal Service® (USPS) has issued the latest version, Version 6.3, of the Guide on Intelligent Mail for Letters and Flats. This guide contains an abundance of detailed information regarding implementation of Intelligent Mail for mailers. The guide contains numerous updates and clarifications, including information on electronic documentation, FAST® drop ship appointments, Full Service ACS, etc. Read More...
USPS 5-day Delivery: Voice Your Opinion
The United States Postal Service®(USPS), in conjunction with the Mailer's Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC), has issued an industry survey regarding 5-day delivery. As members of the mailing community, we strongly urge you to participate in this survey and make your opinions known. Read More...
Reminder: Changes to USPS Regulations for Slim Jims & Digests
Just a quick reminder regarding the upcoming changes to the United States Postal Service® (USPS) regulations for letter size booklet type mailings, sometimes referred to in the printing industry as slim-jims or digests. Read More...
Free USPS Webinar on Full Service ACS
The United States Postal Service® (USPS) is offering a free webinar to help mailers understand the Intelligent Mail Full Service Address Change Service (ACS) option. Full Service ACS is free of charge under the IM Full Service program, so if you are currently using ACS this could be a substantial postage savings for you. If you are not currently using ACS, you may want to check out the potential of this free service. Read More...
What is Mail.XML
You are most likely familiar with the term Mail.dat and understand how it works, but what is all the buzz about Mail.XML? Mail.XML is a newer mailing industry standard specification (like Mail.dat, it is established and maintained by IDEAlliance) for informational transmissions. Mail.dat is quite robust and can contain huge amounts of information, which is fine, except when you only need portions of the information that resides in Mail.dat files. It can be very time consuming and a strain on transmission and storage resources to send entire Mail.dat files back and forth between the involved participants in the mailings. This is the reason that Mail.XML was born. Read More...
Print your IMb's BEFORE November!
Although the discounts and the free ACS services for Intelligent Mail® are not available until November 2009, mailers are highly encouraged to print Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb's) as soon as possible. Even if your internal systems are not yet prepared for the processes required for Intelligent Mail, it is a good idea to start printing the barcodes right away. Read More...
What is NDC?
NDC is one of the newest postal acronyms, and it stands for "National Distribution Center." The United States Postal Service® (USPS) has started the process of re-naming the old Bulk Mail Centers (BMC's) as NDC's. The transition has already begun in the Northeast with 11 sites being activated. The old BMC's will still remain in place, but will be re-named National Distribution Centers. The complete transition is expected to take about 18 months. Read More...