The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) approved requests for price changes for Mailing and Shipping Services to be effective January 22, 2012. This newsletter provides a preparation checklist for mailers and USPS employees about the changes.

 January 22, 2012 Price Change and related changes checklist:

1. oNew Postage Statements can be found at the Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.gov.   ONLY the January 2012 postage statements can be used if one of the new product or service offerings is being used. Manifest mailers may use postage statements dated April 2011 or June 2011 as long as they reflect the January 22, 2012 prices. Any postage statement format dated prior to April 2011 or June 2011 is obsolete, and any statement with old prices cannot be used. Changes in statements involve price changes, different wording or terminology, and additional sections added to many statements. A summary of changes to each postage statement is also available at the Postal Explorer website. The following is a list of the new statements that are available:

3541 Periodicals

3587 Every Door Direct Mail Retail (reflecting the new 14.5 cent price)

3600-EZ First Class Nonautomation Letters, Cards or Flats

3600-PM Priority Mail

3600-FCM First-Class Mail and First Class Package Services

3602-EZ Standard Mail – Easy version – Nonautomation Letters or Flats

3602-R Standard mail

3602-NZ – Nonprofit Std Mail – Easy version – Nonautomation Letters or Flats

3602-N Nonprofit Standard Mail

3605-R Package Services

3700 International Mail

System mailers (manifest) must submit an exception request if they are unable to use a version dated April 2011 or more recent. This request will be forwarded to the Pricing & Classification Service Center for consideration. No statement will be considered that contains old prices.

Reminder: Customers are only required to provide the first page of the postage statement and each additional page based on the sections they check on the front of the form or on which they claim pieces.

1. oUpdating of software, scales, and meters. Updates must be received from your software or meter company to reflect the new prices and postage statements effective January 22, 2012. Customers posting items prior to the price change date must ensure they are using the proper postage for the actual day of mailing. A new Price List Notice 123 will be available on Postal Explorer immediately after the price change date. Customers who currently need to locate the new prices will need to use the excel price lists available on Postal Explorer website.
2. oManifest and system mailers should perform a quality control check on their first mailings under the new prices to ensure new prices were used. USPS employees in the Greater SC District are required to perform a voluntary manifest mailing verification on each mailing submitted after a price change to ensure no revenue is lost. Each office will certify they have completed this.

1. oMailers who have additional questions about the details associated with January 22, 2012 price change should reference the Federal Register notices in advance of the change date, and the applicable sections of the Domestic Mail Manual after the change. For example, mailers who want to see the requirements to claim Commercial Base or Commercial Plus prices would reference the applicable DMM sections (based on class of mail) to see what forms of postage payment could be used and what the volume requirements are if any.

1. oElectronically submitted Postage Statements – Customers who submit electronic postage statements and documentation using mail.dat or mail.XML, or who submit statements using Postal Wizard must ensure that the rates they use match those that will be in effect when the mail is presented. Mailings submitted claiming old prices after the date of the change will need to be canceled and a revised statement must be submitted.

1. oPlant Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Mailers. Some PVDS mailers prepare and submit mailings to the USPS prior to a price change but do not enter them at the destination facility until after the price change date. Certain rules apply to those mailers as follows:

Current Prices – PVDS mailings verified and paid for before January 22, 2012 using the current prices, will be accepted at destination entry postal facilities through February 5, 2012, when presented with appropriate verification and payment documentation.

New Prices – PVDS mailings may be verified and paid for beginning January 8, 2012 using the new prices, provided the shipments are not deposited at destination entry postal facilities until January 22, 2012 or later, when presented with appropriate verification and payment documentation.

• For mailings with electronic documentation, mailers must enter a Mail Arrival Date that is on or after January 22, 2012.
• For mailings with hard copy statements, USPS acceptance employees must enter a Mail Arrival Date that is on or after January 22, 2012.

Price Change Update: A couple of new items will not be implemented until after January 22. These include the following benefits for mailers.

• Waiver of Annual Presort Fee – this will apply only to mailers who primarily submit mailings that claim Full Service IMB pricing. Implemented February 12.

• Multiple Entry Points for Permit Imprint Mailings – this option will provide greater flexibility for full service mailers and will be implemented February 12.