3rd EDITION – Summer 2008

This information is being shared with postal employees and our business mailers to ensure the same message is received by both. Questions should be directed to the Manager Business Mail Entry/Price Change Coordinator at (803) 926-6329. This final issue wraps up the May 2008 Price Change and provides information about significant upcoming changes.

How would I know if I am eligible for the Commercial Prices for Priority Mail?

If you are using Click-N-Ship from the US Postal Service, or are a registered end-user of another PC Postage vendor and are paying for postage online – you are eligible for the commercial pricing. The commercial pricing notation would be visible in your postage area.

In addition, permit imprint Manifest Mailing System (MMS) mailers with electronic confirmation services (Delivery Confirmation or Signature Confirmation) are also eligible to claim those prices. The key is “electronic”. The confirmation services information must be transmitted to us electronically and must be approved by the National Customer Support Center. When the mailer’s electronic file is certified and barcoded labels have passed the analysis, the mailer receives Form 3152, Confirmation Services Certification. A copy of that form should be on file at the acceptance post office to grant those prices.

MMS mailers are reminded there is a 10/01/08 deadline to include routing information (destination zip) in their barcode to be able to continue to claim Commercial prices.

Is Bound Printed Matter still an option for non-permit mailers?

The May 2008 price change was slated to eliminate single-piece Bound Printed Matter (BPM) as a retail option for our non-business mailers. This has been revisited and is currently still an option for mailers who affix their own postage using adhesive stamps, meter strips or PC Postage.

To find the appropriate postage to affix (based on your processing category, weight and zone) refer to the Commercial Nonpresorted Flat or Parcel BPM price charts in Notice 123 Price List available online at pe.usps.com.

Will there be an updated Publication 95, Quick Service Guide?

At this time a revised Quick Service Guide is scheduled to be published and available during the summer. Customers and postal employees are reminded that because of possible changes, the online version is usually the best resource.
 

Advance Notice – Upcoming Changes

The following is a summary of upcoming changes that will affect most business and presort mailers. For additional information contact your nearest Postal representative or access the references below.

Move Update: Effective November 23, 2008

November 23, 2008 new Move Update standards take effect. Move Update standards provide options for customers to reduce the number of mailpieces that require forwarding, return or being treated as waste by periodically matching address records with customer address change orders.

The key changes to Move Update that will be effective on that date are:
• Increase the minimum frequency of Move Update processing from 185 calendar days to 95 days prior to the date of the mailing.
• Extend the new Move Update standards to include all Standard Mail (regular and nonprofit) in addition to the current requirements for presort/automation First-Class.

To continue to receive these discounts, most mailers must incorporate a Move Update strategy well in advance of the deadline. Mailers who are not compliant on November 23 will incur single-piece First-Class prices on their mailings.

Two resources for information are the May/June 2008 edition of MailPro (locate this online at www.usps.com/mailpro) which includes a comprehensive Q&A section, and Quick Service Guide 230a which can be found at the Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com. QSG 230a covers mailer options to use an ancillary service endorsement (to receive hardcopy address corrections or electronic corrections via Address Change Service), NCOAlink, or FASTforward.

Address Placement and Address Format on all Presorted Flats: Effective March 2009

To promote efficient processing of flats on automated equipment, we will implement changes to standardize the address format on all discounted flats, and will require the address to be located in a particular location on all flats with the exception of First-Class mail. Mailers may contact their nearest Mailpiece Design Analyst for assistance with this matter.

• Midlands (290-292) Arlene Butler (803) 926-6331
• Upstate (293 & 296) Mary Gambrell (864) 282-8463
• Lowcountry/PeeDee/Coastal (294 & 295) Janet Irving (843) 760-5312

Additional information about the format and placement changes can be found on the Federal Register section of the Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com.

Letter-Size Booklets and Folded Self-Mailers: PROPOSAL in March 20 Federal Register

Many letter-size catalogs, booklets, single-ply cards, and other non-enveloped items currently are considered to be machinable letters but really don’t work well in automation. The Postal Service has recently completed the testing and feedback phase of this proposed change. Additional information will be available via future Federal Register notices and the MailPro publication.