The United States Postal Service (USPS) is at it again with raising postal rates. With the media expectation of close to a $10 Billion dollar loss in FY2011 and continued declining mailing volume for first class mail, the Post Office has announced proposed postal increases that will take effect on January 22, 2012 for most categories of mail pending regulatory approval.
Postage Increases
The following is a summary of the proposed postal increases by common-used mail classes. Percentage increases are an average of the class and category of mailing – your mailing increase may be different based on your lists’ presort breaks.
+ First Class Letters – increasing to 45 cents for 1 ounce. Postcard rates will increase to 32 cents.
+ Presorted First Class letters, cards, and flats will increase 1.6% on average.
+ Standard Letters will increase 1.9% with saturation mailings increasing 2.3%.
+ Standard Flats will increase 2.2% with saturation mailings increasing 2.9%.
New Postal Initiatives
Nevertheless, in discussing these postal increases, Maura Robinson, VP of pricing for the Postal Service, was clear in the direction of the Postal Service to enhance the value of the mail.
This is evident in the new proposed initiative to allow first class automation letters that weigh up to 2 oz. to go at the 1 oz. letter rate. This means that clients looking to mail that last minute invite and need to go to presorted first class for expediency, don’t have to worry about if that one extra insert puts the letters weight over 1 ounce and driving up their postage costs! You won’t have to compromise anymore with your paper stock if it goes slightly over 1 ounce since the 1 and 2 ounce pricing will be the same.
Furthermore, with the success of the QR Code Discount promotion that ran this past summer, the USPS is looking into more promotions showing the benefit of integrating your direct mail with mobile and social media.
Mail Smarter
These proposed increases are not a time to slow down your direct mail campaigns, but instead a time to market smarter with your direct mail. Call us today to discuss how we can help you increase the value in your direct mail despite postage rate increases.
Read the articles below to find some of our insights into being smarter about your direct mail.
+ Think Personalization, Think Green
+ Think E-Media beats One to One Printing? Think Again! Consumers Love Direct Mail
