New Postage Rates – January 22, 2012

New postage rates will take effect January 22, 2012. Forever stamps bought before this date will still be good and will not require additional postage. Any stamps reflecting a price will remain at that value and additional postage may be required based on the current rate at that time.

The new rate for a 1 ounce letter is 45¢. Postcards will be 32¢ each. Below are the new rates for First-Class Mail (retail):

LETTERS		FLATS		PARCELS
Weight Not Over (ounces)		Weight Not Over (ounces)		Weight Not Over (ounces)
1	0.45	1	0.90	1	1.95
2	0.65	2	1.10	2	1.95
3	0.85	3	1.30	3	1.95
3.5	1.05	-	-	-	-
		4	1.50	4	2.12
		5	1.70	5	2.29
		6	1.90	6	2.46
		7	2.10	7	2.63
		8	2.30	8	2.80
		9	2.50	9	2.97
		10	2.70	10	3.14
		11	2.90	11	3.31
		12	3.10	12	3.48
		13	3.30	13	3.65
Postcard	0.32

There are increases for the commercial rates as well so if you are planning an upcoming mailing, please contact your TMD representative to discuss deadlines and postage.

To review the new rates, please visit the USPS Postal Explorer website or view this USPS Excel spreadsheet.

Time for some Bright Ideas: TMD Newsletter

It was brought to my attention that we haven’t shared our newsletter with our blog readers! So to remedy this, here are some links (and highlights) of our past newsletters (which we print and mail of course!). If you would like us to send you our newsletter via postal mail, please visit our sign-up page on our company website.

Issue Volume 2, Number 1: The Green Issue

• Lets Talk Green
• Getting the Lowest Cost Per Sale
• Service Insight: Meet Eco Print Mail
• Eco-Tip™
• Introductions (meet our staff)
• Mail Design Update: USPS QR Code Program
• Industry News

Issue Volume 1 Number 2:

• Marketing Series: Good List Hygiene
• Opinion Sharing (poll results)
• Service Insight: Tracking
• Introductions
• Mail Design Update (Getting Flats Ready for Future Total Automation)
• Industry News

Issue Volume 1 Number 1:

• Our New Identity
• Marketing Series: Marketing in These Tough Times
• Case Study: V3locity
• Introductions
• Mail Design Update (New Tabbing Requirements for Letter-Size Booklets)
• Industry News

We hope you will find our newsletters to be informative and beneficial to your business. If you ever have a question about our services or have a suggestion for an article, please let us know!

Email Scam Alert from USPS

An alert from the USPS Postal Inspection Service has been released that a scam email has been distributed that warns about a package delivery that has been attempted or intercepted. It asks the recipient to click a link to discover when the package delivery may be expected.

This email is not from the United States Postal Service and should be deleted. Click the graphic below to read all about this.

USPS Announces Holiday Shipping Dates

It’s time to start thinking about holiday shipping!

The USPS has released their recommended  shipping dates for those that would like their letters, cards and packages to arrive in time for the holidays. This includes mailing domestic, international and to the military.

Click this link to download a PDF of all the recommended holiday shipping dates. Of course, the USPS does not guarantee your mail will reach its destination in time for the holidays, so the old adage still rings true: “mail early!”.

This information is supplied as a courtesy and is not guaranteed and late deliveries are not the responsibility of The Mailing Department. If you have questions about these delivery dates, please speak directly with the USPS who provided this information to us.

It’s more than just postal worker jobs

I was going to simply tweet about a recent CNN article called “Why we need the Postal Service” when it occurred to me that the author did not mention the other jobs that would be affected if there was no longer a Postal Service. Although the USPS is one of the country’s largest employers, there are MANY other jobs at stake.

There are many jobs that rely on the USPS. Using information by an EMA Foundation study, here are few figures from 2009 found in a white paper by the Direct Communications Group:

• 8 million jobs: Total number of mailing industry jobs in 2009 was 8,430,123.
• Over 6% of USA jobs: The mailing industry represents over 7% of the nation’s GDP and over 6% of the nation’s jobs.
• Over 1 trillion dollars in sales revenue: In 2009, the mailing industry generated $1,139 trillion in sales revenue which is over 7% of the United States’ gross domestic product.

We don’t just need the US Postal Service to stick around so we can get our mail, much of our economy depends on them. In many cases, the USPS has their hands tied when it comes to viable solutions to fixing the situation they are in. The USPS needs our support in convincing Congress to allow them to make changes that will enable them to continue delivering the mail. When you see ideas such as 5 day delivery or facility closures, really read about them instead of automatically thinking “not in my backyard”. And then let your politicians know where you stand, they need to know that we’re willing to accept change if it means saving our mail delivery…. and the jobs of many hard-working Americans, whether they work in the postal service or not.

Clean Up Your Data

Data is a part of our daily lives. And I don’t just mean here at The Mailing Department, everywhere you look today you will see data. It’s the street sign where you live, it’s the phone number where you work, it’s the address of the grocery store you will stop at on your way home tonight. Everyday new addresses are added and the accuracy in this data is paramount. Even existing addresses are being updated and ensuring that this data is accurate is a never-ending process.

In processing data for our customers, we are not only cleaning, correcting and standardizing. We are also updating with new addresses and removing records when a company closes or a person moves without giving the post office their new address.

After processing this data we will often provide the clean and updated information back to our clients. When we do this we will include both the new up-to-date information as well as the original data they provided. Deciphering “why” an address is in error is not always an easy answer. Our software does provide a “return code” for all addresses to give insight into the accuracy and “why” an address might have issues. These codes are often just a number, sometimes they are accompanied by a letter or two. I will just be focusing on the numbers for now.

Keep in mind, an address that the USPS software considers an error doesn’t always mean it is not deliverable. For example, a school might be located at “5th & Main” and the carrier might know where to deliver that mail, but that doesn’t mean the address is a good and complete address. In order for an address to be “complete”, it needs a valid building number and a street name, complete with predirectional and suffix if needed. To read more blog posts about good addressing, check out our category for data hygiene.

Now for the return codes. There will be a column included in any return file we send you, it will be a two digit field with the heading of RE (because it’s only two characters wide). If you’re not sure which column you’re looking for, please contact us. Here are some of the most commonly seen codes you might receive and what they mean. NCOA return codes are included in this list.

• 10 – Invalid Address
• 11 – Invalid City/State/Zip
• 12 – Invalid State
• 13 – Invalid City
• 17 – Insufficient data
• 21 – Address Not Found
• 22 – Multiple Response (most likely data is missing, such as an apartment number)
• 23 – Error in Primary
• 24 – Error in Secondary
• 26 – Box Closed (NCOA Only)
• 27 – No Forwarding Address (NCOA Only)
• 28 – Foreign Move (NCOA Only – new address is not provided)
• 30 – Vacant
• 31 – Single Response
• 32 – Default Response (A match was made but a more specific Zip+4 is available if other information were included, ie: Suite number)
• 33 – Non-Deliverable
• 36 – Individual Move (NCOA Only)
• 37 – Family Move (NCOA Only)
• 38 – Business Move (NCOA Only)
• 39 – LACS Conversion (address recently updated for 911 emergency)

Return codes 31 and 32 are the most common codes and in a majority of times will mean the address is good. If other information is missing, such as the plus4 on the zip code, then there other issues with the  validity of the address, but is most likely deliverable. And address that does not have a plus4 on the zip code will mail at a higher postage rate.

If a list we return to you has a code not listed above, or you need more information on what might be wrong, please ask. If you are sure an address is correct and you’ve verified it on the USPS zip code look-up site and it still says it’s an error, then a call to the USPS is your next step. Contact the USPS Address Management Services to let them know there is an error in their database. We would be happy to do this for you, however, the complaint must come from the address holder, not a third-party. Here is the contact information for address corrections:

Phone: (800) 238-3150
between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm CT

Email: incsc@email.usps.gov

Address:
PRODUCT AND SERVICE INFORMATION
NATIONAL CUSTOMER SUPPORT CENTER
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
6060 PRIMACY PKWY STE 101
MEMPHIS TN 38188-0001

Not Your Father’s Post Office

There has been talk for some time now on what the United States Postal Service will need to do to survive the changing times. We even blogged about some of our own ideas on this awhile back.

We have seen some closures and consolidations of processing facilities, but the closing of local postal locations has been tricky. All politicians want the USPS to make changes but not “in our backyard”. Closing a small local post office could definitely cause some major waves. Legally, the USPS can not just select a postal location and close it. To make some of the necessary changes that the USPS would like to make, congressional approval would need to first take place. Facility closures is just one of many ideas that the USPS is discussing.

More and more postal customers are conducting their postal business online, on smart phones and at shopping destinations. That means the need to maintain the nearly 32,000 retail offices has diminished. This has prompted the USPS to conduct a study for a retail-replacement option they are calling Village Post Offices. This is an office operated by local businesses such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers. They would offer popular postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging.

The USPS has released a list of possible locations for studying if a Village Post Office may service an area better (and less expensive) than an actual postal (owned) facility.

Part of this new Village Post Office concept also includes a new mapping website. This new website, www.uspseverywhere.com is to help customers find the closest location to them for the different services they need.

The times, they are a changin’ and in order to survive, the USPS is changing too.

UPDATE: Canadian Mail Delivery to Resume

Canada Post to Resume Operations Monday (June 27, 2011)

Canada Post has initiated the process to resume operations following the passage of back to work legislation (Bill C-6, An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of postal services). In accordance with the Act, employees will begin to report to work for their regularly scheduled shifts on Monday June 27 and on Tuesday June 28.

Canadian consumers and businesses can expect to start receiving mail on Tuesday, June 28. Post offices that were closed will start to reopen on Tuesday and resume regular operations. All mailboxes will be unsealed starting on Monday and ready to receive mail as soon as possible.

With unprocessed mail in the system and accumulated mail received from other countries that has not yet entered the system, it will take some time to stabilize operations and to return to normal delivery standards. Any mail in the system at the time of the work disruption has been secured for processing and delivery.

Canada Post will be working with large volume mailers within 24 hours after the passage of legislation to support an orderly and effective induction process. Mail pickup from commercial customers will resume on Tuesday June 28.

Canadian Mail Status in the U.S.

On June 17 the United States Postal Service suspended Canadian mail acceptance. All Canadian mail held at The Mailing Department facility has been processed and will be delivered to the USPS on June 28th when they resume accepting mail for Canada. Mail held in the USPS network since the work stoppage began is being released and transported into Canada.

Due to the large volumes of mail held by countries, customers may experience slightly longer transit times. USPS is working closely with the Canadian Postal Service to hold delays to a minimum.

UPDATE: Canada Post/CUPW Strike Continues

Negotiations Between Canada Post And CUPW Break Off

Despite intense negotiations over the past 72 hours, Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have not been able to reach an agreement.

Talks between the two have now broken off.

Every effort has been made to reach a negotiated settlement that is in the best interests of employees, customers and the company.

The company and union still remain far apart on several issues.

For the latest details about the strikes, please visit the Canadian Post or the CUPW websites.

The United States Postal Service did suspend the acceptance of Canadian-bound mail on June 18th. All Canadian mail received in our facility is still being processed so as soon as the USPS starts accepting mail again, it will be inducted into the International Gateway.

UPDATE: Canadian Postal Strike Situation Escalates

A lockout has been called by Canada Post. This means all mail delivery has  been halted (except some rural deliveries as mentioned in our previous blog post).

What this Means To Customers

Mail Deposit and Delivery

• All mail processing plants and letter carrier depots are closed and all facilities have been secured. No new mail will be accepted. Large volume mailers cannot deposit or receive mail.
• Mail Delivery is suspended to all addresses served by letter carriers represented by the CUPW (Urban). Some mail delivery will continue over the first few days of the lockout to clear mail remaining in the system in suburban and rural areas where delivery employees are represented by a different bargaining unit.
• Street Letter Boxes, mail slots on Community Mail Boxes, and other Canada Post mail-receiving equipment have been cleared and sealed to prevent mail from being deposited.
• Through a previous agreement, Canada Post and CUPW will ensure that a number of socio-economic cheques will be delivered on June 20. Please visit canadapost.ca/cheques for more information.

Post Offices

• All post offices staffed by CUPW members are closed.
• Post Offices located in suburban and rural areas staffed by members of the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants (CPAA) continue to be open but cannot accept new mail.
• Authorized Dealer Post Offices are also open but cannot accept new mail. Some Dealer Post Offices may be operating at reduced hours.
• Post Offices that remain open offer limited products such as MoneyGram and Money Orders but no new mail will be accepted. Many open Post Offices will also have parcels and other mail items delivered prior to the lockout available for customers to pick up.

There are more details about this lockout on the Canada Post website.

Canada Post states that the financial impact of the rotating strikes has cost the company close to $100 million over the 12 days. In addition, they also claim that several incidents have raised concerns about the ability to move the mail while keeping employees and customers safe.

Canada Post and CUPW remain far apart on several issues and Canada Post believes that a lockout is the best way to bring a timely resolution to the impasse.

Plans are in place to secure the mail that is currently in the system and to deliver the mail in a timely manner once operations resume.

The United States Postal Service will still allow Canada mail to be submitted, but will hold it until service is resumed. If you have any questions, please contact your TMD representative.