The Catablog
Posts Tagged ‘USPS regulations’
USPS dilemma
On September 6, 2011, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs concerning the USPS dire financial dilemma. He laid out what is needed from Congress to keep the USPS from default. It seems the Senate panel got the message and understood the need for immediate action. Something the mailing industry has known for years. My concern is what we will finally see from Congress knowing there will be winners and losers.
Will Congress have the fortitude to do what is right or give in to special interests groups which will only temporiarly delay default?
What do you think?
Don’t Look a QR Gift in the Mouth
For whatever reason, the USPS is offering you a 3% discount on your postage over the next two months for simply applying a QR code (mobile barcode) somewhere in your catalog. Huh? For all the reasons they should offer incentives, promotions, etc, I have to tell you, QR codes were not high on my list. But take it and run with it and don’t ask questions. You now have been given more than a postage discount. Now is the perfect opportunity for you to gauge the tech savvy of your customers and prospects, and also to understand how badly they want to be with you. All the technology in the world is meaningless unless your customers embrace it and tell you they want it.
First, let’s get the technical garb out of the way. QR codes have been around for sometime and I’m sure most of you have seen them in magazines, newspapers, billboards, POS, retail stores, etc., enticing you to scan the codes for something more – whatever they want more to be. The codes themselves are easy to build. There are 33 million do-it-yourself websites instructing you how to build them. You can get very creative in the design of them and have them embrace your brand. If that doesn’t do it for you, then let us help! You can contact us to either walk you through the steps or we may even be able to create them for you. However you choose, the technical barriers to creation are so low that my dog Alex produced one for his collar that directs the person who finds him to the nearest Starbucks.
The real issue here is what you want that simple QR code to do for you, and more importantly for your customer. DO NOT take the easy way out by creating this code to steer people to your website. This is a waste of time for them and produces nothing of value for either of you. Don’t you think they can or already have gone to your website if they wanted to? So this code is supposed to save them the time of typing it in…….? Come on – you’re better than that. Here is where direct marketing basics come back to life. The opportunity to engage with your customers is prime and you have an exceptional opportunity to truly add value to your relationship.
WHAT IF the QR code directed people to….?
- Your loyalty program to learn all the benefits of joining your program?
- A YouTube video describing the features and benefits of one of your best-selling products?
- A video on how to apply that perfect anti-aging cream?
- An offer too good to be passed up, like 40% off plus free shipping? (Think JoS. A. Bank)
- A recipe that includes one of your best-selling spices?
- The perfect gift sampler of meats to send to your Dad or better yet…me?
- Your Facebook page and encouraged them to “Like” ( I still have a hard time with this one) you and by doing so, they would receive an instant discount?
- A list of reasons as to what differentiates your products and services and why they should buy from you?
- A survey and upon completion of it they are awarded a significant discount?
- A listing of your retail stores in their area?
- An instant coupon that they could take to their local retail store for a discount?
What if…….
My time is up here. But the message here is to use the code to engage your customers and measure the results. From this “gift” you may truly learn more about your customers, and make some money as well….and really isn’t that what direct marketing is all about?
Again use this gift for all it’s worth because you may not have a second chance……….
Call us we’re here to assist.
Gary Sierzchulski
VP, Arandell Marketing Solutions
866-834-5611
Click or scan the code below to send me a message.
PRC Approves USPS 2011 Mobile Barcode Promotion
We love to be the bearer of great news and today we’ve got it! We know you all want to hear about opportunities to save…and the post office is giving you a great opportunity to do that this summer. On May 17, 2011, the PRC approved a USPS proposal to host a Mobile Barcode Promotion in July and August of this year.
What is the USPS Mobile Barcode Promotion?
The goal of the USPS Mobile Barcode Promotion is to build awareness of mobile technology and to demonstrate how mailers can leverage mobile barcodes to increase their ROI on direct mail. The promotion provides business mailers with an upfront 3% discount on Standard and First-Class mail letters and flats that include a two-dimensional (2D) barcode and that can be read and scanned by a smartphone.
The USPS promotion will run from July 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011. All companies who use a permit imprint are eligible to participate and there is no pre-registration required. For this particular promotion, the postal discount is applied immediately (as opposed to previous promotions that required you to submit paperwork to get a “rebate” on your mailings). The mobile barcode discount will be calculated in PostalOne! and applied to the mailing statement at the time of mailing.
USPS Mobile Barcode Promotion Requirements
All of the following must apply in order for you to use a mobile barcode on your mailpiece:
- All mailpieces in the mailing must include a mobile two-dimensional barcode on the face of the mailpiece or within the mailpiece.
- The mobile barcode must be used for marketing purposes (for use by the mail recipient).
- Standard and First-Class Mail letters and flats must be sent with postage paid using a permit imprint and submitted electronically using Postal Wizard, Mail.dat or Mail.XML to qualify for the discount. (Mailings submitted via postal Wizard cannot exceed 9,999 pieces.)
- The Mobile Barcode Promotion must be affirmatively claimed on the “Incentive Claimed” line in the certification section of the postage statement.
- Mail must be tendered for acceptance during the promotion period, July 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011.
For your convenience, The USPS has published a Mobile Barcode Promotion Frequently Asked Questions document. It contains general information about the promotion, along with regulations and eligibility requirements. (Note: The original FAQ document indicates that non-profit organizations are not eligible to participate in the mobile barcode promotion but that has changed since the document was published. Non-profits ARE indeed eligible to participate.)
Why wait? You’ve got nothing to lose. The USPS Mobile Barcode Promotion gives direct mailers the perfect opportunity to test the marketing potential of mobile barcodes. The low cost of entry, combined with the summer discount being offered by the USPS makes this the most optimal time for you to speak with us about how you can integrate a mobile barcode into your printed catalog today!
For additional information, Email our postal experts, contact us at 866-675-4054 or scan/click this QR code:
Postal Service Appeals PRC Decision on Exigent Price Request
(October 22 release from MTAC)The Postal Service Governors’ decision means that a petition will be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, seeking a review of the PRC’s interpretation of the law that governs how prices can be set under extraordinary and exceptional circumstances.
The Postal Service position is that the PRC misread the statute and applied an incorrect standard in evaluating the request for an exigent price increase.
“We have a fundamental disagreement with the PRC’s interpretation of the law,” said Postmaster General John E. Potter. “This action is an investment in our future. We need to understand and define the rules under the current law should the Postal Service find itself in a similar situation in the future.”
The Postal Service also asks the Court of Appeals to confirm the Postal Service right to pursue the exigent price increase as originally requested of the PRC.
It is expected that the Court of Appeals will ask for briefs from both the Postal Service and the PRC. Oral arguments also may be scheduled by the court once the petition challenging the PRC ruling is filed.
The Postal Service continues to evaluate other options to address the PRC’s ruling. The exigent price request would have generated about $2.3 billion in much needed revenue for the first nine months of calendar year 2011.
Filing for an exigent price change was the one tool the Postal Service had to use within the confines of the law to help address the impact the recession had on its financial situation. But pricing is only one of a suite of solutions to address the dire financial situation the Postal Service faces. The long-term financial viability of the Postal Service will remain questionable unless the March 2 action plan is fulfilled.
A quick and timely resolution of the appeal is an important part of the Postal Service plan.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of products and services to fund its operations.
USPS Droop Regulations Now Being Enforced
It’s Here!
The Deflection/Droop Requirement went into effect October 3, 2010 for all FLATS! Failing to comply with the Deflection specifications can potentially double or triple your postage costs.
If you have questions about how to reduce your catalog’s droop, please contact us today at 800-558-8724.
USPS to Propose Exigent Rate Increase
Heads up! The USPS announced this morning that they will present an exigent postage increase to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) later today. Standard Mail will see an average increase of 5.6% with an effective date of January 2, 2011.
We will continue to update the blog as we receive more information.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Susan Pinter and I can both be reached at 800-558-8724.
3rd Annual ACMA National Catalog Forum
The American Catalog Mailers Association (ACMA) held its third National Catalog Forum April 13-15 in Nashville, TN. From a personal standpoint, I thought it was one of the best forums of this kind I have attended in a long time. I should know; I have been in the mailing industry 44 years and have attended more events than I can count. Looking around the room I saw some of the most influential catalogers in the industry.
The forum started off with Mark Acton, Commissioner, U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission. Mark covered a list of postal issues that may impact catalogers. I was impressed with the quality and thoughtfulness of the questions asked by attendees. Pat Donahoe, Deputy Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service, discussed several topics, the one of the highest level of interest being the Flats Sequencing System (FSS) and how it will affect future postal ECR rates.
Other topics covered include co-mailing, Do Not Mail, prospecting, USPS catalog marketing efforts and growth in catalog mail volume.
The ACMA is THE advocate for catalogers. Its annual forum is packed full of valuable information that will impact all of you. In the future, I highly encourage all catalogers to attend the forum, so that we as mailers have a bigger voice in Washington.
For more information, please feel free to contact Don Landis, HDLandis@arandell.com. He can also both be reached at 800.558.8724.
Revised Droop/Deflection Rule
Earlier this year, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced the implementation of revised deflection requirements, which went into effect on January 4th, 2010. As a follow up to this implementation, the industry met with the USPS early this week to further discuss the challenges ahead with the droop/deflection requirement. The revised rule states: if a piece does not comply with the deflection 3 inch rule, the piece drops to the Non-Automated Rates. According to the USPS, the floppy pieces need to be taken off the machines and manually processed because the flimsy flats do not feed well on the automated equipment. In turn, this is incurring additional manufacturing and processing costs to the postal service. This will be a big impact for ALL mailers!!! A perfect example is a Standard Mail Flat Catalog weighing less than 3 ounces – The postage will go from .262 cents per piece to .367 cents per piece. This is a 28% increase!!! WOW, the catalogers are not happy with this rule, especially in today’s world of cutting costs and reducing page counts.
The industry continues to work with the USPS as partners to come up with solutions that benefit the mail owner along with their vendors: the Mailer and the USPS! More to come…….
Happy Holidays from Arandell Corporation
Happy Holidays to you and yours from all of us at Arandell Corporation! Our corporate blog’s innaugural year is nearing its end and we can’t begin to express how much we have enjoyed this addition to our marketing repetoire. Here are the links to your favorite articles to date:
A Flurry of Postal Updates: Droop Test, Move Update, Winter Sale, Dry Release Cards
9 Reasons to Mail More in 2010
No Postal Increase in 2010 – Really?
Canada Post Corp. Rate Changes Effective January 11, 2010
If you have any suggestions or requests for future blog posts, please send an email to blogging@arandell.com. We thank you for all of your feedback so far and look forward to adding more in the New Year.
On behalf of all of us at Arandell Corporation, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season.
A Flurry of Postal Updates: Droop Test, Move Update, Winter Sale, Dry Release Cards
The postal world is always busy, but this week we have received quite a few updates and wanted to makes sure you were aware of the following:
1. DROOP TEST: As announced earlier this year, the USPS will be implementing revised deflection, or droop standards on January 4, 2010. It was announced today, however, that the penalty for not complying with those standards will not be enforced until June of 2010.
2. MOVE UPDATE: Just a reminder that the USPS will implement the penalty phase on the Move Update Standards on January 4, 2010. Catalogers must use one of these USPS approved methods: NCOALink, FASTforward, OneCode ACS, Address Change Service, Ancillary Service Endorsement without ACS. Those using an alternative addressing format such as “Or Current Resident” are not subject to the Move Update Standards.
3. WINTER SALE: We regretfully report that there will be no USPS Winter Sale. There will be a Spring Sale starting in April. Details to come the week of December 20. As soon as we can report more, we will send an update to all of you.
4. DRY RELEASE CARDS: Effective November 20, 2009, the USPS announced that it will allow dry release cards to be affixed to the outside of a catalog when the specifications defined here are met. (For catalogs, please refer to the section titled, “Flats with Attached Release Cards.”) Arandell Corporation is equipped to affix dry release cards and we are happy to work with you to create a catalog layout that adheres to these specifications.
For questions regarding these announcements or any other postal issues, please feel free to contact myself or Susan Pinter any time. We can also be reached at 800-558-8724.
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