The Mailpiece Quality Control (MQC) Specialist certification has been around for a very long time. It was an open book, 100 question multiple choice, on-line examination that was inexpensive, comprehensive and challenging to achieve. It was good for two years and has thousands amongst its ranks. The test was pulled in April with the understanding that it would be up-dated and back on line in July. Turns out it was more than the USPS could handle as the folks in that department were 100% committed to IMB implementation. They simply did not have the resources to update the program, even when I and others offered to do the service for free.
They chose instead to transition another existing in-house certification program called the MDP - Mailpiece Design Professional to an On-Line format. We are told that their goal is to have this on-line by the National Postal Forum in April.
Looking over the curriculum, it is very comprehensive, with more emphasis on Letters and Flats than with Publications or Parcels. The MDP program, from what I could see still needs work to include information on IMB, Flat Addressing Standards, Tabbing Changes for Booklets and more.
So although I am very disappointed in the manner in which this transition is occurring, there is nothing I can do to change it. Change is after all the one constant in our industry, so I look forward to embracing it. My intentions are to be able to deliver training to you, our customers and colleagues, to streamline your ability to earn the MDP certification.
Monday, October 19, 2009
May Rate Change - Good News - No overall increase!
Jack Potter, (our Postmaster General) announced last week that there will not be an exigent rate increase for the Market Dominant products that are normally adjusted in May. Normally these products that you know as First Class Mail, Standard Mail, Periodicals and single piece Parcel Post have their prices adjusted by an amount that does not exceed the increase in the national CPI. In extreme or “exigent” circumstances the Post Office can still increase the rates beyond the CPI. You could certainly argue that the USPS has a good case to do so with tremendous year over year declines in mail volumes and financial losses.
Mr. Potter puts forth his reasoning quite eloquently: “This is the right decision at the right time for the right reason. Promoting the value of mail and encouraging its continued use is essential for jobs, the economy, and the future of both the Postal Service and the mailing industry.”
“While increasing prices might have generated revenue for the Postal Service in the short term, the long-term effect could drive additional mail out of the system. We want mailers to continue to invest in mail to grow their business, communicate with valued customers, and maintain a strong presence in the marketplace. Changes in pricing for our competitive products — Priority Mail, Express Mail, Parcel Select, and most international products — are under consideration. We expect to announce a decision in November.”
Mr. Potter puts forth his reasoning quite eloquently: “This is the right decision at the right time for the right reason. Promoting the value of mail and encouraging its continued use is essential for jobs, the economy, and the future of both the Postal Service and the mailing industry.”
“While increasing prices might have generated revenue for the Postal Service in the short term, the long-term effect could drive additional mail out of the system. We want mailers to continue to invest in mail to grow their business, communicate with valued customers, and maintain a strong presence in the marketplace. Changes in pricing for our competitive products — Priority Mail, Express Mail, Parcel Select, and most international products — are under consideration. We expect to announce a decision in November.”
Friday, June 5, 2009
Postal Fun Facts
Everyone needs alittle fun fact here and there. Did You Know that the Postal Service...
* Contrary to popular belief, the United States Post Office has no official motto. However, a number of postal buildings contain inscriptions, the most familiar of which appear on postal buildings in New York City and Washington D.C. General Post Office, New York City, 8th Avenue and 33rd. Street. "Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." This inscription was supplied by William Mitchell Kendall of the firm of McKim, Mead & White, The Architects who designed the New York General Post Office. Kendall said the sentence appears in the works of Herodotus and describes the expeditions of the Greeks against the Persians under Cyrus, about 500 B.C. The Persians operated a system of mounted postal couriers, and the sentence decribes the fidelity with which their work was done.
* Handles more than 43% of the world's mail. It's nearest competitor is Japan with only 6%. * Depends exclusively on postage and fees rather than tax payer revenue for it's operations.
* Serves more than 8 million small business customers.
* Operates the nations largest alternate fuel delivery fleet with more than 7,000 vehicles powered by natural gas, electridity, and ethanol in 1996.
* The postal service is listed by Fortune Magazine as 29th on a list of the world's largest companies. Working with an annual budget of nearly 1% of the United States economy.
* Recycles more than one million tons of materials annually. * Handles more than 41 million change-of-address cards each year as a free service to the 17% of the nation's population that moves each year.
* Serves as the largest credit/debit card acceptor in the nation with nearly 50,000 terminals at 33,000 postal locations throughout the country. * Experiences an increase of one million dollars in costs when the price of gasoline increases by one cent nationwide.
* Delivers more in one day than FedEx does in a year, and more in three days than UPS does in a year.
Posting courtesy of Roseanne Capaccio
Project Manager at fmi direct inc.
* Contrary to popular belief, the United States Post Office has no official motto. However, a number of postal buildings contain inscriptions, the most familiar of which appear on postal buildings in New York City and Washington D.C. General Post Office, New York City, 8th Avenue and 33rd. Street. "Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." This inscription was supplied by William Mitchell Kendall of the firm of McKim, Mead & White, The Architects who designed the New York General Post Office. Kendall said the sentence appears in the works of Herodotus and describes the expeditions of the Greeks against the Persians under Cyrus, about 500 B.C. The Persians operated a system of mounted postal couriers, and the sentence decribes the fidelity with which their work was done.
* Handles more than 43% of the world's mail. It's nearest competitor is Japan with only 6%. * Depends exclusively on postage and fees rather than tax payer revenue for it's operations.
* Serves more than 8 million small business customers.
* Operates the nations largest alternate fuel delivery fleet with more than 7,000 vehicles powered by natural gas, electridity, and ethanol in 1996.
* The postal service is listed by Fortune Magazine as 29th on a list of the world's largest companies. Working with an annual budget of nearly 1% of the United States economy.
* Recycles more than one million tons of materials annually. * Handles more than 41 million change-of-address cards each year as a free service to the 17% of the nation's population that moves each year.
* Serves as the largest credit/debit card acceptor in the nation with nearly 50,000 terminals at 33,000 postal locations throughout the country. * Experiences an increase of one million dollars in costs when the price of gasoline increases by one cent nationwide.
* Delivers more in one day than FedEx does in a year, and more in three days than UPS does in a year.
Posting courtesy of Roseanne Capaccio
Project Manager at fmi direct inc.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
New Ruling for "Self-Mailers" - Tabbing Pays Big!
For the last few years the P.O. has not given much of a financial incentive for "Self-Mailers" to Tab, they could simply mail at the "Non Automation" (Machinable) rate and pay a measly $.003 more. Effective May 11, Self Mailers that don't tab or otherwise seal their pieces must mail at the "Non-Machinable" rate and the difference is $.238 (based upon AADC sort) EACH piece! The Non Profit savings/penalty is the same. It now won't take much volume to justify an automatic Tabbing Machine and Bulk Mail software. As little as 1070 pieces (AADC) per month will pay for the investment based upon a 3 year lease of a Hasler HT 12 Tabber and Satori Bulk Mailer 5 Standard software. (If your mailing list is not concentrated to a particular area, Mixed AADC, the savings are even greater)
There are new Tabbing requirements for Booklets that will be effective Sept 8, 2009. The main difference between a Booklet and a Self Mailer is that Booklets are "Perfect Bound" or "Stapled". Link to the new requirements at the end of this Post.
Here is the ruling that came out today from the DMM Advisory:
May 11 Pricing Change – First-Class Mail and Standard Mail Machinable Letters
We are changing the mail preparation standards for First-Class Mail and Standard Mail machinable letters as published in the January 29 Federal Register. Beginning May 11, machinable letters must meet all of the standards for automation letters, except for the barcode requirement. This change will enable us to process more machinable mail on automated letter sorting machines, especially unenveloped pieces like booklets and folded self-mailers. When these pieces lack adequate tabs or seals they frequently become damaged or jam the letter-sorting equipment.
Our changes include the following:
All folded self-mailers and booklets mailed at the machinable prices must be sealed with tabs, tape, glue spots, or glue lines. Follow the tabbing instructions in Quick Service Guide 201b, Using Tabs, Wafer Seals, and Glue Spots.
The maximum weight for machinable and automation letter-size booklets and folded self-mailers is 3 ounces.
Letters closed with staples and letters without closures are nonmachinable and eligible only for the nonmachinable prices.
On September 8, 2009, new tabbing and construction standards for machinable and automation letter-size booklets become effective. To learn more about the new standards, visit Postal Explorer and click on “Federal Register Notices.” Scroll down to the notice titled, “New Standards for Letter-Sized Booklets.”
There are new Tabbing requirements for Booklets that will be effective Sept 8, 2009. The main difference between a Booklet and a Self Mailer is that Booklets are "Perfect Bound" or "Stapled". Link to the new requirements at the end of this Post.
Here is the ruling that came out today from the DMM Advisory:
May 11 Pricing Change – First-Class Mail and Standard Mail Machinable Letters
We are changing the mail preparation standards for First-Class Mail and Standard Mail machinable letters as published in the January 29 Federal Register. Beginning May 11, machinable letters must meet all of the standards for automation letters, except for the barcode requirement. This change will enable us to process more machinable mail on automated letter sorting machines, especially unenveloped pieces like booklets and folded self-mailers. When these pieces lack adequate tabs or seals they frequently become damaged or jam the letter-sorting equipment.
Our changes include the following:
All folded self-mailers and booklets mailed at the machinable prices must be sealed with tabs, tape, glue spots, or glue lines. Follow the tabbing instructions in Quick Service Guide 201b, Using Tabs, Wafer Seals, and Glue Spots.
The maximum weight for machinable and automation letter-size booklets and folded self-mailers is 3 ounces.
Letters closed with staples and letters without closures are nonmachinable and eligible only for the nonmachinable prices.
On September 8, 2009, new tabbing and construction standards for machinable and automation letter-size booklets become effective. To learn more about the new standards, visit Postal Explorer and click on “Federal Register Notices.” Scroll down to the notice titled, “New Standards for Letter-Sized Booklets.”
Friday, April 3, 2009
Penalty for Move Update Enforcement Delayed
The Post Office has bowed to pressure from consumers and acknowledges that they are not yet ready to enforce the penalties for Standard Mailer compliance with the Move Update requirement. The $.07 penalty will be implemented on January 4, 2010. Check out this posting for complete info: http://postalnewsyoucanuse.blogspot.com/2009/02/confusion-and-fear-re-imb-and-move.html
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
First-of-Its-Kind Production Postage Printing Solution
Neopost / Hasler Introduces First-of-Its-Kind Production Postage Printing Solution. Innovative, High-Speed System Prints Postage Directly Onto Documents. Introducing the new PE-150, a “direct onto documents” Production Postage Printing solution. The PE-150 is a unique, high-speed metering system that literally transforms mailing procedures by applying postage and the Intelligent Mail® Barcode (IMB) directly onto letters and documents after the file has been created. The resulting postage can be displayed either through the address window or an extended return address window.
Designed for production mailing environments, the new postage printing system delivers a significant increase in productivity. It moves mail into the mailstream faster and more efficiently by eliminating conventional time-consuming metering, typically a sequential step in the mailing process. Installed as an optional software module within a mail output management solution, the PE-150 delivers improved reliability and cost savings by eliminating the use of traditional equipment and the associated operating and supplies costs, as well as any spoiled postage.
The advanced technology of the PE-150 offers an industry first: adding postage that includes an Information Based Indicia (IBI) with mailing date, and an IMB to a document print file. All of these components result in the highest level of mail security, a consistently professional “metered” look for mailing documents and a reliable alternative to permit mail or traditional metering. The system is able to co-mingle jobs for better presort discounts, and combine postage and the IMB printing for sorting, tracking and USPS® compliance.
The PE-150 Production Postage Printing Solution is the perfect technology for those with printing requirements up to 10,000 documents/hour. The PE-150 eliminates speed limitations between the mailing machine and folder/inserter, allowing maximum throughput of the folder/inserter to be realized. It is an extremely cost-effective alternative for transaction mailers, commercial print and fulfillment houses, third-party mailers, mailers with print and insert functions, and mailers who perform mixed weight processing.
Designed for production mailing environments, the new postage printing system delivers a significant increase in productivity. It moves mail into the mailstream faster and more efficiently by eliminating conventional time-consuming metering, typically a sequential step in the mailing process. Installed as an optional software module within a mail output management solution, the PE-150 delivers improved reliability and cost savings by eliminating the use of traditional equipment and the associated operating and supplies costs, as well as any spoiled postage.
The advanced technology of the PE-150 offers an industry first: adding postage that includes an Information Based Indicia (IBI) with mailing date, and an IMB to a document print file. All of these components result in the highest level of mail security, a consistently professional “metered” look for mailing documents and a reliable alternative to permit mail or traditional metering. The system is able to co-mingle jobs for better presort discounts, and combine postage and the IMB printing for sorting, tracking and USPS® compliance.
The PE-150 Production Postage Printing Solution is the perfect technology for those with printing requirements up to 10,000 documents/hour. The PE-150 eliminates speed limitations between the mailing machine and folder/inserter, allowing maximum throughput of the folder/inserter to be realized. It is an extremely cost-effective alternative for transaction mailers, commercial print and fulfillment houses, third-party mailers, mailers with print and insert functions, and mailers who perform mixed weight processing.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Has the whole world gone Postal?
Some days it feels that way, with the fear that is gripping Main Street and Wall Street. Trying to make the best of this challenging environment is hard. In the mailing world it is a lot more complicated. Some of the recent proposed USPS changes have made me question my sanity and that of the Post Office. To put these issues in perspective lets take a short stroll down memory lane.
In 2007 our world was turned upside down with the roll-out of Shape Based Pricing in May and just a few short months later the DPV (Delivery Point Validation) requirement for CASS produced mailings for Automation discounts came and went. Intelligent Mail Barcode was beginning to appear on our radar screens as 2008 got closer.
Right as the country was entering this economic downturn in the Fall of 2007, here in San Diego, we faced another terrible firestorm causing the evacuation of a half million people with over 1000 homes and many lives lost. But we pressed on, as the bad news continued to roll in with the New Year. Businesses were focused on doing more with less, looking for maximum value from their mail and we were there to help.
Saving money thru automation of labor intensive processes was one way we saved company’s time and money. By improving their address quality and document integrity we helped them maximize the value proposition that mail provides.
Oh, but it didn’t end there! 2008 saw the introduction of “Commercial” rate discounts for Priority and Express Mail. Another Rate Change in May and new requirements for “Move Update” compliance was implemented in November 2008. Just when we thought we could relax for the holidays, a shift in USPS rate change strategy was announced for competitive products like Priority and Express Mail to be adjusted in January along with FedEx and UPS.
Pressing on, we started 2009 completing the largest January rate change ever when the Postal Gods proposed sweeping changes to how Self Mailers and Booklets were to be prepared (these were mostly all subsequently dropped). Before we even finished digesting this postal gut buster another announcement from the great and powerful wizard behind the curtain, the window location on letter mail must change (thankfully, that only lasted a couple days and the initiative was dropped).
So all is OK now? You wish. There are new address placement guidelines for Flat Mail and we have enforcement of the Move Update requirement in May. Oh and don’t forget we have another Postal rate change On May 11th, get used to them. Speaking of multiple rate changes, our newest systems generally include rate changes at no extra charge, use less ink and are compliant to earn the new discounted Commercial rates.
Just announced - the long anticipated discount for “Full Service IMB” is going to be… Are you sitting down, drum roll please…. $.003 for Automation First Class Mail and $.001 for Automation Standard…yawn. OK so the money may not motivate you, but the value proposition of tracking the mail and keeping addresses current should. Another bonus of Full Service IMB will keep the marketing folks happy with all the extra real estate on the mail piece.
Denying or ignoring these new Postal realities will not make them go away. There are ways to reduce your postal spend, improve your mail’s performance while staying compliant. Use SD Postal as a postal knowledge resource, our sales and service staff is up on this stuff, all are MQC (Mail Quality Control Specialists) certified and they are here to help you find solutions to the world gone Postal.
In 2007 our world was turned upside down with the roll-out of Shape Based Pricing in May and just a few short months later the DPV (Delivery Point Validation) requirement for CASS produced mailings for Automation discounts came and went. Intelligent Mail Barcode was beginning to appear on our radar screens as 2008 got closer.
Right as the country was entering this economic downturn in the Fall of 2007, here in San Diego, we faced another terrible firestorm causing the evacuation of a half million people with over 1000 homes and many lives lost. But we pressed on, as the bad news continued to roll in with the New Year. Businesses were focused on doing more with less, looking for maximum value from their mail and we were there to help.
Saving money thru automation of labor intensive processes was one way we saved company’s time and money. By improving their address quality and document integrity we helped them maximize the value proposition that mail provides.
Oh, but it didn’t end there! 2008 saw the introduction of “Commercial” rate discounts for Priority and Express Mail. Another Rate Change in May and new requirements for “Move Update” compliance was implemented in November 2008. Just when we thought we could relax for the holidays, a shift in USPS rate change strategy was announced for competitive products like Priority and Express Mail to be adjusted in January along with FedEx and UPS.
Pressing on, we started 2009 completing the largest January rate change ever when the Postal Gods proposed sweeping changes to how Self Mailers and Booklets were to be prepared (these were mostly all subsequently dropped). Before we even finished digesting this postal gut buster another announcement from the great and powerful wizard behind the curtain, the window location on letter mail must change (thankfully, that only lasted a couple days and the initiative was dropped).
So all is OK now? You wish. There are new address placement guidelines for Flat Mail and we have enforcement of the Move Update requirement in May. Oh and don’t forget we have another Postal rate change On May 11th, get used to them. Speaking of multiple rate changes, our newest systems generally include rate changes at no extra charge, use less ink and are compliant to earn the new discounted Commercial rates.
Just announced - the long anticipated discount for “Full Service IMB” is going to be… Are you sitting down, drum roll please…. $.003 for Automation First Class Mail and $.001 for Automation Standard…yawn. OK so the money may not motivate you, but the value proposition of tracking the mail and keeping addresses current should. Another bonus of Full Service IMB will keep the marketing folks happy with all the extra real estate on the mail piece.
Denying or ignoring these new Postal realities will not make them go away. There are ways to reduce your postal spend, improve your mail’s performance while staying compliant. Use SD Postal as a postal knowledge resource, our sales and service staff is up on this stuff, all are MQC (Mail Quality Control Specialists) certified and they are here to help you find solutions to the world gone Postal.
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