We have a dedicated team of expert professionals who not only provide outstanding technical support, but we help keep you up to date. Staying abreast of the ever-changing rules and regulations, policies and procedures in the mailing and shipping industry is a daunting task at best. We hope you will find this blog filled with pertinent information you can use to run your business more efficiently and profitably. As always, we welcome your feedback and comments.
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The Postal Service made final clarifications on non-profit eligibility, commingled mail procedures and the usage of Postal Wizard for their Summer 2011 Mobile Barcode Promotion.
Access all the latest and final information here: https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=mobilebarcode
Wallace Vingelis
Vice President, Business Development & Marketing
Window Book, Inc.
Phone: (617) 395-4569
email: wvingelis@windowbook.com
One of the hottest topics related to the USPS Mobile Barcode Promotion is the issue of whether commingled, combined and co-mail mailings can participate and take advantage of the 3% discount during July and August. Yesterday afternoon the USPS met with representatives from the mailing industry and worked out the details on this issue. Here is the updated information taken directly from page 2 of the latest USPS FAQs document:
10. If my mail is commingled, combined or part of a co-mailing can I participate?
A: The scope of this promotion includes only mobile barcode mailings supported by a single postage statement. First-Class Mail and Standard commingled, combined and co-mail mailings (including MLOCR mailings) may only qualify for the Mobile Barcode promotion if all of the pieces commingled in the mailing have mobile barcodes or if the mailings include multiple clients (or versions) , but have separate postage statements generated by client (or version) that contain mobile barcode. Commingled, combined and co-mail mailings which do not separate mobile barcode mailings in separate postage statements from non-mobile barcode mailings, are not eligible for the discount.
Individually presented and accepted mailings that are later copalletized are eligible for the Mobile Barcode Promotion. This includes Standard Mail copalletized trays when the mailings are individually presented for acceptance and then copalletized.
For all the details on the USPS Mobile Barcode Promotion, and to download the latest copy of the FAQs, visit: https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=mobilebarcode.
Wallace Vingelis
Vice President, Business Development & Marketing
Window Book, Inc.
Phone: (617) 395-4569
email: wvingelis@windowbook.com
URL: www.windowbook.com
Although the Postal Service has not formally announced this yet, the FAQs document about the Mobile Barcode Promotion has been updated to reflect that non-profit mail will be eligible to take advantage of the 3% mobile barcode discount as long as all other requirements of the program are met. This information was also confirmed by several employees of the USPS on an MTAC User Group 1 teleconference this morning. They also let everyone on the call know that formal announcement of this is expected sometime next week.
The below Q&A is copied directly from page 3 of the most recent FAQs document:
14. Is non-profit mail eligible for the promotion?
A. Yes, non-profit mail is eligible for this promotion discount, as long as all other program requirements are met.
To get all the details about the Mobile Barcode Promotion and download a copy of the most recent FAQs document, visit: https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=mobilebarcode
Also discussed on the MTAC call this morning was that there will be a call this afternoon between the USPS and members of MTAC to discuss and clarify issues concerning commingled mailings and their participation in this program.
Wallace Vingelis
Vice President, Business Development & Marketing
Window Book, Inc.
Phone: (617) 395-4569
email: wvingelis@windowbook.com
URL: www.windowbook.com
If you have been working on integrating Intelligent Mail (IM) your mailing processes, you already know that there is much more to this program than just a new barcode. In fact, printing the barcode may be the least complex part of the whole integration!
If you are just getting started with IM, or have not yet begun, you really ought to devote some time and planning to your integration process. If you think you can just ignore it, hoping it will all go away, think again. The United States Postal Service® (USPS) has invested millions of dollars in the IM program, and it really is the next generation of technology for mailing. Mailers who do not embrace this new technology will find themselves left out in the cold; unable to participate in the latest postal initiatives. Before you pooh-pooh the whole idea as not worthy of any investment in time or resources, consider the following:
The USPS is implementing a postal discount for mailers using IM, effective November 29, 2009. While the discounts don’t sound like much ($.003 per piece for First-Class and $.001 for Standard, Periodicals and Package Services mail), these small amounts can add up quickly for large volume mailers. This initial discount is only the beginning; at some point in the future, many discounts will be tied to the use of IM.
Use of IM allows you to take advantage of a number of mail tracking options. You can track individual pieces of mail or just containers of mail. This information can be extremely valuable to better pinpoint delivery dates of mail. This can help you or your clients in any number of ways:
- Timing your direct mail message to related television, radio, newspaper or internet marketing messages.
- Planning your staffing and other resources in call centers, product warehouses, shipping centers, retail stores, or internet sites.
- Longer term analysis of direct marketing efforts to pinpoint the most successful times of the year, days of the week, etc.
IM also allows you to have proof that your mail has entered the postal stream and more importantly, you can track it through the USPS processing chain.
For mail service providers, if you don’t offer IM, your competitors will! Most businesses can’t afford to lose work for any reason, and never has that been truer than in this challenging economy. Before you dismiss IM as being too costly or time consuming to implement, consider the potential cost of lost revenue if you delay implementation or elect not to do so at all. IM is a critical part of just staying in the game at this point, so make sure you take this into account in your financial analysis.
IM helps improve address accuracy. With Full Service IM, mailers receive free ACS (Address Change Service). This service, which currently has a price of $.26 per correction, is FREE with Full Service IM and can provide up-to-date address information for your customers and prospects who have moved. Moreover, this service also provides helpful error codes on addresses which may not involve a move but may not be entirely accurate for postal delivery purposes. Keeping addresses current and accurate not only saves postage, but helps you stay in contact with your customers.
IM helps streamline mailing processes and reduce paperwork. Part of the USPS cost savings of the IM program comes from the requirement to submit electronic documentation via the internet. This cost savings accrues to mailers as well, in reduced costs for printers, paper, toner, etc. and reduced administrative costs of processing and storing all the hard copy documentation. This can also result in reduced amounts of time to process and present mail to the USPS and reduced time for mail verification and acceptance by the USPS.
If you are still procrastinating on integration of IM, don’t be afraid. There is plenty of help available. The USPS has numerous online guides and other information available, including recorded tutorials. Many of your suppliers, such as software vendors, logistics suppliers, mailing equipment manufacturers, etc. can offer all kinds of assistance and educational materials. Mailing and other industry associations can also provide a wealth of information. You need look no further than your local Postal Customer Council (PCC) for help and interaction with other mailers in your area who are also implementing IM.
The November 29 implementation date for IM discounts is just around the corner. The full impact of IM will go far beyond that date however, and the sooner you get on board, the sooner you can take advantage of the many benefits of IM. Don’t delay!
Monica Lundquist, Postal Affairs Manager, Window Book, Inc.
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