Postal Service Defers Deflection (aka Droop) Standards

The implementation date of the new deflection standards being deferred further to June 2010. Click here to read the proposed rule.

The notice provides the background, a reiteration of the changes and revision to the applicable prices for pieces that do not meet the deflection standard, followed by changes to the mailing standards in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM). Publishers and catalogers are encouraged to comment.

Mail Sales Programs

Rob Devar, USPS Manager of Advertising and Promotion, said in an email the Postal Service is considering offering a Standard Mail incentive program built on the success of the recently completed Summer Sale.

While the Summer Sale was a success as measured by customer participation and having met all the financial targets Mr. Devar said there were several areas they discovered that we could improve upon. First, the amount of time given to customers to plan their participation and secondly, the administration of the program could be improved to make it easier for the Postal Service and their customers to agree and certify volume thresholds.

They had hoped to be out with a program immediately after the first of the calendar year, but this proved to be too ambitious of a schedule. The USPS is now working toward bringing out a program that would run through the spring months. In the coming weeks, as plans firm up, more details will be provided.

USPS Releases ‘09 Comprehensive Statement on Operations

It’s no secret — 2009 was a tough year. In many ways, it will be remembered as one of the most challenging — and successful — the Postal Service has ever had.

Despite steep declines in volume and revenue — and more than $6 billion in cost reductions — employees again delivered record performance.

Read more about the specific actions and accomplishments in the just-released 2009 Comprehensive Statement on Postal Operations. It gives a broad overview of operations, product and service initiatives, and employee-related programs. It also contains the Postal Service’s corporate performance report for 2009 and performance plan for 2010. The Comprehensive Statement complements the Annual Report and provides a detailed analysis of postal finances and discusses events that shaped fiscal year 2009. Source: USPS News Link

Did You Know Fact

A U.S. Postal Service comScore survey found that Web sites supported by catalogs yielded 163 percent more revenue than Web sites not supported by catalogs. Source: USPS

The Launch of the Postal Journal Web Site

Announcing the launch of a new web site, the mission of which is to explore the evolution of the American postal system as part of the nation's 21st century economic and communication infrastructure and to facilitate an exchange of postal perspectives by individuals without regard to past or present occupational affiliations.

The Postal Journal has been launched through the support and participation of the Association for Postal Commerce, the Mailing and Fulfillment Service Association, and the Envelope Manufacturers Association Foundation.

Participation and support is open to others who share interest in the study of the American postal system as a vehicle for communication and commerce. Source: PR.com