Postal News & Commentary ↓

Note: Are you looking for information on the 2010 postage rate?

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There will be a postage rate increase on all classes of mail effective May 11th, 2009.

The increase is actually at or under the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

Here’s a quick recap of the new rates:

Local Entry – 5 digit automated letter: $0.233
Local Entry – Non-profit 5 digit auto letter: $0.132

Local Entry – 5 digit automated flat: $0.346
Local Entry – 5 digit Non-profit auto flat: $0.212

You can also download the 41-page USPS price list here:

http://www.ballantine.com/2009-postage.pdf

If you have ANY postal questions, please contact Matt:
matt (at) ballantine.com

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Welcome back. Have you subscribed to our blog's email updates yet? Remember - you also get the free whitepaper pictured left on cutting direct mail costs.

We wanted to remind all readers of this blog that the new USPS Move Update regulations go into affect on November 23rd.

The past 4 weeks, our previous Move Update post has been the second most visited page on Ballantine.com, second to only our homepage. So obviously this is an important topic right now.

The link above will give you the information you need.

The USPS will be updating the current ‘Move Update’ regulations effective November 23rd, 2008. The update will affect both non-profit and for-profit mail as well as First Class and Standard Class mail.

They are changing the time period by which a ‘Move Update’ needs to occur — it will now be within 95 days of the mail date. Previously, it was 185 days.

All mailers will need to fill out a 6014 form at the time of processing to show your mail house. You should also supply proof that a ‘Move Update’ did occur.

A ‘Move Update’ is usually done via what’s called NCOAlink during which the mail file is updated with any changes of address that have been filed with the post office.

This is an attempt by the USPS to decrease the amount of “Undeliverable As Addressed” mail they handle each year. In 2004, UAA amounted to 9.7 billion pieces of mail, which resulted in $2 billion dollars of extra costs for them.

If this regulation is not complied with, there will be a penalty imposed by the post office. This is what our USPS rep told us:

“For First Class, the mailing will be charged at the single piece rate.  For Standard, it has not been decided yet.  A seven cent penalty has been discussed but is not written in stone.”

If you have any questions about the new ‘Move Update’ regulations, please contact Matt Cote: matt (at) ballantine.com