Sorry for the back-to-back USPS posts. This important snippet of postal information was in today’s DMA newsletter.

“The USPS states: Today, we mailed 3,000 letters to eligible customers announcing our plans for a Standard Mail Summer Sale. To be eligible to participate, a company must have mailed a minimum of 350,000 pieces of Standard Mail letter or flat volume between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2009. We have established thresholds by taking a company’s Standard Mail volume mailed during this period in 2009 and adding 5%.

A qualifying company exceeding their threshold volume between July 1 through Sept. 30, 2010, will be eligible for a 30% rebate on postage spent on Standard Mail volume that exceeds the agreed upon threshold.

To receive the full benefit of the program, volumes mailed cannot be shifted from June 2010 or October 2010 into the sale period. The letters we mailed have additional instructions on how to apply. We expect the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) review to be finished by mid-April. Applications must be completed by May 28, 2010.”

To view the Standard Mail Summer Sale Fact Sheet, CLICK HERE.

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I came across a really neat website on the history of postage rates and I want to share some fun facts today.

I want to start out by saying I’m not positive the above website is 100% accurate. But it looks like the information is well-researched and documented and, as a result, I feel comfortable posting it on our blog.

Postage Fun Facts:

• In 1885, postage was 2 cents.
• In 1898, postcard postage was 1 cent.
• Postage remained 2 cents for 47 years.
• The year Ballantine was founded, 1966, postage was 5 cents.

I actually think 2 cents for postage in 1885 sounds like a lot. I don’t know why exactly, but that was just my first impression. But 3 cent postage in 1932 — what a deal!

What do YOU think?

Update (10/15/2009): We just got word that there will be no postage increase for direct mail in 2010. In the words of the USPS:

“Simply stated, there will not be a price increase for market dominant products including First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, periodicals, single-piece Parcel Post. There will be no exigent price increase for these products.

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.”

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Since the wounds are still fresh from the May 11th 2009 postage rate increase, we wanted to sprinkle some potentially good news on the situation.

Dan Blair, chair of the Postal Regulatory Commission, recently stated that based on the current trend of inflation, the postage rate increase for 2010 would likely be less than 1%.

That being said, the USPS is allowed to file for an exception based on revenue shortfalls, but Mr. Blair said this is unlikely because they’re afraid it would drive more mailers from the system.