Author: Steve Kearney

  • USPS Reports Operating Income for FY 2016

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    Steve Kearney
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    Mail volume stable for 5th year in row The results and the USPS messaging remain the same. An operating profit of $610 million and a reported paper loss of $5.6 billion because of non-paid prefunding of retiree health benefits. USPS said it has done just about everything possible to cut costs, improve service and customer…

  • Full Service Assessments Begin November 14, 2016

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    Steve Kearney
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    The Postal Service will begin Assessments for Electronic Verification Metrics in November 2016 for October data. The assessments result in the removal of the Full-Service discount on those pieces in error above the established thresholds.  Automated email Assessment notifications will be sent as described below on the 11th day of each month. Note:  Due to…

  • Member Spotlight: American Lung Association

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    Steve Kearney
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    In recognition of their support of the “America’s Mailing Industry” virtual exhibit, on display online at the National Postal Museum, the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers is spotlighting a participating member with each edition of the upcoming Alliance Report. With this edition, we spotlight the American Lung Association. For more than 110 years, the American Lung…

  • Alliance Notes

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    Steve Kearney
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    The Street: Why Old-Fashioned Direct Mail Is Still Useful for Advertisers ORG: No, you don’t need a stamp for your ballot Tech Crunch: Google Express expands, now reaches 90 percent of U.S. Snopes.com: Weights and (Ballot) Measures Brookings: The Postal Regulatory Commission’s $50 billion decision The Huffington Post: You’ll Never Guess Why Travelers Are Being…

  • USPS Assures Mailers That “Marketing Mail” Re-branding Will Not Devalue Mail

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    Steve Kearney
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    After receiving concerned feedback from many mailers, the Postal Service moved quickly to reassure its customers that the re-branding of Standard Mail as Marketing Mail will not harm anyone or reduce the value of mail. At the Postmaster General’s Mailers Technical Advisory Committee meeting on November 1, newly re-titled chief customer and marketing officer Jim…

  • USPS and OIG Disagree on Liquidity Measure

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    Steve Kearney
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    Since the Great Recession of 2007-2009, the USPS has been emphasizing a financial analysis ratio as an indicator of its condition.   The Postal Service regularly and alarmingly reported that its “days of cash on hand” had dipped into the single digits during the downturn. Recently, the USPS has reported that this ratio is up…

  • PRC Orders Some Changes to Proposed Rates

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    Steve Kearney
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    While much better than 2015, the rate case made by USPS was not perfect. The PRC flagged a mainstay issue for the Alliance, ensuring that nonprofit mailers are not discriminated against in work share discounts relative to commercial mailers. The result was a set of changes to the prices for Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route. The…

  • USPS Rates: Trick or Treat?

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    Steve Kearney
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    As we alluded to last time, even though the overall average postage increase on January 22, 2017 will be below one percent, some types of mail will receive much larger than average increases while others will enjoy rate reductions. Treats Metered Single Piece First Class Mail will decrease from 46.5 cents to 46 cents. This…

  • USPS announces 2017 postage changes

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    Steve Kearney
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    October 24, 2016 As you have already heard, the U.S. Postal Service filed on October 12th its next postage adjustment to take effect at midnight on January 22, 2017, pending Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) approval. We have listed below a few of the highlights. The official filing at the PRC is listed as: R2017-1 United States…

  • USPS price change webinar provides insights

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    Steve Kearney
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    October 24, 2016 The USPS recently gave a webinar overview of its announced price changes for January 22, 2017. We are providing the slides here. We have said that every mailer needs to check your own mail, in concert with your mail service providers, to ascertain the exact impact of these price changes. Nevertheless, it…