Category: Alliance Report

  • Alliance Notes

    —

    by

    Steve Kearney
    in ,

    December 11, 2018 November 7, 2018—The NonProfit Times— Nonprofit Leaders Expecting Federal Gridlock November 13, 2018—Government Executive— USPS Wins Approval for Largest-Ever Price Increase for Stamps December 4, 2018—The Hill— Trump administration recommends postal reforms that could raise rates, setting up fight with Amazon December 4, 2018—The Washington Post— Treasury suggests review of postal rates…

  • Takeaways for Nonprofit Mailers

    —

    by

    Steve Kearney
    in

    November 7, 2018 So many different factors, events, and proceedings are at various stages of affecting nonprofit mailers, it’s time to give a focused update for each. The Mid-Term Elections Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) will become chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform with the Democratic takeover of the House.  Rep. Cummings…

  • Alliance Notes—Articles Worth Reading

    —

    by

    Steve Kearney
    in ,

    November 7, 2018 The Atlantic, October 24, 2018– Why It’s Cheaper to Ship Goods From Beijing Than New Jersey CNBC, October 24, 2018– UPS profit gain overshadowed by trade war worries, shares fall The Fayetteville Observer, October 24, 2018– Live Wire: How can I get my name off nonprofit mailing lists? The Virginian-Pilot, October 25,…

  • Whitewash: “well-established method”

    —

    by

    Steve Kearney
    in

    October 24, 2018 Dear United States Postal Service: Please do not insult our intelligence.  While we appreciate being included in the upcoming MTAC process, please don’t claim that the Federal Register Notice was a “well-established method” that would contribute to “[g]rowth in USPS Marketing Mail…” Sincerely, Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers   Seeking broad input from…

  • Not So First-Class Choices

    —

    by

    Steve Kearney
    in

    October 24, 2018 The big surprise in the 2019 rate increases, as yet not fully explained or understood, was the announced 10 percent increase in the single-piece stamp rate from 50 to 55 cents.  Many nonprofits use First Class Mail stamps on outbound and/or response letters.  They do this because it increases response rates.  These…

  • Reduction in First Class Delivery Times is not Saving USPS Anywhere Near What It Planned

    —

    by

    Steve Kearney
    in

    October 24, 2018 The Office of the Inspector General of the USPS recently released a report on the savings realized from the 2015 degradation in First Class mail service times.  Here is how they described the goals of the change: On January 5, 2015, the Postal Service revised its First-Class Mail (FCM) service standards, eliminating…

  • USPS Contribution from Packages Increasing at $1 Billion Annual Rate

    —

    by

    Steve Kearney
    in

    October 24, 2018 The Postal Service is growing the revenue and profitability of its competitive package business enough to make a very large, increasingly positive impact. In its filing of 2019 price changes, the Postal Service shows that a full-year implementation of the competitive product price increase, even after accounting for volume impacts, would increase…

  • USPS to Offer Promotions for 2019—Worth Consideration by Nonprofits

    —

    by

    Steve Kearney
    in

    October 24, 2018 As we have in years past, we urge all nonprofit mailers to seriously consider participating in the Postal Service price discount promotions in 2019.  They present the opportunity to both realize near-term postage savings and to test new concepts that might yield positive results going forward.  Five will be very familiar from…

  • Alliance Notes—Articles Worth Reading

    —

    by

    Steve Kearney
    in ,

    October 24, 2018 MarketWatch, October 10, 2018–Post office proposes raising ‘Forever’ stamp prices by 10% CNN Business, October 10, 2018–Postal Service seeks record price hikes to bolster falling revenues The Washington Post, October 10, 2018–Postal Service proposes 5 cent increase to first-class stamp USA Today, October 11, 2018–USPS proposes price hike of 5 cents, biggest…

  • USPS Continues to Try to ‘Walk Back’ Federal Register Fiasco

    —

    by

    Steve Kearney
    in

    October 10, 2018 The Postal Service’s latest attempt to save face on the recent Federal Register Notice (FRN) fiasco came at last week’s Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) meeting.  The first public attempt by USPS management to walk back, or back-pedal, its colossal error in previously announcing the potential ban of all merchandise in Marketing…