Category: Alliance Report

  October 1, 2015 On September 30, 2015, the U.S. Postal Service filed documents related to its appeal of the Postal Regulatory Commission’s order that the exigent surcharge related to the 2007-2009 recession shall end this coming spring when a revenue target is met. Key among yesterday’s postal documents was the PETITIONER’S STATEMENT OF ISSUES…

October 1, 2015 Should Postal Service be sold to save it? USPS buying Ram ProMaster vans to deliver packages and mail. New USPS vans are for large package delivery. Department of Transportation building a public database of location of all U.S. addresses. Yahoo CEO speaks of dangers of ad blocking. Making direct mail more sustainable.…

Alliance Report — September 15, 2015 Sometimes running the United States Postal Service (USPS) seems to be similar to the challenges that were faced by Civil War generals.  At war with obsolescence and disruption, the USPS must protect certain flanks and attack new ground at the same time. Recently, the Postal Service has been protecting…

September 15, 2015 Discover why people value mail. Royal Mail research on making direct mail valuable. Visit by Pope Francis will delay mail. Acting PRC Chairman Taub confirms revenue-neutral filings, and USPS need to consult with customers. Copywriting tips for effective direct mail. How to add a “donate now” button to your nonprofit’s Facebook page.…

Alliance Report –August 31, 2015 No one is more dedicated to trying to pass postal reform legislation than Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), the ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Senator Carper’s staff has been working diligently with stakeholders representing customers, the mailing industry, employees, the Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission,…

Alliance Report — August 31, 2015 As we reported last issue, the Postal Service has been reporting improvements in mail delivery times since winter and a commitment to ensure excellent service going forward. Postmaster General Megan Brennan did so at the Alliance July board meeting and chief operating officer David Williams reiterated the results and…

Alliance Report — August 31, 2015 Unfortunately, but not too surprisingly, the USPS on Friday, August 28, filed a Petition for Review of Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) Order Number 2623 that a month ago ruled that the exigent surcharge of 4.3 percent could be extended until next spring but then must end. Many expected this…

Senator Sanders says relaxed mailing standards are a “disaster.” Senator Sanders wrote to PMG Brennan asking her to speed up mail. Newspaper death spiral due to loss of retail ad revenue. USPS and its unions think letter carriers can evolve. Late mail has a large impact on nonprofits that rely on it for funding. American…

Alliance Report — August 12, 2015 VISA is using a start-up contest to come up with more effective direct mail. Senator Tom Carper’s statement on improving USPS finances. Postal Service sharply reduces losses in most-recent quarter. USPS prices are constrained but costs are not. The Postal Service is an essential government agency. Postal Service plan…

Alliance Report — August 12, 2015 A member of the Alliance tells of a recent trip to Norman, Oklahoma to take a class given by the Postal Service to both employees and customers, called Periodicals Professional. It turns out that the Alliance member was the only customer in the class. When the customer explained that…