According to a DMM Advisory from the USPS, dated October 15, 2009, they will not increase prices for market dominant products in calendar year 2010.  “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.”

According to the DMM Advisory, “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.”

Increasing postal rates might have generated much needed revenue for the USPS but in the long term could drive additional mail out of the system.  This is good news for customers and for the mailing industry.  If you are wondering what will happen to other products not mentioned, “changes in pricing for our competitive products – Priority Mail, Express Mail, Parcel Select, and most international products – are under consideration.  We expect to announce a decision in November.”

“Mail is the most effective means of communication and advertising and we will continue to work together to increase the value of the mail. Mail is a smart investment for the future.”

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Large Format Four Color Printing - Great for newsletters and booklets!

Heidelberg Folder

Request an estimate at estimating@burnsmp.com

Mail being addressed with state of the art inkjet addressing equipment

Inkjet addressing, applying permits, post it notes, live stamps or messages on the mailing panel is possible with our Kirk Rudy System.  Tabbing is done  inline for quicker turn-around.

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A reminder that effective March 29, 2009 the new address placement standards for commercial flat-size mail goes into effect at the United States Post Office.  An example of flat-size mail is an 8.5×11 newsletter.  The new rule for this example would be that the addressing area for the newsletter would have to be in the top half of the page.  This also applies to periodicals, Standard Mail and Package Services flats mailed at automation, presorted, or carrier route prices.

For Standard Mail and Periodicals mailings that are not in compliance, the appropriate First-Class prices apply. Presorted Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, or Library Mail flats with non compliant addresses are charged the non presorted flats prices within the same class of mail.

Designers, advertising agencies, non profits listen up. We are talking more money for postage folks and to save money all you have to do is put your addresses in the correct area.

If you want the the rules that the USPS publishes, see below.

The new ddress placement standards require the delivery address in the upper portion of all Periodicals, Standard Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail flat-size pieces mailed at automation, pre­sorted, or carrier route prices. Mailers may place the address parallel or perpendicular to the top edge, but not upside down as read in relation to the top edge. The new standards define “upper portion” as the top half of the mailpiece. Mailers are encouraged to place the address as close to the top edge as possible, while maintaining a 1/8–inch clearance from every edge.

The following standards apply to enveloped, polywrapped, or card-style Periodicals, Standard Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail flats mailed at pre­sorted, automation, or carrier route prices:

a.The “top” of the mailpiece is either of the shorter edges.

b.The entire delivery address must be within the top half of the mailpiece (see Exhibit 2.2), except under 2.2c or 2.2d. Optimal placement is at the top edge (while maintaining the 1/8-inch clearance requirement).

c. If a vertical address will not fit entirely within the top half, the address may cross the midpoint if it is placed within 1 inch of the top edge.

d. If the delivery address is placed on an insert poly­wrapped with the host piece:

1. The address must not appear on a component that rotates within the bag.

2. The address must remain visible throughout the addressed component’s range of motion.

3. The insert must be affixed to maintain the address entirely in the top half throughout processing and delivery or, if not affixed, the insert must maintain at least the beginning 0.5 inch of the address in the top half. The “beginning 0.5 inch” means the first half-inch of the recipient, delivery address, and city/state/ZIP Code lines, and not the end of each line.

Correct Placement of Addressing on Flats

If you are still not clear on the new rules, contact your local Mail Piece Design Analyst at the USPS bulk mail unit.

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