Move Update could hit your January pocketbook?
Harte-Hanks has several resources available online to help you navigate the upcoming postal regulations.
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In this Issue:
Folded Self-Mailers;
Soon to be on the Extinction List?
This past September new rules went into effect for letter automation, specifically concerning "slim-jims"/booklets. The impact on the mail owner and the service providers is huge. Volume has nearly disappeared for these types of mailpieces that were employed largely due to massive price increases for flat mail postage and paper. The rule changes were based upon tests made by the USPS in cooperation with the mailing industry.
What about 2010?
Now that the USPS has committed to no price increases for its market dominant products, what may we expect for 2010? Supposedly the economy is showing signs of recovery; stock market edging up, home sales up a little. But these signs are tenuous at best. There is no confidence in the economy and frankly, in my opinion, there's shouldn't be. .
Here is a sampling of industry news from across the nation:
USPS CFO Joe Corbett has announced that Joe Moeller has been hired as the USPS' new Manager, Regulatory Reporting and Cost Analysis (the job formerly held by Ashley Lyons).
The BBC has reported that "The U.S. economy grew at an annual pace of 3.5% between July and September,...
At a recent industry meeting, PMG Jack Potter indicated that the Senate told him that they never interfere with postal facility closings (!)...
According to the Courier, Express, and Postal Observer, "The Postal Service may be on the verge of having an irrational price structure...
The Washington Post has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service has started selling Hallmark greeting cards at some post offices, a one-year experiment that may lead the nation's 34,000 postal outlets to eventually sell other goods and services, including banking, insurance and cell phones...
This ought to catch everyone's eyes:
According to the President of the American Postal Workers Union, "The Postal Service's financial difficulties are caused by three major factors...
