Implementation of Full-Service Intelligent Mail Required for Automation Prices

From the April 18th 2003 DMM Advisory

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Our final rule to modify eligibility requirements for mailers to quality for automation prices was published in today’s Federal Register. Effective January 26, 2014, use of “full-service” Intelligent Mail^® will be required to obtain automation prices for postcards (First-Class Mail^® only), letters, and flats when using the following services: First-Class Mail, Standard Mail^®, and Periodicals; and for flats mailed at Bound Printed Matter prices.

This final rule is the result of an extensive collaboration with the mailing industry.

The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is available on Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com). To subscribe to the DMM Advisory, send an e-mail to dmmadvisory@usps.com. Simply indicate "subscribe" in the subject line.

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Retirement of FastForward™ Technology

From the USPS DMM Advisory (11/2/2012):

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This final rule Federal Register Notice was published today. We have revised mailing standards in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) to terminate the use of FastForward™ technology as a Move Update option for commercial First-Class Mail^®, First-Class Package Service™, Standard Mail^®, and Parcel Select Lightweight^®.

Mailers may begin to use the NCOALink^® MPE (mail processing equipment) licensed software system at any time to meet the Move Update standards.

See the entire notice at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-11-02/html/2012-26697.htm.

The effective date is January 27, 2013.

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January 2013 Price Change Federal Register Notices Published

From the USPS DMM Advisory (10/23/2012):

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Today, three price change-related Federal Register Notices were published. One is a final rule and two are proposed rules; all three are available on the Federal Register website and will be available later this week on the Postal Explorer^® website at pe.usps.com. The effective date of each of the rules is January 27, 2013.

International Product and Price Changes (Shipping Services) — In this final rule, we provide revised mailing standards in the International Mail Manual (IMM^®) to reflect prices, product features, and classification changes to Shipping Services, including Global Express Guaranteed^® (GXG^®), Express Mail International^®, Priority Mail International^®, and First-Class Package International Service™. See the entire notice at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-10-23/html/2012-25994.htm.

International Mailing Services: Proposed Product and Price Changes (Mailing Services) — In this proposed rule, we provide revised mailing standards throughout the various Individual Country Listings in the IMM to reflect price adjustments for Mailing Services — First-Class Mail International^® and extra services. See the entire notice at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-10-23/html/2012-25992.htm.

New Mailing Standards for Domestic Mailing Services Products— In this proposed rule, we provide revised mailing standards in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) to implement proposed Mailing Services price changes, including several mail classification changes, modifications to mailpiece characteristics, and changes in classification terminology. See the entire notice at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-10-23/html/2012-25995.htm.

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2012 USPS Holiday Mobile Shopping Promotion and Webinar

From the USPS DMM Advisory (10/19/2012):

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Direct mail combined with mobile technology can be a convenient way for consumers to do their holiday shopping. The USPS^® 2012 Holiday Mobile Shopping Promotion is designed to help merchants use direct mail to put their mobile-optimized offers, product descriptions, and advertised savings into consumers’ hands in time for Cyber Week — the busiest online shopping time of the year.

Registration is open now for the 2012 Holiday Mobile Shopping Promotion, which runs from November 7 through November 21. For promotion details click here or go to https://www.usps.com/business/holiday-mobile-shopping.htm.

An upcoming webinar will provide an overview of the promotion, including eligibility requirements, registration, how to make mail work with mobile technology, and more.

2012 Holiday Mobile Shopping Promotion Webinar

October 24, 2012

12 noon EDT

Click here to register for webinar or go to https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?d=993337055&t=a

Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-877-668-4493

Access Code: 993 337 055.

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Implementation of Full-Service Intelligent Mail Required for Automation Prices

From the USPS DMM Advisory (10/18/2012):

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Our proposed rule to modify eligibility requirements for mailers to obtain automation prices for First-Class Mail^®, Standard Mail^®, Periodicals^®, and Bound Printed Matter^® when mailing postcards, letters, and flats was published in yesterday’s Federal Register. Effective January 2014, use of “full-service” Intelligent Mail^® would be required to obtain automation prices.

We are interested in your feedback, which is due no later than November 16, 2012.

The Federal Register notice provides advance information to help mailers prepare and plan for the transition to Full-Service (use of unique Intelligent Mail barcodes applied to letters, postcards, flats, trays, sacks, and containers such as pallets and submission of electronic mailing documentation). Initiatives are proposed to limit the impact on customers who enter small volume mailings, particularly customers who mail infrequently and have limited resources to adopt new mailing practices.

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Revised Standards For Folded Self-Mailers Reminder

From USPS DMM Advisory:

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The effective date for the Folded Self-Mailers (FSM) revised standards is drawing near—January 5, 2013. The final rule Federal Register was published on December 1, 2011. Additional FSM reference materials including graphic illustrations are on RIBBS under the Folded Self-Mailers web page at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=fsm. Business Mail Entry employees and Mailpiece Design Analysts can also help answer questions on the revised FSM standards.

The revised standards are intended to provide mailers more mailpiece design options, while balancing design innovation and machinability to improve the overall supply chain. Although the revised standards are not effective until January 5, 2013, the Postal Service encourages mailers to begin the transition now.

Key points in the revised standards include:

§ The final fold must be on the bottom, for oblong pieces, the final fold is on the leading edge.

§  When tabs are used as the sealing method, a minimum of two are required. Tabs cannot be placed on the bottom edge of oblong pieces.

§   New language added about glue as a sealing method.

§   New language added about a variety of optional elements that can be incorporated in the FSM design such as attachments, loose enclosures, perforations, and die-cuts.

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USPS Holiday Mobile Shopping Promotion

From USPS DMM Advisory:

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On August 7, 2012, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) approved the USPS™ 2012 Holiday Mobile Shopping Promotion, which is scheduled to run from November 7 to November 21, 2012, with registration beginning September 15. The holiday promotion is designed to spur mobile purchasing by putting mobile-optimized promotional offers, coupons and catalogs into customers’ hands in time for “Black Friday/Cyber Monday” shopping sprees.

The Holiday Mobile Shopping Promotion will provide business mailers with an upfront 2 percent postage discount on Standard Mail® and First-Class Mail® letters, flats and cards (presort and automation) that include a mobile barcode or print/mobile technology that can be read or scanned by a mobile device. The technology must lead the recipient to a mobile-optimized shopping website that allows him or her to purchase an advertised product on the mobile device (the sale of services does not qualify).

Mailers may also qualify for an additional 1 percent rebate on the postage of their qualifying mailings if a portion of their orders are fulfilled via Priority Mail® between November 9 and December 31, 2012.

The Holiday Mobile Shopping Promotion Program Requirements describe the rules in further detail and can be downloaded from RIBBS at: https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=mobilebarcode.

Contact mobilebarcode@usps.gov with any further questions about this program.

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