Postal Service adjusts prices for saturation mail
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It pays to complain. In response to efforts by the newspaper industry to take their troubles to Congress and postal officials, the Postal Service filed a Notice of Price Adjustment that proposes a reduction in high density (TMC) rates of 1/10 of a cent on the piece rate and an adjustment to the pound rate to make it the same as saturation pound prices.
I am attaching the Notice of Price Adjustment that was filed June 1, 2009 for an effective date July 19, 2009.
When the Postal Service announced its price adjustments in February 2009, the Newspaper Association of America attacked the filing as unfair to newspapers and questioned the price increases of over five percent at the piece rate and approximately 10 percent in the pound rate. Although the Postal Regulatory Commission approved the rates, the industry was successful in persuading the Postal Service to propose a downward adjustment in rates based on the newspaper argument that this price change was coming at very bad economic time, would push newspapers to seek private delivery, and was much higher than the CPI increase.
SMC leaders had heard rumors that this change could take place. It shows the importance of continuing to take your case to the Postal Service. Although we believe that the price differential between saturation and high density mail is still too low and creates a playing field that favors TMC/high density mailers over saturation mailers in terms of the prices and costs we have to offer our advertising customers, SMC will probably not file any comments or do anything to oppose this change.
This is another reason why we need all of our members to participate in our survey and give us feedback to take to the Postal Service about your business needs and competitive conditions.
Donna E. Hanbery
Saturation Mailers Coalition
33 South Sixth Street, Suite 4040
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 340-9350/direct dial
(612) 340-9446/fax
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Download the Notice of Price Adjustment...
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Please complete surveys to help SMC help you
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Dear SMC Members:
I am back from three days of meetings in Washington. One of our meetings was to discuss our efforts to get certified but simplified for our members. We were told by the Postal Service official that it would greatly help our efforts to "quantify" the existing and potential market for simplified addressing option.
I know there are many of you who have not just gotten around to doing the survey. Please help us help you.
In Washington numbers count. Take a few minutes today to fill out the survey and get back to me. Thanks.
Donna E. Hanbery
Saturation Mailers Coalition
33 South Sixth Street, Suite 4040
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 340-9350/direct dial
(612) 340-9446/fax
ana
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