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February 7, 2018

Enterprise Payment System (EPS) Webinar

Friday, February 16, 2018 at 2 p.m. (EST)

Please join Pritha Mehra, Vice President, Mail Entry and her team to learn about the Enterprise Payment System (EPS).  USPS has launched a new payment system that enables customers to manage their commercial products and services through a secure online portal.  The Enterprise Payment System (EPS) supports commercial, domestic and international products and services which includes First-Class Mail®, USPS Marketing Mail™, Periodicals, Electronic PO Boxes Online (ePOBOL) and Address Quality Products.  Key features include online account creation and management, payment for products and services through one account and enhanced reporting features.  Customers utilizing EPS can fund their accounts through ACH Debit, allowing USPS to directly withdrawal payment transaction from their bank account, or through a Trust Account, funded through ACH Credit, FedWire Transfer, or check, cash, or money order deposited at any retail location.  A new check capture feature allows customers to deposit checks using a mobile application, eliminating the need to visit a Post Office. 

If you are utilizing any of the following products and services contact your Business Mail Entry Unit or Business Mailer Support Analyst to enroll today!

Eligible Products/Services

· PO Box, Caller & Reserve Services (EPOBOL)

· Address Quality Products (AEC, AECII and ACS)

· Priority Mail

· First-Class Mail, Letters, Cards, and Flats

· First-Class Package Service

· USPS Marketing Mail, Letters, Flats, and Parcels

· Parcel Select

· Media Mail

· Library Mail

· Bound Printed Matter

· Periodicals

· International Products

· Business Reply Mail (BRM)

· Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) - BMEU

Eligible Submission Methods

· Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU) hard copy

· eDoc (Mail.dat/Mail.XML)

· Postal Wizard

· Intelligent Mail small business (IMsb) Tool

Eligible Permit Types

· Permit Imprint

· Metered

· Pre-cancelled Stamps

· Periodicals (CPP/PP)

· Postage Due

· Business Reply

Eligible Transactions

· Postage Statement Processing (Domestic & International)

· Adjustments

· Mail Entry Postage Assessment

· Reversals

· Refunds (including Value Added Refunds (VAR))

· Deposits

· Transfers

· Fee Payments

· Postage Due

· FOIA Requests

*Products/Services Not Currently Supported

· Electronic Verification System (eVS)

· Parcel Return Service (PRS)

· PC Postage

· Scan Based Payment (SBP)

· Merchandise Return Service (MRS)

· Official Mail Accounting System (OMAS)

· Premium Forwarding Service Commercial (PFSC)

· Share Mail

· Intelligent Mail barcode Accounting (IMbA)

Please join us for this educational webinar and register using the link below.  Thank you!

ATTENDEE INFORMATION

Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 844-480-7651
Event Plus Passcode: 6394499

Attendee Direct URL: https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?MTID=e028657c551b6e728a9cc78ba50696f77

If you cannot join using the direct link above, please use the alternate logins below:
Alternate URL:	https://usps.webex.com
Event Number:	995 515 737

If you would like to submit your questions before the call, you can submit them to PCC@usps.gov.

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          Please visit us on the USPS PostalPro website.

Thank you for your support of the United States Postal Service.

-Industry Engagement & Outreach/USPS Marketing

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New Postage Rates for 2018 – Some Go Up and Some Go Down

On Sunday, January 21^st, 2018 the United States Post Office (USPS) will be adjusting rates for both Market Dominated Products and Competitive Products. Market Dominated products are the products that the USPS does not have any competitors providing the same services such as First Class Mail, Periodicals, and Marketing Mail (Presort Standard Mail). Competitive products are services that the USPS has outside competitors vying for the same customers such as delivering packages (Parcel Services).

The overall average increase along all products lines is 2%.
Let’s start with Market Dominated price changes as those are the prices that effect most companies. The price of a first class stamp (forever stamp) is going to increase from 49 cents each to 50 cents each, so get out and purchase your forever stamps before January 21^st. Single piece metered rates are also going up 1 cent to 47 cents. The cost for each additional ounce over 1 is staying the same at 21 cents per ounce. One ounce single piece flat size mail pieces are going up 2 cents to $1.00 each and single piece postcards are also going up from 34 cents to 35 cents each.

Automated First Class postage is increasing slightly for most categories except for Mixed ADC Automated Flats which is receiving a decrease of 6% and 3-digit Automated Flats which is decreasing 5.9%. 5-Digit Automated Flats are going up by 6.3% to 47.4 cents each.

Marketing Mail (Presort Standard) is seeing that Marketing Mail letters are increasing in most categories with High Density DSCF rates heading up 2.38% and some nonprofit letter rates increasing by as much as 5%.


Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) Retail rates are increasing by 56% to .178 cents per piece.
USPS Competitive products include package services and priority mail packages. Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and Parcel Services are seeing some of the largest increases with First Class Mail Retail Parcels going up 14.5%.

For additional information on the January 2018 price changes view the USPS PowerPoint presentation.


                           

USPS™ Announces New Prices for 2018

The Postal Service™ filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today of price changes to take effect Jan. 21, 2018. The new prices, if approved, include a one-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail^® Forever^® stamp from 49 cents to 50 cents. Postcard stamps and metered letters would also have a one-cent increase.

The proposed prices would raise Mailing Services product prices approximately 1.9 percent, and most Shipping Services products will average a 3.9 percent price increase. While Mailing Services price increases are limited based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Shipping Services prices are adjusted strategically, according to market conditions and the need to maintain affordable services for customers.

The proposed Mailing Services price changes include:

Product	Current	Proposed
Letters (1 oz.)	49 cents	50 cents
Letters additional ounces	21 cents	21 cents
Letters (metered)	46 cents	47 cents
Outbound International Letters (1 oz.)	$1.15	$1.15
Domestic Postcards	34 cents	35 cents

The proposed domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate^® retail price changes are:

Product	Current	Proposed
Small Flat Rate Box	$7.15	$7.20
Medium Flat Rate Box	$13.60	$13.65
Large Flat Rate Box	$18.85	$18.90
APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Box	$17.35	$17.40
Regular Flat Rate Envelope	$6.65	$6.70
Legal Flat Rate Envelope	$6.95	$7.00
Padded Flat Rate Envelope	$7.20	$7.25

The PRC will review the prices before they are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 21, 2018. The complete Postal Service price filings with the new prices for all products can be found on the PRC site under the Daily Listings section at https://www.prc.gov/dockets/daily. For the Mailing Services filing, see Oct. 6, 2017, Docket No. R2018-1. For the Shipping Services filing, see Oct. 6, 2017, Docket No. CP2018-8.

UPS 2018 General Rate Increase

Great article from the Parcel Industry Magazine outlining the changes for the UPS December 24 price increase.  Here are a few highlights:

• The DIM weight divisor on small packages measuring less than one cubic foot will be decreasing from 166 to 139
• The minimum net charge for Ground packages will increase 3.42% to $7.57.
• The charge for an Address Correction will increase 18.7% to $15.90.
• There will be a secondary rate increase to certain charges that will take effect on July 8, 2018.

For complete details on this must-read article, click here

Karen Barry

Informed Delivery® Webinar Series Continues

October 10 & 24 and November 7, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) 

Join us as the Postal Service continues its series of Informed Delivery informational webinars for mail owners and mail service providers. The initial webinar on October 10 will provide a refresher on the basics of how this innovation works and enhances the value of hardcopy mail in a digital age.  The October 24 session will focus on required campaign elements and on the mailer campaign portal that is currently in a soft-launch status.  The session on November 7 will provide an advanced look at using and understanding Informed Delivery campaign data and reports.  Going forward, additional webinars will be provided as industry educational needs dictate.  Specific details for the October / November webinar series are as follows:

Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. ET – Introductory Webinar:  Informed Delivery Interactive Campaigns

Session is designed to fulfill the widespread interest to learn more about the Informed Delivery program as well as the intricacies of planning and implementing interactive mailer campaigns. 

Speaker:  Carrie Bornitz, Product Development Specialist, Sr., USPS Product Technology Innovation/Product Innovation           

Note:  Pre-registration is suggested to ensure a space and to include the event on your calendar. 

ATTENDEE INFORMATION

Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 866-381-9870
Conference ID: 97154377

Attendee Direct URL: https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?MTID=e96511da0a483e2d072bdfb51460e03ba

If you cannot join using the direct link above, please use the alternate logins below:
Alternate URL:	https://usps.webex.com
Event Number:	997 320 396

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Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. ET – Advanced Informed Delivery Webinar:  Campaign Elements & Mailer Campaign Portal

This webinar provides a review of required campaign elements and the self-serve Informed Delivery Mailer Campaign Portal as well as how it helps with planning, entering, activating, and analyzing interactive mailer campaigns.  The Informed Delivery Program Office has been working with existing test mailers to begin self-serve campaign entries since early September.  This session will provide the latest regarding the broader launch of the Mailer Campaign Portal for new campaign participants.   

Speaker:  Carrie Bornitz, Product Development Specialist, Sr., USPS Product Technology Innovation/Product Innovation           

Note:  Pre-registration is suggested to ensure a space and to include the event on your calendar. 

ATTENDEE INFORMATION

Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 866-381-9870
Conference ID: 97229664

Attendee Direct URL: https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?MTID=e8e3b6e34405ae15ae770d49382c14ef2

If you cannot join using the direct link above, please use the alternate logins below:
Alternate URL:	https://usps.webex.com
Event Number:	993 653 539

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Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 1:00 p.m ET – Advanced Informed Delivery Webinar:  Data & Reports 

This webinar will provide an overview of the available Informed Delivery reports, including information on how these reports are accessed.  You will gain an understanding of the value of the pre-campaign analysis report to help you determine your reach against a particular mailing list and  learn how to use the data in your post-campaign reports to analyze individual campaign results.   

   

Speaker:  Carrie Bornitz, Product Development Specialist, Sr., USPS Product Technology Innovation/Product Innovation           

Note:  Pre-registration is suggested to ensure a space and to include the event on your calendar.

ATTENDEE INFORMATION

Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 866-381-9870
Conference ID: 97233064

Attendee Direct URL: https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?MTID=e7da544e1e22bdb56787061cf566f6807

If you cannot join using the direct link above, please use the alternate logins below:
Alternate URL:	https://usps.webex.com
Event Number:	996 306 296

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September 12, 2017

USPS Industry Webinar on Hurricane Irma Impact and Recovery

The United States Postal Service is holding a webinar on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM EDT, to provide information and answer questions regarding hurricane Irma’s impact on Retail Operations, Delivery Operations and Drop Shipments.

Please join us using the webinar information below on the day of the event.  Thank you.

 

ATTENDEE INFORMATION

Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 866-381-9870
Event Plus Passcode: 85254818

Attendee Direct URL: https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?MTID=ed87b9639eaec8115236d385ab059d06d

If you cannot join using the direct link above, please use the alternate logins below:
Alternate URL:	https://usps.webex.com
Event Number:	391 152 093

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Please visit us on the USPS Industry Outreach website.

Thank you for your support of the United States Postal Service. 

-Industry Engagement & Outreach/USPS Marketing

Good morning-

The link below provides information to business mailers about postal facility service disruptions.  These service alerts are done in near real time.

https://about.usps.com/news/service-alerts/welcome.htm

Karen Barry