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Pricing Incentives

Great deals make USPS a shipping sensation

Our goal is to become America’s shipper of choice. And that’s why we’re offering you some impressive pricing incentives to ship with us.

As we’ve outlined in our continuing PCC Insider special series, our shipping services are priced to sell. We’ve told you about how we have no net minimums and no surcharges. And when new prices take effect Sunday, Jan. 18, you’ll have the opportunity to take advantage of great new incentives.

We’re launching Commercial Plus — a new pricing tier to reward high-volume shippers of expedited products. If you meet certain volume requirements and use an approved payment method, you’re eligible for lower Commercial Plus prices that are an average of 14.5 percent below retail for Express Mail and 7 percent below retail for Priority Mail. To qualify, Express Mail customers must ship more than 6,000 pieces over the previous four calendar quarters and Priority Mail customers need to ship more than 100,000 pieces in a calendar year. Customers may also receive Commercial Plus prices if they have a customer agreement with us and commit to meeting minimum volumes.

We’ve also increased Commercial Base incentives for Express Mail and Priority Mail. These price breaks are available for customers who use online services such as Click-N-Ship or a PC Postage vendor, or use a permit imprint — including manifest mailing systems. Commercial Base incentives also have been extended to customers paying postage using an approved Information Based Indicia metering system.

When you ship internationally, you can take advantage of online incentives for Global Express Guaranteed (10 percent), Express Mail International (8 percent) and Priority Mail International (5 percent). When you prepare your international shipments online, you also have the added convenience of completing only one mailing form that includes both mailing and customs information.

Volume incentives beyond online discounts also are available. Shippers who use Express Mail International and Priority Mail International may qualify for a global expedited package contractual discount if they are capable of tendering at least 5,000 pieces of international mail to the Postal Service or paying at least $100,000 in international postage to USPS annually. Express Mail Corporate Account holders automatically receive an 8 percent discount, but could qualify for 10 percent or 12 percent discounts by meeting higher volume thresholds. Contact your global account manager for more information.

For ground shippers, Parcel Select combines the Postal Service’s unbeatable last-mile delivery with the world-class logistics networks of our consolidator partners. Parcel Select offers some of the lowest prices in shipping with excellent service and visibility.

Parcel Select offers shippers three low-cost pricing options based on the package’s entry location. The further into our network a shipment is entered, the more you save. Additional incentives also are available based on volume, so if you use a regional consolidator or one of our traditional competitors for entry into the postal system, be sure to ask them about their Parcel Select service solutions.

With all these opportunities to improve service and lower costs, what’s not to like about shipping with USPS?

New Priority Mail Box

Small Flat-Rate Box Gives Customers Another Shipping Option

There’s a new choice in packaging to ship anywhere in the United States for one price, regardless of weight or destination.

The Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box measures 8-5/8 x 5-3/8 x 1-5/8 inches — about the same size and shape as three stacked DVD cases. The smaller sized box is perfect for jewelry, electronics, event tickets or other small items that need expedited shipping.

It will have a retail price of $4.95 effective Jan. 18 — one price, regardless of weight, for U.S. addresses. The international price, for up to 4 pounds, will be just $10.95 to Canada or Mexico and $12.95 to all other countries, with savings of 5 percent for customers who ship online. Online prices also are lower for shipping to U.S. addresses. The online price will be $4.80, and for large volume mailers who qualify for USPS Commercial Plus pricing, the price will be $4.75.

With the launch of the Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box, customers will have four different flat-rate boxes from which to choose. Complete information on all USPS shipping services can be found at usps.com/shipping.

WHAT'S UP

Growing Business Through Direct Mail 

USPS Postmasters and Business Development Teams are now trained and ready with materials and presentations needed to show how businesses can acquire new customers, retain existing customers and successfully grow their business using direct mail.

They can walk a business through the key steps in creating a successful direct mail campaign. That includes creating or purchasing a mailing list, designing a mailpiece and tracking the results of a successful direct mail campaign

If you would like your local BDT or Postmaster to present this information to your company or organization, contact your PCC postal co-chair.

Register For NPF

This year’s National Postal Forum will feature mailing industry experts and cutting-edge strategies to help businesses — large and small — get the most out of the mail. The mailing industry’s premier trade show and event is May 17-20 in Washington, DC.

The forum offers more than 140 workshops on the hottest issues facing the mailing industry. Three symposiums will feature Intelligent Mail services, shipping solutions and global marketplace opportunities for small businesses. There will be 16 business tracks on topics from mail center management to sustainability, and you also can earn professional certificates.

For more information and to register, go to npf.org or call 703-218-5015. PCC members get a $100 discount on four-day registrations, and a $50 discount on two- and three-day registrations.

Trusted For Privacy

The premier privacy trust study in America has cited the Postal Service as sixth among 200 of the “Most Trusted Companies for Privacy.” For the fifth year in a row, USPS has been recognized by the Ponemon Institute for its best practices in safeguarding consumers’ personal information among private sector companies. This year, the Postal Service moved up one position from last year’s listing.

The institute also has cited the Postal Service as the “Most Trusted Government Agency” for four years in a row.

FYI…

Daylong symposiums on Intelligent Mail services are planned for late February and early March in four cities — Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. Details will be announced soon.

SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS

Annual Co-Chair Meetings Offer Opportunity For Information Sharing

Annual meetings of industry and postal co-chairs offer an opportunity to exchange ideas and information, and help ensure PCC programs are a value to customers, says national PCC Advisory Committee member Laurie Timmons.

“We’ve hosted these meetings in the Northeast Area for the last three years and the feedback from our industry and postal co-chairs has been great,” says Timmons, postal manager of Customer Relations for the area.  

Meetings are held shortly after the National Postal Forum at two locations to accommodate members from across the region. The agenda includes an overview of two sessions that were part of the PCC track at the NPF. The information is presented by PCC co-chairs that received professional certification at the forum. In addition, the meeting includes planning for National PCC Day and applying for national recognition through the PCC awards program. And, of course, there’s always time for networking.

“The co-chairs always learn something they can bring back to their membership,” says Timmons, “and our district Customer Relations managers appreciate the support and ideas that are generated.”

Timmons is a big supporter of using Webinars to present certificate programs to membership. “Our Capital Region (Albany) PCC has utilized this online meeting tool effectively and shared this information with other PCCs,” she says. “It’s a great way to connect members and save on travel and other costs.”

The PCC Advisory Committee will continue to work to increase the reach of PCCs to customers, says Timmons. “PCCs are a valuable resource for all mailers,” she says. “Our next focus is to extend the outreach to our small business customers.”

KEEPING POSTED

2009

• The 2009 National Postal Forum will be held May 17-20 in Washington, DC. Check the NPF website at npf.org for more information.
• National PCC Day is scheduled for Sept. 16 in New York City.

INFO@USPS

Your Links To Mailing Resources

U.S. Postal Service: usps.com

National PCC Network: usps.com/pcc

Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: ribbs.usps.gov

Questions? Comments? Send an e-mail to pccinsider@usps.gov

Sign up for PCC Insider at usps.com/pcc, select "PCC Insider Registration"

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