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Celebrating "America's Partnership"

Senior Postal Service executives will attend National PCC Day events nationwide

Events across the nation on National Postal Customer Council Day will showcase the important role of PCCs in helping businesses succeed using the mail. At many locations, customers will get a chance to hear from senior postal executives.

Thousands of mailers are expected to join the U.S. Postal Service and PCC members in celebrating "America's Partnership" on Sept. 17. Nearly every PCC across the nation will be hosting an event.

Postmaster General John Potter will deliver a national satellite broadcast from St. Louis, home of the Greater St. Louis PCC, which was 2007 National PCC of the Year. Joining the broadcast from other locations will be Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Operating Officer Patrick Donahoe and Shipping and Mailing Services President Robert Bernstock. In addition, more than two dozen Postal Service officers will participate in events across the country.

National PCC Day is an annual event that recognizes the work of local councils in helping the Postal Service improve service to businesses large and small. National PCC Leadership awards will be presented, recognizing outstanding service and individual achievement. Workshops on Intelligent Mail and Shipping Services will be conducted to educate businesses on the latest innovations and best practices in the mailing industry.

Through education, workshops and an active dialogue with postal officials on the local level, PCCs are enhancing the value of mail and supporting the growth of the mailing industry.

For more information on events in your area, go to the National PCC website at usps.com/pcc.

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Pre-Mailing Move Update Method

USPS address tools can improve the quality of your mailing lists

Two address quality initiatives take effect Nov. 23:

  • Increasing minimum frequency of Move Update processing from 185 days to 95 days prior to mailing.
  • Expanding Move Update standards for First-Class Mail automation-rate and presort-rate mailings to include all Standard Mail mailings.

To be ready for Move Update requirements, mailers must begin using addresses that were updated within the previous 95 days. For example, a mailing entered on Nov. 23 must bear addresses that were updated no earlier than Aug. 20. Special rules apply for mail bearing alternative address formats.

One of the approved methods for Move Update processing prior to mailing is the use of NCOALink service. NCOALink allows mailers to electronically process their mailing list against the Postal Service National Change of Address database in either 48-month or 18-month versions, which provides current addresses for customers who have filed a change-of-address order.

The Postal Service certifies and licenses the NCOALink product to private sector companies for commercial mail list processing or internal mail list management. There are three types of licenses:

  • Full Service License receives a 48-month data file on a weekly basis.
  • Limited Service License receives an 18-month data file on a weekly basis.
  • End-User License receives an 18-month data file on a monthly basis.

ANKLink, an enhancement to the existing 18-month NCOALink product, provides Limited Service providers and End Users the ability to detect that there is a "probable move" for a name and address record submitted beyond the 18-month change-of-address database.

NCOALink data is updated regularly to allow mailers to match their address records to the latest information available. The NCOALink process improves mail deliverability by providing mailers with current, standardized, delivery point coded addresses for individual, family and business moves.

Why bother checking for accuracy of your address list? Accurate and updated addresses are required to obtain discounted prices for First-Class Mail and Standard Mail after Nov. 23. And consider these statistics:

  • 14 percent of Americans change addresses annually.
  • 43 million people move each year.
  • One out of every six families moves each year.

How many of these people are your customers or members?

Just because you buy or rent a list does not mean the addresses are complete, correct and current. To make sure that you are getting a list with accurate addresses, ask your vendor if the addresses were processed through CASS Certified address-matching software and updated. Check if the list provided was updated through NCOALink and when — it should have been within the last 95 days.

Would you like to learn more about NCOALink licensing and certification process? Go to http://ribbs.usps.gov for information about how NCOALink and all of the USPS address hygiene tools can help improve the quality of your mailing lists.

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Intelligent Mail University

Helping you prepare for May 2009 Intelligent Mail implementation

The Postal Service will offer an educational series on Intelligent Mail, helping you get ready for its implementation next year.

Topics will include:

  • Overview of May 2009 Intelligent Mail Implementation
  • Intelligent Mail Barcodes
  • Electronic Documentation
  • Feedback from Full-Service Option
  • Customer Supplier Agreements
  • Mixed Mailings, Combined Mailings and Co-Palletization

At the Intelligent Mail University, you'll learn how to prepare your mail for the basic and full-service options and get the facts on how Intelligent Mail will enhance your mailing operations. Three training sessions are offered — Oct. 3, Oct. 6 and Oct. 9 — from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be held at USPS Headquarters in Washington, DC.

Deadline for registration is Sept. 22. The series is offered at no cost. If you'd like to attend, e-mail your name, phone number, e-mail address and session date to Deborah.c.cumbo@usps.gov. Questions? Contact Veleana Hurd-Whitaker at 202-268-8988 or Ana Cikowski at 202-268-8081.

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WHAT'S UP

Payment For Bound Printed Matter

Effective Sept. 11, postage payment for all Bound Printed Matter mailings — carrier route, presorted and nonpresorted (single-piece) flats and parcels, regardless of volume — is now limited to permit imprint. Mailers cannot pay postage with adhesive stamps, customer-generated postage meter or PC Postage. In addition, nonpresorted BPM will not be accepted at retail counters, in collection boxes or by carriers. All BPM must be deposited and accepted at the Post Office facility that issued the permit.

Merchandise return service permit holders may continue to pay nonpresorted BPM prices on eligible items returned with a merchandise return service label.

New Flats Sequencing Strategy Web Page

Check out the new Flats Sequencing Strategy Web page at http://ribbs.usps.gov. You'll find all of our presentations, resources and FAQs related to the flats vision and the new Flats Sequencing System. Included are a scripted presentation and fact sheets on the new address standards for commercial flat-size mail. We will update the page with new information and materials as soon as they become available.

From the RIBBS homepage, just click on "Flats Sequencing Strategy — All Things FSS" in the center of the page.

The deadline has been extended for speaker submissions for the 2009 National Postal Forum to be held May 17–20 in Washington, DC. You can submit proposals through Sept. 15. Just go to the NPF website at npf.org. Every proposal will be reviewed by Oct. 15 and all submissions will receive a response indicating whether they've been selected or not.

FYI…

You can request postal speakers on nearly 60 topics or one of 75 industry speakers for your PCC events from the National PCC website. Click here to find a speaker for your next event.

INSIDE SCOOP. There are approximately 100,000 Postal Customer Council members nationwide.
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SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS

Catalogs Work!

Catalogs continue to have a great influence on what people purchase, and research has shown that they can generate an increase in online sales.

In a recent study by the Direct Marketing Association, 62 percent of the merchants surveyed consider catalogs to be their primary sales channel. The survey also showed that the print catalog remained the largest channel for revenue generation in 2007 and 2008. According to the DMA, the circulation of print catalogs has increased since 2003 as a result of companies using this method to drive customer traffic to their websites.

Because people enjoy receiving and reading catalogs, they typically hold on to them until they are ready to make a purchase. USPS research shows that catalog recipients are more likely to buy online. As an added bonus, customers typically spend more when they shop online with a catalog in hand.

Online retailers should consider using catalogs to promote their websites and make catalogs an integral part of their advertising budget.

You can explore more direct mail research at usps.com/directmail.

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KEEPING POSTED

2008

  • National PCC Day is Sept. 17. Events are planned at PCCs across the nation, with the Greater St. Louis PCC hosting the main event.

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.
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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"

Back issues: PCC Insider online archive

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