News, Updates and Buzz from the U.S. Postal Service

Get the Scoop on the Latest from the U.S. Postal Service

With the season coming to a close, it’s time to wrap up all the latest news from the U.S. Postal Service. Summer 2024 has been a transformative one for the mailing industry, with some significant advancements and strategic shifts. From the introduction of new USPS®  incentives aimed at boosting mail volume while reducing costs to the increasing integration of AI-driven insights for personalized campaigns – town by town and mailbox by mailbox! More businesses are adopting online postage solutions and the postal service is searching for innovative ways to modernize the postal network and improve services for businesses.

Let’s Explore 5 Major Updates from the USPS:

Update #1: More Postage Rate Changes

The biggest news from the USPS this summer included several postage rate changes that took effect on July 14.

Let’s start with First-Class Mail. The price of a stamp and metered mail both increased, which represents a 7.3% hike across all services. If you’re still using stamps to get the mail out, you can save 5% on postage costs just by switching to a postage meter. The cost of sending Certified Mail also increased. The fee increased to $4.85 and traditional green card Return Receipts went up another 12%.
     No one likes a rate hike, especially if your business relies heavily on mailing services. Higher postage costs may affect marketing campaigns, direct mail and your budget for special services, but there are mitigation strategies! Contact a postal service rep to negotiate a contract, explore bulk mailing discounts or consider digital alternatives like mail automation software.

Still using stamps? See why meters make “cents” in our comparison guide.

Looking to drastically reduce Certified Mail costs? How does saving 36% on the cost sound?
 

Update #2: The First Step Toward Meeting Intelligent Mail Indicia (IMI) Standards

We’re officially one step closer to full decertification of the current postage meter mailing equipment.

On June 30, 2024, the USPS started the decertification process of non-IMI postage meters. The next deadline for decertification is December 31, 2024. For most mailers, that will be the last day to use your non-IMI postage meter. For Quadient customers, this would affect all IS/IN/IM Series mailing systems. After this date, non-IMI compliant postage meters will be considered “inactive.” However, there are extension dates for some mailers who meet specific criteria. To meet the deadline for decertification or find out if your business meets the criteria, you need to work with a USPS® certified postage meter company, like Quadient.
     Change can be a bummer, but in this case there are benefits for businesses. The new IMI technology allows the Post Office to automate more of the behind-the-scenes work that goes delivering the millions of mail pieces and shipments sent every day. All that efficiency is passed on to your business through improved delivery times and better account security and tracking.

Check out something new and shiny! Browse our IMI-Ready Postage Meters.

Update #3 USPS Promotions

Don’t miss out on earning big discounts on postage from the Postal Service!

Registration for Informed Delivery and Retargeting promotions kicked off this summer, but there’s still time for your business to sign up, get on board and start saving on postage. These are highly innovative tactics that you can use to drive down postage costs and boost the impact of your mailings.

Informed Delivery
With over 60 million active, engaged Informed Delivery subscribers, this is a hidden gem for mailers. The Informed Delivery® Promotion (ID Promotion) encourages mailers to add digital “ride-alongs” with their mailpieces for another touchpoint. Subscribers already receive free email notifications with a digital preview of their mail. But your business can add a digital message as a ride-along to enhance your mail, increase brand awareness or drive direct response. So cool!

Incentive: 4% Discount for mailers on their postage statement
Eligible Mail Class: First-Class Mail® & Marketing Mail®
Promotion period: August 1 - December 31, 2024
Guidebook: Get your copy  
 

Retargeting Promotion
This promotion offers businesses a discount when they mail personalized postcards to recent website visitors that didn’t convert within 24-48 hours. The USPS can match the IP address of a website or app visitor to their physical mailing address. All you have to do is sign up and have your marketing postcard ready. Just, Wow!

Promotion: up to a 5% discount off on your postage statement
Eligible Mail Class: First-Class Mail® Postcards
Promotional period: September 1 - November 30, 2024
Guidebook: Get your copy  
 

To learn more on this topic, read our blog that explains all of the 2024 USPS promotions! 

Update #4: Review of USPS Service Standards

This summer a bipartisan group of senators called on the USPS to pause some of its new service standards implemented last year for First-Class Mail, Periodicals, First Class Package Service, and Retail Ground/Parcel Select Ground.

The Postal Service opened large, regional hubs to consolidate local processing operations and improve efficiency. The goal was to modernize postal processing centers for faster delivery times, streamlined logistics and more reliable service. For many businesses, the new service standards improved mail delivery, with 98% of the American public receiving mail and packages within three days. But some businesses have experienced delays and disruptions during the transition, affecting mail pickup and delivery schedules.

Here’s a breakdown of standard First-Class Mail delivery times:

What you can do about delays: Consider ways your business can speed up mail preparation by automating your process before mail enters the mail stream.

Update #5: Simplified Packaging Options

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has decided to discontinue its dual-use Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express medium tube box. Here’s how this change might impact businesses:

By discontinuing the dual-use tubes, the USPS wants to simplify its package offerings as part of the “Delivering for America” plan. By streamlining the packaging selection, they hope to make it easier for you to choose the right box for your shipments. If your business frequently ships long, narrow items, consider stocking up on these tubes before they’re no longer available. Although the dual-use tubes are being phased out, businesses can still order them while supplies last. The USPS’s decision reflects a broader trend in the shipping industry. Businesses should stay informed about packaging changes and adapt accordingly. It’s essential to assess how this discontinuation affects your specific shipping needs. If you have further questions or need additional information, feel free to ask us!

That’s a Wrap!

To learn more about Quadient postage meters, folder inserters or mailroom software, just complete the form to contact a Mail Expert! 

We’ll keep you posted on these updates and ongoing developments.