San Diego Postal Newsletter - February 2008
Ben Speaks Out!
Bug Ben with your postal questions, he is hard to stump.
We dug up Ben Franklin, the 1st Postmaster of the USPS, to help us out with some of the grave issues facing the postal industry today.
Dear Ben:
Like you, I am a printer and I have had a lot of customer requests to provide them with mailing services, I have always sent them to a mail house. Some of these customers never came back for more printing, seems that some mail houses are printing postcards now as well. How do I get into the mailing business?
Flustered in Fallbrook
Dear Flustered:
What you would like to do is not that difficult, if you make a commitment to that part of the business. That commitment involves education, the right equipment and a designated operator. If you want the right information, contact San Diego Postal and Shipping Equipment, they will set you straight.
Dear Ben:
I have noticed since May of last year that my postage costs have gone through the roof! I know that the rates went up a little bit, but my costs are soaring. Could someone be stealing my postage? How can I get these costs in line with what they should be?
Perturbed in Point Loma
Dear Perturbed:
Seems like you must need a refresher course in USPS shape based pricing. As you may remember there was a postage increase effective May 14 last year, that actually changed the way the post office charges for pieces of mail. Mail that formerly was priced based on weight alone is now priced based upon weight, shape and thickness. So for example if you have a habit of mailing out a 2 oz large envelope (9” x 12”) you were paying $.63 and you are now paying $.97, an increase of 54%! But if you took that same mailing, folded it in half and put it into a 6.5” x 9.5” envelope, you would pay only $.58 or a decrease of 7.9%.
I suggest that you contact my friends at San Diego Postal to have one of their Mail Quality Control certified Account Managers have a look at what and how you are mailing. Chances are they will find a way to trim those costs and make it a happier new year for you.
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