Is Your Business Ready for the 2012 Postal Rate Change?

The USPS has proposed a postal rate increase on January 22, 2012 that affects First-Class Mail^®, Standard Mail^®, Package Services, Periodicals and Extra Services. According the USPS.com pricing fact sheet (PDF), some price changes include:

• Letters (1 oz.) – 1-cent increase to 45 cents
• Postcards – 3-cent increase to 32 cents
• Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz.) – 5-cent increase to 85 cents.
• Letters to other international destinations – 7-cent increase to $1.05
• Certified Mail™ – 10-cent increase to $2.95

Note that Priority Mail^® and Express Mail^® price changes will be announced by the Postal Service at a later date.

 

How can you prepare your business?

Business owners can prepare for the 2012 postal rate change a number of ways:

• If you buy stamps, stock up on Forever Stamps now at the 44-cent price as they’ll be good for 1-oz letters even after the new prices go into effect
• If you’ve purchased actual 44-cent stamps, buy 1-cent stamps to cover the price difference while you use up old stamps
• Rent a postage meter to print exact postage as it can eliminate headaches associated with buying stamps and the postage rates  in meters are easily and often seamlessly updated as prices change
• Use an online postage tool, which also lets you print accurate postage in-office
• Buy and print postage online for packages at USPS.com
• Redesign envelopes to cards to reduce material and postage costs
• Convert flats to letters to save about 40% in postage
• Select the best mail class – For non-personal mailings, Standard Mail^® postage is lower than First-Class Mail^®
• Maximize bulk mail discounts by partnering with an online service like pbSmartMarketer or using the new Every Door Direct Mail program from USPS

 

What should you do if you already use a postage meter or PC postage tool?

If the rate change is approved, PC postage tools and most postage meters will automatically be updated to print the new prices effective January 22nd.

If you have any further questions about the proposed upcoming postal rate increase, the USPS.com has created a Rate Change FAQ page.

 

Guest post written by Shayna Burns for Pitneyworks.com, the official site for Pitney Bowes postage meters for small business owners, online postage tools and other mailing solutions. Pitney Bowes customers can find USPS rate change information on pb.com.