To counteract its declining revenues, the U.S. Postal Service is rolling out incentives to certain organizations that increase the number of items they mail.
Postal officials are reportedly working on a "Summer Sale" program to encourage businesses and non-profit groups to send more direct mail, catalogs, and other Standard-class mail this summer. Sources say it would offer rebates of 20% to 30% for mailers that increase their Standard mail during July, August, and September of this year.
The Postal Service will reportedly file the Summer Sale proposal with the Postal Regulatory Commission this month. The PRC would then have up to 45 days to rule on the proposal.
The program reportedly grew out of discussions between Postmaster General Jack Potter and CEOs of printing and paper companies about how to increase USPS's volumes during the off-peak summer months. It would apparently be more politically acceptable than Potter's other idea for countering low summer volumes -- temporarily reducing deliveries to five days a week.
Details of another volume-based discount, the Saturation Mail Incentive Program, were released by the Postal Service this week. That will provide a rebate of 2.2 to 4.0 cents per piece only on incremental business during the 12-month period beginning May 11, 2009. Intelisent's Postal Affairs Blog has posted a fact sheet with the details. (Don't bother trying to find this same information via usps.com.)
Some will question how the Postal Service can offer discounts when it is losing money. But that line of thinking overlooks the fact that much of the Postal Service's costs do not vary much with volume. For example, a letter carrier doesn't take nine times longer to deliver nine pieces to an address than to deliver a single piece.
USPS's incremental costs for additional catalogs or presorted letters is much lower than the postage on those catalogs, especially during the slow summer months. Shelling out rebates for incremental off-peak business is somewhat akin to money-losing airlines offering last-minute discounts to fill empty seats.
Don't expect any special discounts for Periodicals-class postage, which is used to mail most magazines and newspapers, because of complaints that the class is not covering its costs. But some publishers would be able to receive rebates on such Standard-class mailings as subscription solicitations and free newspapers.
20 comments:
How about to tell the carriers to work for free? More work with less income. How about tell the Postmasters, supervisors and all other managers to take a paid cut. How about fire all those making over $60000 a year and doing nothing in the Post Office. How about stop hiring friends, relative in Post Office. How about the Government take over the direct mail business, so no more back door money for the cheaters and direct deal with the carriers and build a new market unit and delivery unit for the people in America. No more problems..............
Anonymous
How about you get a clue.
Do you work for free you jerk.
Its a civil service job. You get hired off a list after passing a test. The high scores get hired first. Shows how much you know you boob.
It takes the same amount of time to deliver one piece as nine pieces? I don't think so moron.
"it takes about the same time to deliver one piece as nine"? Obviously, whoever came up with that has not carried mail. Besides, if that statement is true, why does my route get lengthened after the volume goes down?
It may take about the same time for 1 piece versus 9 pieces, however 9 pieces weighs more than 1. In 95+ degree weather, and especially wet weather that really adds up, however, management still wants us back in the same amount of time. It's funny how they add more to your route when mail volume is down, but they NEVER, take away when I'm over burdened. Thanks folks!
Point well taken on the "nine pieces" thing. I've changed the wording.
Wow seem like a lot postal managers, responded to my comment. IF YOU REALLY WORKING AT THE POST OFFICE. Everyone KNOW THESE IS TRUTH. ONLY THE PUBLIC DON'T..............See it. They hired you, doesn't mean they can't make you QUIT or FIRED you, so they can move their FRIENDS or RELATIVE to Post Office. Call people a JERK. Lol, you must be one of the high paid jerk, working around and after girls supervisor in Post Office......My GOD!
Why Post Office doesn't let other government agency to monitor their labor problems.........YOU TELL ME the one who called people a JERK.
I wish the Congressmen could read all carriers comments about their managers.............and those who quit or harass by their supervisors.
If Post Office under evaluate a rural route, that rural carrier do work for free........or the supervisor lost their time card......Oh you working for free again.......I SEE THESE BEFORE.
Yeah they certainly want to increase revenue now that count is over. They are the biggest bunch of crooks. Anyone know the total of savings from this last mailcount.
This would not be a bad idea; but considering the source. One of the problems (and a major one at that)is management DOES NOT TREAT ITS CRAFT EMPLOYEES WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY!!! So how does it expect the workforce to have any postive things to say when it comes to another one of management's bright ideas. Especially after manage-ment under Art.3, has "mismanaged" the USPS and have a great deal of blame with the problems we are having now!
"Mental Giants like YOU is a perfect example--- why this country is a mess"!
What did you mother drop you on your head when your were a baby?
Or, parts of you were missing when you were hatched...
Like: "Logical Thinking &Common Sense"?
...What a Lick!
cliff claven...who are you calling a "mental giant"???
The Saturation Mail Incentive Program information is found on the RIBBS web site at
http://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=saturationmail
now, now boys and girls... name calling is not going to solve anything only proves you can use profanity... the rural craft DID IN FACT LOSE $$ this year without losing allot of work hours.. I KNOW, I am one who just lost ANOTHER $8,000.. for those of you who don't know, we work long hard days.. most of our new people quit because they can't handle a 98 degree day in Texas
All of our routes lost A LOT of time this past mail count. I've been an RCA since Oct 2005, and the route I work on right now went from a 45 k last year to a 43 k. This year it went to a 40 J (or something like that). The regular chose the high-option so she has to work every other saturday so that she can make up for the 9 or so thousand dollars she will be losing this year. That means I am losing 17 hours a month, but I also work on a (VERY) small aux route that is 2.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. GOD I hate my work schedule...at least I am senior sub though. Oh, and all you people who complain about the usps need to get a clue. Don't be hatin'...I know you're just jealous cause you weren't smart or clever enough to pass the inital exam ^^ Haha, but seriously, most of us do work hard for our money and we do put up with a lot of crap as usps employees. Etc. etc.
Anyone can stand back and say what they would do if they were in management. The thing is, very few actually stand up and try to make a difference. Some are happy being carriers. Good for them. If you think you can do a better job than who is managing you then apply yourself and at least try. If you are not willing to take on the responsiblity for the outcome of your management decisions just stay safe as a carrier. Once again, anyone can stand back and say what they would do if they were managers but few actually put themselves on the line.
No need to go postal guys. Lets just try to support this old practice of snail mail since its already a part of our culture, history and heritage.
It has rightfully earned our respect through the countless years of service. This is the kind of good news we should be happy about. Thanks for posting it!
its embarassing that you people have resorted to calling eachother names...and most of you cant string a sentence together...and those of you that say we are over paid civil servants, i invite you to take the test and come try doing my job you probably wont last a week
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