Written by: Jerry Caracciolo

Created: 06 January 2020

Mark your calendar for Providence PCC’s upcoming events in January and February!

Wednesday, January 15, 2020, 2 events scheduled:

1:00 p.m. - 2020 Price Change WebEx
with speakers from USPS Headquarters. More details will be provided.

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Providence PCC invites you to meet the Postmaster of Providence, Jeanne Jackson
Breaktime Bowl & Bar, 999 Main St, Pawtucket, RI (Hope Artiste Village)
Appetizers and a cash bar will be available.

Join us for bowling and networking!

Written by: Jerry Caracciolo

Created: 11 October 2018

October 10, 2018

DMM Advisory

Classification — keeping you informed about classification and mailing standards of the United States Postal Service

USPS™ Announces Proposed New Prices for 2019

The Postal Service™ filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today of proposed price changes to take effect January 27, 2019. The new prices, if approved, include a five-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail^® Forever^® stamp from 50 cents to 55 cents. Metered letters would have a three-cent increase.

The proposed prices would raise Mailing Services product prices approximately 2.5 percent, and most of the price increases for Shipping Services products will vary by product, with Priority Mail increasing 5.9 percent, and Priority Mail Express increasing 3.9 percent. While Mailing Services price increases are limited based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Shipping Services prices are adjusted strategically, according to market conditions and the need to maintain affordable services for customers.

The proposed Mailing Services price changes include:

The proposed domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate^® retail price changes are:

PRC review and approval of the proposed prices are required before the scheduled January 27, 2019 implementation date. The complete Postal Service price filings with the new prices for all products can be found on the PRC site under the Daily Listings section at https://www.prc.gov/dockets/daily. For the Mailing Services filing, see Oct. 10, 2018, Docket No. R2019-1. For the Shipping Services filing, see Oct. 10, 2018, Docket No. CP2019-3.

The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) and DMM Advisories are available on Postal Explorer^® (pe.usps.com)

Written by: Jerry Caracciolo

Created: 25 January 2017

This is a great video about the history of the PCC and how it all began. Hope you enjoy it!

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Written by: Jerry Caracciolo

Created: 21 November 2016

The USPS Business Customer Gateway provides access to the entire suite of tools and services offered to the United States Postal Service's business customers of all ...
Within this site, you will find Business Service tools that you will need to monitor, track, and manage your mailing and shipping activities such as, PostalOne!, Intelligent Mail Small Business Tool (IMsb), Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) and the Mailer Scorecard. Registration is FREE!!

Log in today at: gateway.usps.com

Written by: Jerry Caracciolo

Created: 15 September 2016

August 25, 2016

Possible Postal Reform Action Pending….
Recent Postal Reform efforts are actually gaining some traction, with both a House and Senate vote expected before the years end. A favorable vote by congress would lessen the likelihood of a January postage increase.

Highlights of Postal Reform Measures...

• Bipartisan Draft legislation, (“2016 Postal Service Reform Act”) approved by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. House and senate, floor vote later 2016.
• Postal retirees to switch to Medicare as primary care.
• Phase out USPS mandated retiree healthcare contribution over 4 years.
• Saturday Delivery will continue
• Aggressive move from curbside delivery to cluster delivery
• Reinstate ½ or all, (4.3%) exigency rate surcharge.
• New rate setting process by 2018

Somebody in Washington is singing...

It appears that the USPS is not holding their breath, being down this path before as two other bills in the last three years have gone nowhere, are now planning to file for new rates in October with implementation on January 8, 2017. This type of information is usually vaulted until a proposal is filed. My guess…leaking such information early will add some fuel to the reform fire, prompting some serious action. But, let’s not forget Congress is a little preoccupied with the pending presidential election.

Snap Shot of 2017 Postal Rate Filing...

• First-Class Presort letters weighing from 1 to 3 ounces pay the same 1-ounce rate.
• Consolidate 3-digit and AADC sort for First-Class and Standard mail, to a single AADC sort.
• Eliminate FSS price increments for Standard Mail Flat-size.
• Eliminate Permit Indicia application and annual fees.
• Eliminate Qualified Business Reply annual fees.
• Increase Standard Mail Flats weight limit for piece/pound rate structure from 3.3 ounces to 4 ounces.
• Add digital address or URL data to eDoc to support “Informed Delivery”.
• Postage percentage increase is yet to be determined.