Tag: North America

USPS: Online shipping discounts coming in May

Posted by | Apr 7, 2008 | |

For the first time ever, the U.S. Postal Service is offering discounts based on volume, as well as other incentives including online discounts, for Express Mail, Priority Mail and other shipping services, effective May 12, according to the USPS. These rate changes are now possible due to a change in federal law, enabling the Postal Service to better compete in the shipping market, said Steve Rifai, director of marketing for Endicia, an Internet postage service and an approved licensed vendor of the USPS.

“Before, you could negotiate rates, say, with FedEx, but you couldn’t with the post office because the rates were set by its over-site committee,” said Rifai. “Now with the new law, the post office can act as a competitive organization, so it has much more flexibility in setting prices.”

With the new rates going into effect May 12, the good news for e-tailers is that the post office is offering discounts for those who use online shipping tools.

Postal service shipping products are currently priced by a “one price fits all” approach — customers pay the same price per piece regardless of the number of packages sent or the method of payment. Beginning May 12, customers will be able to take advantage of commercial volume pricing, minimum volume rebates, online price breaks and other pricing incentives.

For overseas shipping, Rifai said there are additional discounts for e-tailers using online methods. Merchants will get an eight-percent online discount on Express Mail International, a five-percent online discount for Priority Mail International and a 10-percent reduction on Global Express Guaranteed.

Read More

UPS Freight employees ratify five-year contract

Posted by | Apr 7, 2008 | |

UPS Freight employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have ratified a new five-year contract negotiated last month.

The contract, with coverage extending to July 31, 2013, covers approximately 9,900 full- and part-time dockworkers and drivers at 136 locations around the United States.

“This contract ensures that UPS Freight can continue moving toward its goal of providing the very best service and value in the trucking industry,” said Jack Holmes, president of UPS Freight. “It’s good for our people, good for our customers and good for the company.”

Read More

OutBound Shipping Announces United States Postal Service Global Shipping Solution (GSS) Interface Integration

Posted by | Apr 3, 2008 | |

OutBound Shipping Systems, a leading provider of automated carrier certified shipping software and solutions has announced today that it has integrated the United States Postal Service (USPS) Global Shipping Solution (GSS) interface into its enterprise shipping software.

OutBound Shipping Systems, a provider of automated carrier certified shipping software and solutions has announced today that it has integrated the United States Postal Service (USPS) Global Shipping Solution (GSS) interface into its enterprise shipping software.

“The integration of the USPS GSS module into the OutBound Shipping System allows our customers to access the easiest method for shipping international USPS parcels,” explained Todd Smith, a lead programmer at OutBound Shipping Systems. “This new module streamlines the oftentimes difficult process of generating the correct paperwork for international shipping with USPS. Our module can accomplish this by capturing the required information for international shipping, including product codes, value, and requirements of the destination country,” he added.

The integration of the USPS GSS module into the OutBound Shipping System allows our customers to access the easiest method for shipping international USPS parcels
Currently, OutBound Shipping Systems’ multi-carrier certified shipping solution encompasses United States Postal Service (USPS), Federal Express (FedEx), DHL, and United Parcel Service (UPS) products and services and also has a less than truckload (LTL) module. The latest edition will feature increased application functionality as well as integration with USPS.

Read More

USPS to purchase new sorting equipment

Posted by | Apr 3, 2008 | |

The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors approved funding to purchase The 550 Advanced Facer Canceller System (AFCS) technology to postmark letters faster and sort them better. These machines will replace existing sorters operating on 1980s technology.
The AFCS machine locates a stamp’s phosphorescent ink and uses it to position the letter for postmarking on the upper right corner of the envelope. It then sends the letter to one of seven bins for additional sorting.

The new machines will be 15 pct faster, apply barcodes, and process broader-sized letters before sorting them to one of 12 destination bins, according to the USPS. The additional bins will reduce downstream processing needs for about 20 pct of the mail.

The equipment will be deployed between May 2010 and July 2011.

Read More

Mintel Report: Credit card mailing volume continues to decrease

Posted by | Apr 3, 2008 | |

The estimated amount of direct mail sent by credit card companies in the United States dropped 3 pct from December 2007 to January 2008, according to research from Mintel Comperemedia, a media monitoring service.

The decrease is representative of a trend that first started in October. According to the report, mail sent by credit card companies has declined by 19 pct since October of 2007. Mintel Comperemedia speculated that the change in mail volume is the result of an “unsteady, unsure market.”

From December 2007 to January 2008, direct mail sent to current cardholders dropped by 30 pct, the report said. In contrast, mailings to non-customers increased by 7 pct.

During the same period last year, direct mail sent by credit card companies increased by 7 pct, Hronek said. Overall, there were more offers sent to both non-customers and existing customers last year. However, the year before that, from December 2005 to January 2006, there was a decrease of 5 pct, she added.

Not every credit card company decreased its direct mail efforts from December 2007 to January 2008. Six of the top 10 mailers of 2007 actually increased mailings to non-customers from December to January, Mintel Comperemedia said. However, four out of the 10 reduced mailings to non-customers and existing cardholders.

These top ten mailers included in the report were Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, HSBC, American Express, Capital One Bank, Discover, Washington Mutual, Barclays Bank and First Premier Bank, Hronek said.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

What's the future of the postal USO?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!



View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest