The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has recently approved another QR code promotion effective for certain First Class and Standard Mail mailings between 7/1/12 until 8/31/12. Unlike last year’s promotion, eligibility is complicated, much more restrictive and requires pre- registration.

If you are still using POSTNET barcodes on your mailpieces, now is a good time to start planning your transition to the Intelligent mail barcode (IMb). Recently, the Postal Service filed a Federal Register Notice proposing that the use of the basic level of IMb be required to qualify for automation discounts for letters and flats effective January 2013. The filing goes on to state that effective January 2014, the full service level of IMb will be required to earn those discounts.

Traveling? Take your mailbox with you. The USPS is now making it easier to manage your mail by offering Premium Forwarding Service on USPS.com. Premium Forwarding was previously only available by visiting a Post Office but the USPS is enhancing their online services to provide more convenience to customers.

The United States Postal Service has recently released an app that is available for iPhone users. The app will allow users to track packages and other mail items by scanning the shipping code attached to them when they are sent. The scanned codes are then stored so users can check up on their packages easily.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is, for the second year, planning a summertime promotion for direct mailers that use two-dimensional barcodes, USPS VP of domestic products Gary Reblin told Direct Marketing News on Jan. 31.

For Automation and Presorted First Class letter mailers, the January 22nd postage increase offers an incentive to include additional materials up to a total package weight of 2 ounces. Essentially, the 2nd ounce will mail at no additional costs.

With all the changes in pricing and regulations going on with the USPS, some marketers are wondering if they should continue to use direct mail in their marketing plan. Even with the USPS working to cut spending in many areas, including possibly eliminating Saturday delivery and closing many small post offices, experts say that marketers should not shy away from using direct mail

The United States Postal Service has been facing continual financial difficulties; therefore they announced that there will be changes to their current service standards. These financial losses have stemmed from the continual decrease in first- class mail volume.

On Tuesday November 22, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) approved as proposed the CPI cap rate increase for market dominant products. The effective date will be January 22, 2012 and overall increase will average 2.133%.

On October 18th, the Postal Service filed a proposal for a 2.13% CPI-U based rate increase with an effective date of January 22, 2012. The PRC (Postal Regulatory Commission) has 45 days to review and confirm that the Postal Service’s proposal is consistent with the legislation governing CPI-U cap increases. Generally, the review is just a formality.

Media reports trumpeting the notion that the Postal Service may cease delivery operations generates a great deal of angst. That may make for engaging journalism, but that conclusion isn’t based in reality and is misleading.

Retail markets are expected to drive spending on direct mail this year, as spending on direct mail as a whole is expected to rise as well. According to a Target Marketing forecast, “69 percent of marketers plan to use direct mail for customer acquisition in 2011.”

By now you’ve heard the mainstream media drums beating. Mail volumes are dramatically down. Postal Service near insolvency. Mail delivery may be suspended. Another federal bailout in the making. Any way you size it up, it’s not a pretty picture.

The USPS recently announced that its summer sale on items containing a QR code has had great results. The two-month sale offered a 3% discount to marketers who used the 2D barcodes on their direct mail pieces and ended on Wednesday.

Don’t forget that the USPS is offering a 3% discount to marketers who use a smartphone friendly barcode on their marketing materials this summer! This promotion is only available for July and August and is open to qualifying categories of Standard and First-Class mail letters, flats, or cards. The mail piece must include a two-dimensional barcode either on the outside or within the mailpiece to me the qualifications for the discount.