The Postal Service recently filed notice of a change to the weight limitation for First-Class Mail International (FCMI) Large Envelopes (Flats), which would result in the maximum weight limit for FCMI Large Envelopes (Flats) being 15.994 ounces, instead of the current 64 ounce limit. 
 
That request is still pending review.
 
Thus, the 64 ounce weight limit for FCMI Large Envelopes (Flats) will remain in effect, and not be revised as part of the rates that will be implemented on January 27, 2019.  As previously announced, dimensional weight changes will be implemented on June 23,  2019.
 
Additional information will be provided regarding  the prices associated with this change in weight restriction when it is available.

​###

Registration is now open for PCC Executive Board members to attend PCC Boot Camp 2.0 being held in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, November 7, 2018.  The Boot Camp is designed to provide you with best practices to get the maximum value from your local PCC.  This session will teach you how to leverage your PCC membership and how to use the PCC to increase your knowledge about Postal products and services. 
 
This interactive session is taught by USPS staff and award-winning industry members from PCCs nationwide.  During the course of a day, the instructors review successful communication and membership strategies to strengthen your local PCC. 
 
This Boot Camp is also open to PCC members who have a lead role in their PCC, PCC committee chairs, committee members, members who aspire to serve on the board, or members who want to learn more about how to operate an effective PCC.
 
Topics covered include:
How to Grow PCC Membership
Policy Administration & USPS Sales Interface
How to Market Your Events & Meetings
PCC Education
 
Boot Camps are designed to give you an opportunity to talk about challenges your PCC faces, to collaborate with both Postal and Industry members of your PCC, and to collectively add to the networking and educational opportunities available.    
 
This is just a few of the topics discussed during the day long workshop.  The Boot Camps have been extremely successful and continue to grow.  We highly encourage you to take advantage of this interactive experience where Postal and Industry work together to achieve greatness!  
 
Date:  Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Time:  8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (PDT)
 
Portland Boot Camp Location
United States Postal Service P&DC
7007 Northeast Cornfoot Road
Portland, OR 97218
 
In order to register for the Portland Boot Camp 2.0, please RSVP at pccbootcamp@usps.gov. 
Please include the following information with your registration:

• Name
• Company name and address
• Phone number and email address
• PCC name and your PCC Title/Role

    
Admission is FREE and includes a continental breakfast and lunch.
 
Portland Boot Camp Hotel Information

• Residence Inn

9301 NE Cascades Pkwy, Portland, OR 97220

• La Quinta

11207 NE Holman, Portland, OR  97220

• Embassy Suites

7900 NE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97220

• Sheraton Portland Airport

8235 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97220
 
Please direct any questions you have about attending this boot camp to Kirsten.m.sherrell@usps.gov or Debra.S.Stoops@usps.gov.
 
 
Thank you,
 
Industry Engagement and Outreach, Marketing

BMA Advisory
October 11, 2018
 
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 January Price Change will include price changes for Market Dominant, Competitive and International products.
 
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 the price increases for Shipping Services vary by product, with Priority Mail® increasing 5.9 percent, and Priority Mail Express® increasing 3.9 percent.

First-Class Package Service will move to zone-based pricing to better align with the cost of service and improve value based on distance.
The proposed Mailing Services price changes include:
 
Product Current/Proposed
Letters (1 oz.)   
50 cents/55 cents
Letters additional ounces    
21 cents/15 cents
Letters (metered)
47 cents/50 cents

The proposed domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate® retail price changes are:
 
Product Current/Proposed
Small Flat Rate Box
$7.20/$7.90
Medium Flat Rate Box
$13.65/$14.35
Large Flat Rate Box
$18.90/$19.95
APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Box
$17.40/$18.45
Regular Flat Rate Envelope
$6.70/$7.35
Legal Flat Rate Envelope
$7.00/$7.65
Padded Flat Rate Envelope
$7.25/$8.00

Additional information on the January 2019 proposed price changes can be found at:
https://postalpro.usps.gov/Releases/Jan2019Release_Price_Change
 

Friday, October 12, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT)
​Please join Steve Monteith, Vice President, Marketing and Sharon Owens, Vice President, Pricing and Costing on Friday, October 12, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) for a high-level overview of the 2019 Price Change filing.  Attendees will have an opportunity to submit questions to the panel during this webinar.  If you would like to submit your questions prior to the call, you can submit them to IndustryFeedback@usps.gov.
 
Attendance is limited, so we ask your cooperation in having multiple attendees login from one computer in a conference room, if possible.  The webinar is:
 
Friday, October 12 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT)
Registration is required. Click on the attendee direct URL below to complete registration.
 
ATTENDEE INFORMATION

Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 844-480-7651
Conference ID: 1132268
Attendee Direct URL: https://usps.webex.com/usps/onstage/g.php?MTID=ea116cee3f1f972218fafeb199f85e74b
 
If you cannot join using the direct link above, please use the alternate logins below:

Alternate URL:
https://usps.webex.com

Event Number:
995 167 248

 
Browser Test: Join Test Meeting
​

Dallas District
 
Update:
Due to a chemical spill, BME acceptance and drop shipment services have been temporarily suspended at the following Processing Facility until Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. CST.

• North Texas P&DC, 951 W Bethel Rd, Coppell TX 75099

All Marketing & Periodical Mail Classes have been embargoed with no redirects. All Commercial First-Class Mail Drop Shipments will be redirected to the following facility.

• Southern Area STC, 1717 W Airfield Dr. Ste. A, Dallas TX 75261            

​The following Post Offices have reopened and resumed normal operations.
 
Forest Falls Post Office
40555 Valley of the Falls Dr
Forest Falls, CA 92339-9998
 
Angelus Oaks Post Office
37696 State Highway 38
Angelus Oaks, CA 92305-9998

Please be advised that the United States Postal Service will deploy the following system releases:
On Saturday, July 14, 2018 @ 4:30 PM CT to Sunday, July 15 @ 11:00 AM CT, maintenance activity is scheduled for the following system/applications:
 
·         Enterprise Payment System (EPS)
·         Facilities Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) System
·         PostalOne! System
·         Program Registration
·         National Meter Accounting Tracking Systems (NMATS)

The Postal Service has launched a new payment processing platform called Enterprise Payment System (EPS). EPS supports multiple payment options, including mobile check deposit, offers more reporting features, and allows customers to manage multiple USPS business functions under one account.
 
Eligible Products and Services include First-Class Mail®, Letters, Cards, and Flats, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, USPS Marketing Mail™, Letters, Flats, and Parcels, Parcel Select®, Media Mail®, Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Periodicals, International Products, Business Reply Mail (BRM), and Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM®), submitted via hard copy, eDoc (Mail.dat/Mail.XML), Postal Wizard or the Intelligent Mail® small business (IMsb) Tool, PO Box, Caller & Reserve Services (EPOBOL), and Address Quality Products (AEC, AECII and ACS™).
 
Products not currently supported include Electronic Verification System (eVS®), Parcel Return Service (PRS), PC Postage®, Scan Based Payment (SBP), Merchandise Return Service (MRS), Official Mail Accounting System (OMAS), Premium Forwarding Service Commercial (PFSC™), Share Mail®, and Intelligent Mail barcode Accounting (IMbA). Customers utilizing these products will be continue to be supported through CAPS.
 
Effective September 1, 2018, new payment accounts must be established through EPS. Effective April 1, 2019, eligible CAPS accounts must be migrated to EPS, although customers are encouraged to migrate sooner.  
 
Mail Entry and Business Mailer Support is hosting a series of informational sessions on EPS and the migration process. Since the original meeting invite was published the WebEx information has been updated. Delete any old meeting information and update with the new series information:

• When: every Tuesday 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST
• Webex: https://uspsmeetings.webex.com/uspsmeetings/j.php?MTID=m20263f3ee301dc46f30856674f8d1d9b
• Call-in toll-free number (US): 1-855-860-7461
  • Conference Code: 887 904 5356

 
For more information:

• Visit PostalPro Enterprise Payment System Page: https://postalpro.usps.com/eps
• For more EPS benefits and how to create an EPS account review the Enterprise Payment System Account Creation Fact Sheet: https://postalpro.usps.com/EPS/MigrationFactSheet

 
To sign-up today contact:

• Your local Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU): https://ribbs.usps.gov/locators/find-bme.cfm 
• PostalOne! Helpdesk
  • Call: 1-800-522-9085
  • Email: Postalone@usps.gov

​Areas Inspiring Mail
 
The US Postal Service supports a forum in which to meet with members of the Mailing industry to discuss and seek solutions for service issues, share information and ideas, and provide opportunities to interface with industry and postal management. 
Areas Inspiring Mail serves as a vehicle of communications between customers and the US Postal Service advocating issues and supporting the needs of the industry.
 
Here is the AIM calendar with dates, locations and contacts for the rest of 2018:
 
Dates                                                  Area & Location                                  Contact
 
June 28, 2018                                     Cap Metro Area Meeting                    Brian Corley
Charlotte, NC                                      (202) 636-1435
 
July 26, 2018                                      Western Area Meeting                        Debbie Stoops
Minneapolis, MN                                 (303) 313-5438
 
August 8, 2018                                    Pacific Area Meeting                          Mohoa Ha
Los Angeles, CA                                 (858) 674-3173
 
August 14, 2018                                  Southern Area Meeting                       Torie Miles
Dallas, Texas                                      (214) 267-3147
 
August 16, 2018                                  Great Lakes Area Meeting                 Patty Tyc
Carol Stream, IL                                 (630) 539-4786
 
November 1, 2018                              Eastern Area Meeting                         Shari Myers
Cleveland, OH                                    (412) 494-2109
 
November 14, 2018                            Northeast Area Meeting                      Leonard Rooke
New York, NY                                     (860) 285-7391
 
 
Reducing Return to Sender and Undeliverable As Addressed (UAA) Items for No-Fee (Group E) Post Office Box Addresses
 
The Postal Service™ has our customers back when it comes to ensuring packages with undeliverable physical street addresses, are successfully delivered to the actual No-Fee (Group E) Post Office address, instead of being returned to sender. Packages being sent to these undeliverable physical street addresses usually occur when the Group E customer orders items through merchants that exclude delivery to Post Office Box addresses. This inconvenience delays delivery of merchandise to No-Fee (Group E) POB customers and causes frustration and cost to both the USPS™ and our customers.
 
Effective June 30, 2018, the Postal Service will begin leveraging data that maps undeliverable physical street addresses to the corresponding No-Fee (Group E) PO Box. This data will be used to affect delivery of those items improperly addressed to the undeliverable physical street address to the actual No-Fee (Group E) POB address. 
 
The initiative is expected to improve service performance and customer satisfaction, and reduce undeliverable as addressed (UAA) volumes.
 
Postal Service Releases the 2017 Household Diary Study
In June, the US Postal Service released the 2017 Household Diary Study (HDS). The HDS, which the US Postal Service has produced annually since 1987, examines how households use the Postal Service, and how usage of USPS by households varies according to demographic and other variables. The HDS examines mail by the markets it serves. The survey collects household information on:
 

• Volumes of mail sent and received
• Demographics
• Attitudes toward mail and advertising
• Bill payment behavior
• Use of the Internet and other information technologies.

 
This data is used for market research, forecasting, and strategic planning within the US Postal Service.  The survey design cuts across classes, but provides a foundation for understanding mail flows and the marketplace changes that affect them. In 2017, U.S. households received 118.4 billion pieces of mail, and sent 8.5 billion pieces.
 
The report in its entirety, including an executive summary can be found here.
 
Insightful Postal Customer Council (PCC) Information
NATIONAL PCC WEEK 2018 PLANNING TIPS
National PCC Week is one of the larger annual events, especially for those PCCs that serve as hosts. Some PCCs sponsor a full day, half-day or luncheon event during the week. It is a great opportunity to acknowledge how the industry has grown over the past year and to recognize outstanding contributions from PCCs across the nation. Some PCCs opt to include vendor tradeshows or educational seminars during the week. A major highlight will be the video message from Postmaster General, and guest speaker Megan J. Brennan to PCCs nationwide.
Here are tips for hosting your National PCC Week event:

1. Once your date, time and location are selected, mail a “save the date” postcard to members so they can plan ahead. This should be done at least 10 weeks in advance.
2. This year’s PCC Week theme is “Informed Customers — Customer Experience Delivered,” which continues the theme from the National Postal Forum (NPF) held in May.  
3. Promote the event to all members and to your local business community. Use direct mail, email blasts, flyers and your social media accounts.
4. Provide the USPS Sales teams and your Business Mail Entry Units with materials to share with customers.
5. Feel free to reach out to your PCCAC Communications and Marketing Committees, which can offer tips and best practices on communicating with members and promoting events.

 
ACADEMIC OUTREACH AND THE PCC PARTNERSHIP
USPS made a presentation on its academic outreach program at NPF in May. Two universities showcased the results of student classes on direct mail and integrated marketing campaigns. Clemson University Graphic Communication students designed a campaign using direct mail, social media and websites. The students received training that helped them develop and execute complete campaigns. The results were judged by industry experts who provided well-rounded feedback.
Bentley University involved its Marketing Communication and Graphic Communication students in courses that covered:
·         Understanding direct marketing
·         Creating an impactful and measurable campaign
·         Integrating mail with digital technologies and data management
·         Personalized and variable messaging
·         Innovative direct mail techniques and neuro-marketing
·         Direct mail attribution
 
The students and professors from both schools were part of a panel discussion. The students’ impressions are summarized:

• Most students didn’t really give any thought to mail prior to this class. They were amazed how cool and effective direct mail is — much more so than other marketing vehicles.
• They were excited about direct mail as part of an integrated marketing program.
• They felt that their course work would help them obtain internships and jobs in the direct mail industry.

Some of our industry’s future talent is emerging from the academic world and our PCC network is a connection to this future. The PCC community can provide subject matter experts for course modules. The university can facilitate recruiting for internships and employees.
 
International mail delivery 101 Upcoming webinar
We are pleased to announce a webinar Wednesday, July 11, at 2 p.m. EDT titled International Mail Delivery 101 for Mail and Parcels. Our two hosts are subject matter experts Julie Aitken, National Account Manager, IMEX Global Solutions; and Gary Schneider, Senior Executive, USPS International Consolidator Sales. Look for your invite in PCC Alert, or if you do not currently receive the PCC Alert you can send a request to PCC@USPS.gov.
 
PCC Boot Camp 2.0 schedule
PCC Boot Camp 2.0 is heading to an area near you. Please plan to attend one of the boot camps this year if you haven’t already. They are receiving rave reviews and are open for everyone to attend free of charge. We encourage both Industry and USPS members to attend to further their PCC knowledge. The schedule for the next several months is listed below. The entire schedule is available on PostalPro at: postalpro.usps.com/node/4986.
 
Coming to locations near you:
 
·         Baltimore, MD – Wednesday, July 18
·         New York, NY – Tuesday, Aug. 14
·         Carol Stream, IL – Wednesday, Aug. 15
·         Richmond, VA – Thursday, Aug. 30
·         Jacksonville, FL – Friday, Oct. 12
·         Atlanta, GA – Tuesday, Oct. 30
·         Boston, MA, Tuesday, Nov. 7
·         Portland, OR – Thursday, Nov. 8
·         Philadelphia, PA – Wednesday, Nov. 14
For additional information, contact pcc@usps.gov with “PCC Boot Camp” in the subject line.
 
National Postal Forum (NPF) 2019
 
We live in a high-tech world.  The NPF is the ideal way to stay in sync with all the advances and trends that affect the rapidly progressing and changing mailing and shipping industry. 
 
The NPF is the premier mailing and shipping conference that works directly with the US Postal Service to provide the most comprehensive educational and networking platform for meeting the needs of the industry. Offering 130+ educational workshops, providing US Postal Service Officer-led sessions and being the largest mailing and shipping industry trade show, the NPF is the ideal opportunity for the industry professional to learn, collaborate and grow their business. 
 
This is also the only event that brings together all senior level US Postal Service executives, leaders of the mailing and shipping industry, as well as major industry supplier and shipping partners.  You can’t afford to miss this opportunity. 
For information please visit NPF.org.  
 
 
We’ll see you at:
The Indianapolis Convention Center
100 South Capitol Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46225
From:  Sunday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 8, 2019
 
Enterprise Payment System (EPS) Important Info and FAQs
New payment accounts must be established in EPS by Sept 1, 2018
CAPS to retire April 1, 2019
 
The Enterprise Payment System (EPS) allows customers to pay for products and services through an Enterprise Payment Account (EPA) funded as an Automated Clearing House (ACH) Debit or Trust Account.  Some great features are:
 

• Self-Service Customer Service
• Enhanced Security
• Pay online using a single account

 
And more.  Funding permits has become so much easier with EPS.  Enroll today.
 
PostalOne! Customer Care:

• Assistance with the EPS set-up process
• Assistance with password reset, system logon, and site administrator roles

 
Call: 1-800-522-9085 or email:  Postalone@usps.gov
 
You can also refer to the helpful 21 page FAQ document by going to:  https://postalpro.usps.com/EPS/FAQs
 
*REMINDERS*
 
USPS to Retire the Centralized Accounting Processing System (CAPS) –
Effective April 1, 2019
 
The US Postal Service has launched a new payment processing platform called Enterprise Payment System (EPS). EPS supports multiple payment options, including mobile check deposit, offers more reporting features, and allows customers to manage multiple US Postal Service business functions under one account. 
 
Eligible Products and Services include First-Class Mail®, Letters, Cards, and Flats, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, USPS Marketing Mail™, Letters, Flats, and Parcels, Parcel Select®, Media Mail®, Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Periodicals, International Products, Business Reply Mail (BRM), and Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM®), submitted via hard copy, eDoc (Mail.dat/Mail.XML), Postal Wizard or the Intelligent Mail® small business (IMsb) Tool, PO Box, Caller & Reserve Services (EPOBOL), and Address Quality Products (AEC, AECII and ACS™).
 
Products not currently supported include Electronic Verification System (eVS®), Parcel Return Service (PRS), PC Postage®, Scan Based Payment (SBP), Merchandise Return Service (MRS), Official Mail Accounting System (OMAS), Premium Forwarding Service Commercial (PFSC™), Share Mail®, and Intelligent Mail barcode Accounting (IMbA). Customers utilizing these products will continue to be supported through CAPS.
 
Effective September 1, 2018, new payment accounts must be established through EPS. Effective April 1, 2019, eligible CAPS accounts must be migrated to EPS, although customers are encouraged to migrate sooner.
 
For more information:

• Visit PostalPro Enterprise Payment System Page: https://postalpro.usps.com/eps
• For more EPS benefits and how to create an EPS account review the Enterprise Payment System Account Creation Fact Sheet: https://postalpro.usps.com/EPS/MigrationFactSheet

 
To sign-up today contact:

• Your local Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU): https://ribbs.usps.gov/locators/find-bme.cfm 
• PostalOne! Helpdesk
  • Call: 1-800-522-9085
  • Email: Postalone@usps.gov

 
Mail Entry and Business Mailer Support is hosting a series of informational sessions on EPS and the migration process
Every Tuesday 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EST)
 
Since this meeting was originally published, the WebEx link has changed.  The new series information is:
 

• WebEx: https://uspsmeetings.webex.com/uspsmeetings/j.php?MTID=mb2fa637535b3d99a3c91879db494ff8f
• Call-in toll-free number (US): 1-855-860-7461
  • Conference Code: 358 251 5082

If you cannot join using the direct link above, please use the alternate logins below:

Alternate URL:
https://usps.webex.com

Event Number:
740 320 567