Postage Rate Changes for 2018
2018 Postal Rates Are Changing.
Postage prices increase on Sunday, January 21st. According to the USPS website: ‘Mailing Services product prices will increase approximately 1.9%, and most Shipping Services products will average a 3.9% increase.’
The new 2018 Postage Rates Chart can be found here.
USPS announced the proposed price increases on October 6th and the PRC approved them on November 9th. Since then, marketing consultants and agencies, as well as marketing vendors have been suggesting ways for direct mailers, catalog mailers and publishers to save money while still using the postal service.
One of the most effective ways to save money and get the best value from direct mail is to keep an updated list.
Here are some more helpful suggestions to keep direct mail costs down and ensure that you’re getting the most value from your campaigns:
Size: For minimal postage rates, keep mail pieces at letter size: minimum of 3.5” high by 5” long / maximum 6” high by 10.5” long. Larger mail pieces fall into the “flat” category. Flats can cost more than double per piece as letters. Maximum allowed size is 12” high by 15” long.
Aspect Ratio: Letter size automation mail must be rectangular. Aspect ratio (length divided by height) must be from 1.3 to 2.5. Mail pieces that fall outside those ratios could potentially cost double the postage.
Address: Address and barcode block on letter size mail must fit into the USPS OCR read area. If it does not fit, additional postage will apply. We at PrimeNet are happy to provide clients who wish to provide their own designs with address area templates.
Folds: Self-mailers that fold: the final fold must be either below or to the right of the mailing address. Other fold configurations will cost additional postage.
Panels: Bear in mind when creating self mailers that tri-folded pieces must be addressed on the center panel to qualify for discounted automation postage.
Weight: Whenever possible, it’s most cost-efficient to keep the weight of a folded self-mailer under 1 ounce. Minimum 70# text paper and 1 inch tab closures can be used. When a mailer is over 1 ounce, 80# text paper and larger tabs must be used. Mailers over 3 ounces must go into an envelope.
Information obtained from USPS.
