We are very excited to bring in the New Year with a strong commitment to being “Simply the Best” communications solutions provider for our clients in 2014 and beyond.  Part of this promise includes presenting relevant up-to-date information that may help you prepare for upcoming industry changes.  As you know, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) recently approved the U.S. Postal Service’s request for a 4.3% exigent rate increase for Standard Mail that is going into effect on January 26, 2014 with an average 5.9% postage increase.  However, there are a few other updates that may be of interest we thought that we would share.

·  USPS FINALIZES DEFERMENT OF FULL SERVICE IMB: The Postal Service gives notice that it is deferring the previously announced compliance date of January 26, 2014, for mailers to use full-service Intelligent Mail® to qualify for automation prices when mailing First-Class Mail®, Standard Mail®; Periodicals®, and Bound Printed Matter® mailpieces. The compliance date of the relevant portions of the final rule published April 18, 2013 (78 FR 23137) is delayed until further notice. Read the full release at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-12-27/pdf/2013-30705.pdf.

·  Service Standards for Destination Sectional Center Facility Rate Standard Mail (Load Leveling): The Postal Service seeks public comment on proposed revisions to the service standards for Standard Mail that is eligible for Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) rates. The revisions would change the service standard (a) from three days to four days for Standard Mail pieces that are eligible for a DSCF rate and that are properly accepted before the day zero Critical Entry Time on a Friday or Saturday, and (b) from four days to five days for DSCF Standard Mail properly accepted at the SCF in San Juan, Puerto Rico and destined to the United States Virgin Islands, and properly accepted DSCF Standard Mail destined to American Samoa.

ADI has been recognized as an industry leader in mail tracking and management of critical in-home delivery dates.  Please know that we will be proactive in making strategic adjustments to mitigate the impact of these changes on your mail programs.

Visit www.usps.com/business/prices.htm to view the 2014 US Postal chart.  Stay connected with us at www.advdirectinc.com for more relevant updates throughout the year! Please contact us should you have any other questions about Postal reform in 2014, or simply to find out how we can offer the total lowest costs on all of your Direct Marketing initiatives.

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