Highlights of the New USPS Changes

On May 11th the USPS raised it's rates (again) and instituted new rules and regulations. This happens periodically and the Post Office actually does a pretty good job of getting this info out to the professional mailers, but for those who only mail occassionally, I suggest going to your local BMEU (Bulk Mail Entry Unit) and ask for a list of the changes. Or you can go online, but I have found their website to be a bit cumbersome.

Here are the highlights:

1. Postage - click this link to see the new rates:
http://pe.usps.com/PriceChange_May2009/PDF/PriceList/PriceList.pdf

2. Forms - Obviously your 3602 and other postal forms have been changed to reflect the new rates. You can obtain the new forms online at this link:
http://www.usps.com/forms/allforms.htm

3. Here is a pdf link for all the new regulations:
http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2009/pb22256/pdf/pb22256.pdf
The table of contents is actually easy to figure out, but it can be a bit daunting.

4. Some changes like Intelligent Barcoding that were supposed to go into effect are available but still not mandatory - though they will be soon.

The USPS loves making changes, so you need to stay on top of them. Some make sense, others not so much and how they are enforced depends on what Post Office you use to enter your mail. This is where using a mail professional pays for itself for the average mailer. Before getting anything printed, ask whoever is mailing for you if it meets USPS specifications.