Businesses tossing junk mail for more direct marketing

Businesses tossing junk mail for more direct marketing | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle: "According to Borrell numbers, direct mail spending by marketers is expected to drop from $49.7 billion in 2008 to $29.8 billion in 2013. Meanwhile, e-mail advertising by small local businesses is expected to grow from $848 million last year to $2 billion in 2013."

Rising costs make mass mailing efforts less popular

Rising costs make mass mailing efforts less popular: "with postal costs having climbed about 30 percent during the past decade and with people paying more attention to electronic mail than paper, the direct-mail industry is undergoing a transformation. The deep recession has only exacerbated a two-year decline in business"

Postal Service Pursues Hassle-Free Consolidations

Dead Tree Edition: Postal Service Pursues Hassle-Free Consolidations: "By shifting some mail handling from the Bronx to Manhattan recently, the U.S. Postal Service did an end run around union opposition and Congressional interference. Postal officials are increasingly using similar tactics around the country to bring about much-needed consolidation of their dropship network without stirring up local opposition."

Rasmussen Reports: 74% Say $1 Postage Stamp Likely in Next 10 Years

Rasmussen Reports: "Seventy-four percent (74%) of Americans say it is at least somewhat likely that the price of a first class postage stamp will be $1 or more within the next 10 years. Forty-six percent (46%) say it’s Very Likely."

Postal Worker Pleads Guilty to Weapons Charge

Postal Worker Pleas In Weapons Case - An employee at the U.S. Post Office in Hamilton pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges of owning firearms despite a past felony conviction and selling two weapons to an undercover officer

Slidell postal worker guilty in theft of mail

2theadvocate.com | News | Slidell postal worker guilty in theft of mail — Baton Rouge, LA: "Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Orleans accused William E. Boone, 53, of stealing a mail package containing a cell phone and charger worth $585 on May 22, 2008, according to an unsigned factual basis."

U.S. Postal Service proposes consolidations

U.S. Postal Service proposes consolidations: "The U.S. Postal Service is proposing consolidating some of its services, mainly moving Utica, Watertown and Binghamton's process of sorting outgoing mail to Syracuse"

NPF: USPS financial situation drives morning panel

NPF: USPS financial situation drives morning panel - DMNews: "The panel also discussed the proposal of a five-day delivery week, which would be intended to counteract the drop in mail volume. In 2000, the USPS delivered an average of six pieces to each house per day, but, by 2020, it projects that number will drop to four pieces per house. Donahoe said it is possible that, after the shift, post offices would remain open on weekends and may even deliver packages. He said that the USPS is seeking more input from clients before it makes any decisions."

Charity beats mail carriers to donations

Charity beats mail carriers to donations - The Denver Post: "The donation bags were labeled for the Postal Service's Stamp Out Hunger Day, but that didn't deter arc Thrift Stores workers who apparently made the rounds before the mail carriers."

Raw deal: Pennsylvania artwork now under U.S. Postal Service copyright

Raw deal: Pennsylvania artwork now under U.S. Postal Service copyright - Midstate Editorials | Our Views and Yours with The Patriot-News: "From 1934 to 1943, American taxpayers funded paintings and sculptures in post offices as part of FDR's New Deal.

The goal was to boost morale and, in the words of FDR, have artists 'paint their own kind in their own country.'
It was everyday man's art on display not in high-brow galleries, but in that central artery of so many communities: the local post office.

For about $1 million at the time, the nation gained more than 1,000 works of art that many today dub as priceless.

But over the course of the last few years, these valuable works of art quietly became the property not of the taxpayers, but of the U.S. Postal Service."

Postal cuts rankle rural residents

Postal cuts rankle rural residents - JSOnline: "As the U.S. Postal Service searches for $2 billion in spending cuts, residents in several Wisconsin communities are objecting to changes at their post offices."

Man sentenced to 3 years for dumping, hiding undelivered mail

Man sentenced to 3 years for dumping, hiding undelivered mail: "Rimes was working as a temporary relief carrier on Aug. 28, 2006. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Monk said that before Rimes fell asleep, he rifled through the mail and removed packages containing prescription drugs and other items."

Postal Rate Hikes Unlikely Next Year

Dead Tree Edition: Postal Rate Hikes Unlikely Next Year: "Inflation numbers released today made it increasingly clear that postal rates are unlikely to increase for two more years."

The mail must go through

The mail must go through - TribToday.com - News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - Tribune Chronicle - Warren, OH: "A letter carrier is free on bail after being arraigned Monday on charges she ran over a Youngstown firefighter's foot Saturday"

Postage increase produces long waits

Postage increase produces long waits at Mid-City branch - NOLA.com: "Waits of 30 minutes and longer prevailed at the Mid-City branch of the U.S. Postal Service Tuesday as the latest increase in postage rates produced a rush for 1- and 2-cent stamps."

Simpsons Stamps Rouse Ire

Simpsons Stamps Rouse Ire - Roll Call: "Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) is not exactly delighted about seeing Homer Simpson and his family in the stamps that the U.S. Postal Service released last week."

Postal service launches direct-mail promotional campaign

Postal service launches direct-mail promotional campaign :: BtoB Magazine: "Using the very same tactics it recommends to marketers, the U.S. Postal Service has launched a direct-mail promotional and educational campaign touting the advantages of direct mail in a down economy."

Letter Carriers’ Union President William H. Young Says Frequent Postage Increases Can Be Avoided

PostalReporter.com Blog » Letter Carriers’ Union President William H. Young Says Frequent Postage Increases Can Be Avoided: "The head of the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO) said today that frequent postage rate increases like the one today that boosted a first-class stamp to 44 cents - while necessary for the U.S. Postal Service to function effectively this year - can and should be avoided in the future."

UPDATE: USPS Agrees To Pay Insurance Claim On Lost Laptops

UPDATE: USPS Agrees To Pay Insurance Claim On Lost Laptops: "After our story about USPS losing a reader's five insured computers then only valuing them at $74 generated a lot of response (and turned into a vowel-less debate on health care), a couple readers sent us the contact info for the insurance agent who denied our reader's request"

Postal workers in Tombstone help find missing child

News : Postal workers in Tombstone help find missing child : Sierra Vista, AZ: "On May 1, a missing child registered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was found in Tombstone and reunited with the father, the child’s custodial parent.

“Postal employees at the Tombstone post office assisted with the reunion,” said Patricia Armstrong, a postal inspector out of Phoenix. “They did some research on their own and discovered it was probable that this child and his non-custodial mother were living in Tombstone, and reported those findings to the postal inspector.”"

Nation’s Letter Carriers Prepared For 50-State Food Drive Saturday

PostalReporter.com Blog » Nation’s Letter Carriers Prepared For 50-State Food Drive Saturday: "Letter carriers across the country will collect non-perishable food donations Saturday (May 9) as they deliver mail along their postal routes in the nation’s largest one-day effort to Stamp Out Hunger."

USPS: Your Five New, Insured Laptops That We Lost Are Worth $74

USPS: Your Five New, Insured Laptops That We Lost Are Worth $74: "The US Postal Service lost five new Lenovo laptops that Pedro's friend bought and shipped to him. Pedro expected that this might happen, so he wisely insured the package for $3,000. After stalling for about two months, USPS finally agreed to pay his insurance claim, but reduced the payment, claiming his merchandise was only worth $74."

GAO: Intelligent Mail program might not be a good deal for mailers or USPS

GAO: Intelligent Mail program might not be a good deal for mailers or USPS -- Government Computer News: "The U.S. Postal Service plans to begin phasing in its new Intelligent Mail program May 11, which the agency has called the most complex program it has ever undertaken and which will involve upgrading almost 30 information systems.

The program is built around a new, smarter bar code that will help automate handling of bulk mail and is expected to provide big savings for both USPS and commercial mailers."

Mail carriers to "Stamp Out Hunger" on Saturday

Mail carriers to "Stamp Out Hunger" on Saturday | KTVB.COM | Idaho News: "This Saturday - don't forget to stamp out hunger!
We rely on them for the mail, now our mail carriers are depending on us for food this Saturday.

It's all part of the national campaign - called 'Stamp Out Hunger.'"

Postal Service Ends Second Quarter with $1.9 Billion Loss

PostalReporter.com Blog » Postal Service Ends Second Quarter with $1.9 Billion Loss: "The U.S. Postal Service ended its second quarter (Jan 1 – March 31) with a net loss of $1.9 billion, as the economic recession and longer-term financial pressures, such as the diversion of letter mail to electronic alternatives, continued to reduce mail volume and revenue. Despite aggressive actions to reduce costs and grow revenue, the Postal Service will likely face a cash shortfall of over $1.5 billion at the end of the fiscal year."

DMA Nonprofit Federation Partners with US Monitor On First Ever Mail Delivery Study

DMA Nonprofit Federation Partners with US Monitor On First Ever Mail Delivery Study: "The Nonprofit Federation of the Direct Marketing Association (DMANF) today announced a partnership with US Monitor, a mail monitor and list protection service, to perform a first of its kind study to track delivery results within the United States Postal Service (USPS) nonprofit standard mail.

Results of the study are intended to help nonprofits understand the time it will take their mail pieces to arrive at their intended locations, as well as to see if delivery performance has changed over time."

FedEx lawsuit alleges UPS 'most reliable' ad is false :

FedEx lawsuit alleges UPS 'most reliable' ad is false : Business News : Memphis Commercial Appeal: "FedEx slapped its chief rival Friday with a lawsuit claiming false advertising by UPS.

UPS officials said they were pulling the offending ad, which touted UPS as most reliable, after learning the claim was based on an out-of-date customer satisfaction survey."

Irritation rises at old stamping grounds :

Irritation rises at old stamping grounds : City & Region : The Buffalo News: "The U. S. Postal Service now sells a stamp it calls “Forever” because it can be used regardless of what happens to postal rates.

As far as Chris Parks is concerned, the stamp is appropriately named: Forever is how long it takes to buy a stamp at the post office.

“I had to wait in a long line to get a single, solitary stamp the other day. They took out the automated stamp machines in the lobby. It’s ridiculous. It wastes everybody’s time,” Parks said outside the Main Post Office on William Street. “Now they have signs saying go to the supermarket, but who wants to go to a supermarket to buy a stamp?”
The quick answer is, the postal service."

PRC opens comment period on USPS 'summer sale'

PRC opens comment period on USPS 'summer sale' - DMNews: "The Postal Regulatory Commission today began receiving public comments on the US Postal Service's proposed Standard Mail Volume Incentive Pricing Program.

The so-called “summer sale” seasonal rates would take effect July 1 and run through September 30, and would be open to mailers who sent more than one million Standard letters and/or flats from October 1, 2007, through March 31, 2008"