Understanding Postal: Beyond Rising Postal Rates

What else should you look into? For sure, you should explore the additional savings from destination entry for your mail. Before this case is over, I have no doubt the discounts provided for mail that is transported by the mail to a near-destination mail processing facility will more than compensate the effort that drop-shipping will require.

Check with your printer on this one. In some instances, it may be possible to qualify catalog mail that ordinarily wouldn’t qualify for destination entry by co-mailing catalogs on pallets with other flat-size destination-entered mail. This may require additional planning on your part as far as the design, production and distribution of your catalog is concerned. Again, if you choose to forgo this option, be sure you have a well-substantiated market-based reason.

Finally, keep in mind that all rate cases are composed of “proposals” that may be subject to change by the time new rates are put into effect. Stay close to those who manage the production of your mail. Stay informed of the latest developments in the R2006 rate case, and open your mind to as many options as you can, even if you’ve never explored them before. It’ll certainly be worth your while.

Gene Del Polito is president of the Association for Postal Commerce, an industry group that represents the interests of companies that rely on the mail for their business. Contact: (703) 524-0096 or genedp@postcom.org.