As many of you already know, the USPS has issued a postage rate increase effective Jan. 22nd, 2012. A first class stamp now costs $0.45 each. Postcard rates increased by three cents from $0.29 to $0.32 each. Overall, the raise averaged 2.13% across the board, with non-profit mailing classes actually seeing a slight reduction. This is the first rate increase in 2 and a half years. As a courtesy to our customers we put together this chart to help give a better idea of the standard mail pricing. See our notes below on how to achieve the greatest postal discounts possible by mailing at the “SCF” rate.
This chart focuses solely on letters and postcards. Notice that there are significant discounts in the “DSCF” class. To receive these postal discounts you must enter your direct mail campaign at the post office closest to your direct mail piece’s final destination. For instance, if you are mailing Albany, Schenectady, Troy, or Saratoga, you will achieve postal discounts by using a local print and mail vendor and having your mail entered at the New Karner Rd. Post office. For instance,
On an average local standard mailing, you would pay approximately $0.19 per piece in postage if entered at the New Karner Rd. Albany, NY SCF center. If you chose to work with a vendor outside of the area, you would pay approx. $0.27 per piece. Mailing locally will result in average of $80 per thousand savings. If you are mailing 10,000 pieces, that really adds up!
For clients mailing more than 80,000 pieces there are other methods that can be used to achieve postal discounts. If you are mailing large quantities on a national level, you may benefit from drop shipping. Drop shipping cuts down on delivery time and postal costs. Your mail is trucked to the post office closest to entry, which achieves the SCF rate. You must have large quantities for this to work. On a 100,000 piece mailing, the average savings can result in upwards of $6,000 in postage.
To learn more about this, contact Albany NY print and direct mail specialists at 518-435-9300
