The following pages contain sample letter templates to use when corresponding with customers about the pricing proposal. You may use the text to develop your own localized letters or handouts.
Local media inquiries should be referred to your local Public Affairs & Communication official. Media inquiries from national media outlets should be referred to the Headquarters Media Relations office, 202-268-2155.
Dear Customer:
As a valued Business Reply Mail (BRM) customer, we want to keep you informed of changes in postal products, services, prices, and fees. Effective Monday, May 14, postage prices and fees for all domestic and international mail will be changing. The new domestic rates are based on shape, as well as size and weight, and some prices will actually decrease. The new prices better reflect the Postal Service’s costs to process and deliver mail.
The impact of these changes on business mail customers will vary depending on the amount and shape (e.g., letters, large envelopes, packages) of the mail you send, mail preparation, class of mail, and any Extra Services you may choose. Listed below are specific highlights from the price changes that pertain to BRM.
The First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter rate will increase to 41 cents, while the additional-ounce rate will decrease to 17 cents. Letters weighing more than 2 ounces will decrease in price. The weight limit for letters is 3.5 ounces.
The single-piece postcard rate will increase to 26 cents.
The basic BRM per-piece charge (without an annual account maintenance fee paid) will increase to 70 cents.
The high-volume BRM per-piece fee (with an annual account maintenance fee paid) will increase to 8 cents. The annual account maintenance fee for advanced deposit (trust fund) accounts will increase to $550.
For Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM), the single-piece 1-ounce price increases to 38 cents and the 2-ounce rate increases to 55 cents. The card price will be 23 cents. The basic QBRM per-piece charge (without the quarterly fee) will decrease to 5 cents. The per-piece charge for high-volume QBRM (with the quarterly fee paid) decreases to $0.005. The QBRM quarterly fee will decrease to $1,800.
The annual permit fee for all BRM increases to $175.
For additional information, please give us a call or go to www.usps.com/ratecase.
Sincerely,
Dear Meter Customer:
As a valued [meter/PC Postage] customer, we want to keep you informed of changes in postal products, services, prices, and fees. Effective Monday, May 14, postage prices and fees for all domestic and international mail will be changing. The new prices are based on shape, as well as size and weight, and some domestic rates will actually decrease. These prices better reflect the Postal Service’s costs to process and deliver mail.
The impact of these changes for business mail customers will vary depending on the amount and shape (e.g., letters, large envelopes, packages) of the mail you send, mail preparation, class of mail, and any Extra Services you may choose.
Listed below are specific highlights from the price changes that may pertain to business mailers.
The First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter price will increase to 41 cents, while the additional-ounce price will decrease to 17 cents. Letters weighing more than 2 ounces will decrease in price. The weight limit for letters is 3.5 ounces.
A large envelope (flat) will increase to 80 cents for the first ounce, and 17 cents each for additional ounce. Large envelopes weighing more than 6 ounces will decrease in price. If the contents (documents) usually placed in a large envelope can be folded and placed into a letter-size envelope, the mailer can save 39 cents on the first ounce.
The new First-Class Mail 1-ounce automation letter rates begin as low as 31.2 cents (12.5 cents for each additional ounce) and the automation-rate for postcards will be as low as 19.1 cents.
Annual mailing fees will increase to $175.
Delivery Confirmation service will continue to be available in retail and electronic options for Priority Mail, First-Class Mail packages, and Package Services packages. The retail fees for Delivery Confirmation service will be 65 cents with Priority Mail, and 75 cents with First-Class Mail and Package Services packages.
For additional information, please give us a call or go to www.usps.com/ratecase.
Sincerely,
Dear Permit Customer:
As a valued permit customer, we want to keep you informed of changes in postal products, services, prices, and fees. Effective Monday, May 14, postage prices and fees for all domestic and international mail will be changing. The new prices will be based on shape, as well as size and weight, and some domestic rates will actually decrease. These prices better reflect the Postal Service’s costs to process and deliver mail.
The impact of these changes for business mail customers will vary depending on the amount and shape (e.g., letters, large envelopes, packages) of the mail you send, mail preparation, class of mail, and any Extra Services you may choose.
Listed below are specific highlights from the price changes that may pertain to business mailers.
The First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter price will increase to 41 cents, while the additional-ounce price will decrease to 17 cents. Letters weighing more than 2 ounces will decrease in price. The weight limit for letters is 3.5 ounces.
A large envelope (flat) will increase to 80 cents for the first ounce, and 17 cents for each additional ounce. Large envelopes weighing more than 6 ounces will decrease in price. If the contents (documents) usually placed in a large envelope can be folded and placed into a letter-size envelope, the mailer can save 39 cents on the first ounce.
The First-Class Mail 1-ounce automation letter rates will begin as low as 31.2 cents (12.5 cents for each additional ounce) and the automation-rate for postcards will begin as low as 19.1 cents.
The First-Class Mail presort rate for letters will increase to 37.3 cents (for the first ounce). The presorted postcard rate will increase to 24.1 cents. The Standard Mail rate for presort machinable letters will increase to 24.6 cents for the new automated area distribution center (AADC) rate, and 25.5 cents for the mixed AADC rate.
Machinable letters (and cards) are automation-compatible (automation friendly), easily processed, and barcoded on USPS automation at the origin facility. Except for origin 3-digit trays, presorting by the mailer now consists of AADC and mixed AADC tray preparation. This simplified mail preparation reduces workshare costs for mailers. Preparation for nonmachinable letters did not change.
For First-Class Mail and Standard Mail automation letters, the price structure maintains the 5-digit, 3-digit AADC and mixed AADC prices. The maximum weight for all automation-rate letters is 3.5 ounces.
Annual mailing fees will increase to $175.
For additional information, including new postage statements, go to www.usps.com/ratecase.
Sincerely,
