The Diamond Communication Solutions Blog

Sharing ideas and innovating thinking in direct, digital, and interactive marketing.
Don Harle

On Friday, June 5th, the U.S. Court of Appeals issued their decision on the exigent surcharge.

Posted by Don Harle on June 11, 2015 in General Info, Postal

The Court upheld the PRC’s December, 2013 approval of a temporary exigent surcharge and therefore denied the USPS’ request to make the exigent surcharge permanent. The Court indicated making the exigent surcharge permanent would be inconsistent with postal polices surrounding price caps.

The Court did, however, agree that the PRC’s original method to calculate volume loss … Read More >

 
 
Don Harle

USPS: Rates Scheduled to Change May 31st

Posted by Don Harle on April 21, 2015 in General Info, Postal

USPS rates are scheduled to change May 31st for all classes and products

Last week the USPS filed a revised 2015 rate schedule and announced that the rates are scheduled to be implemented May 31st, 2015.

The date is still somewhat tentative, since the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) must approve the proposed rates. The PRC rejected two … Read More >

 
 
Don Harle

Postal Regulatory Commission delays approval on Standard Mail, Periodicals and Special Services rates

Posted by Don Harle on March 4, 2015 in General Info, Postal

The Postal Regulatory Commission has approved the rate increases for First Class Mail and the Competitive Products, but not for Standard Mail, Periodicals and Special Services.

Last week the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) approved the proposed rate changes for First Class mail and the Competitive Products category, but they notably delayed any approval for the Standard … Read More >

 
 
Don Harle

USPS to increase postage rates on April 26

Posted by Don Harle on February 3, 2015 in General Info, Postal

On January 15 the Postal Service filed for a price change seeking a nearly 2% increase in rates. The increase is within the 1.966% CPI rate cap. The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has 45 days to confirm that the rates comply with the CPI cap. We expect a PRC decision by March 1 with the … Read More >

 
 
Don Harle

Postal Changes Are Coming

Posted by Don Harle on November 19, 2014 in Postal

by Don Harle, Vice President of Postal Affairs

Mailers have seen massive changes in the USPS during the last several years. Here are three more changes that are coming our way:

1. Network downsizing – During 2015, the USPS will consolidate an additional 82 mail processing facilities as the Network Rationalization Plan is completed. It consolidated 141 … Read More >

 
 
Don Harle

While there is no postage increase planned, a rate adjustment is likely

Posted by Don Harle on October 22, 2014 in Postal

PMG Pat Donahoe recently confirmed that there will be no postage increase this coming January. Mailers however may very well see a rate ‘”adjustment” late in the summer or next fall.

The change in the normal annual increase pattern is the result of issues around the Exigent Circumstances element of the 5.9% rate increase mailers experienced … Read More >