As a wholesale supplier, we understand that our customers prefer to market our products with their own brand. To do so is simple:
If your customers are expecting postal discounts such as Presorted First Class and Standard Mail automation rates January 28, 2013 and beyond, then use of the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) is a must. The Postal Service first rolled out the IMb in 2006. You may recall the May 2011 deadline for universal adoption being postponed indefinitely. The carrot (discounts) and stick (deadlines) approach wasn’t working for the Postal Service, so they backed off.
Since that false start, the Postal Service has recalibrated its effort to educate and show the value of the IMb to the mailing industry. Their promotions, such as the Mobile Barcode Promotions of 2011 and 2012, have required IMb usage. Early this year, the Postal Service announced the new IMb implementation date. This time, there will be no postponement. It is January 28, 2013 for sure.
Basic or Full Service Now, Full Service 1 Year Later
Basic or Full Service can be used until January, 2014. Then Full Service is required. Currently 50% of all commercial mail is Full Service. The benefits to mailers include visibility of their mailpieces in transit and knowing the timing of delivery in-house. The benefit to the Postal Service is also visibility of mail in transit, but that information is used to improve service levels. There are discounts available with Full Service, so earlier transition to it provides immediate benefits.
Even with Basic Service, a Mailer ID (MID) is required. This is one of the main differences when it comes to generating the IMb versus the POSTNET barcode. There is no need to obtain a MID with POSTNET. The MID is issued only by the Postal Service through their Business Customer Gateway.
Here is information from the USPS RIBBS website: “To request a Mailer ID (MID) go to www.usps.com and select the Business Customer Gateway located on the bottom right - hand corner of the web page footer. You must either be an existing or a registered user, or can sign up as a new user for a business account to gain access to the Business Customer Gateway. Once you have access, request the “Mailer ID” tool and proceed with the “Request a MID” button to obtain a MID.”
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) Change Coming for Reply Mail
A notable change is coming to the Postal Service’s DMM on January 28, 2013. A requirement that business reply mail (BRM), courtesy reply mail (CRM), and meter reply mail (MRM) have an automation compatible barcode if enclosed in automation mail is being removed from the DMM. This applies to First Class letters and flats, as well as Standard Mail letters and flats. Four different clauses in the DMM referring to this are being removed. This means that BRM, CRM, and MRM without the IMb can be enclosed in an automation mailing and not lose the automation postage discount. Inventories of reply envelopes with the POSTNET will still be acceptable. Proper Facing Identification Marks (FIMs) will apply to an IMb or POSTNET (or no barcode) if used in reply mail. The Postal Service strongly encourages mailers to adopt the IMb on reply mail. The traceability of the IMb is a value to mail owners, so moving from POSTNET to the IMb is recommended at the time of reorders.
Some Reply Mail Requires the IMb
Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) and Permit Reply Mail (PRM) will require an IMb. This is because these are discounted reply mail programs. For more information on the IMb, including Postal Service resources, go to www.wsel.com/imb to download our free Intelligent Mail Survival Guide II.