Unlike
the unilaterally imposed R2000-2, postage increase going in July 1, the next Postal
Rate Case to be filed between July and next January could cause serious damage
to the mailing industry. But, can this outcome be averted?
| For
more than 30 years, GCA’s Addressing/Distribution Conferences have been the place
to go to deal with addressing and distribution issues, and many more. GCA’s Conference
attracts top USPS executives and technical leaders to participate in a common
dialogue with the most qualified industry experts. A/D participants continue to
rate the conference and its sessions as very good to excellent. The A/D conference
also continues to meet or exceed expectations. In a recent poll of past A/D participants,
the most important topics on everyone’s mind are the mid-year rate increase and
postal reform. This will be the focus of the Summer A/D Conference. Don’t miss
it! |
There is talk of market-based rates, service-based
rates, cost-based rates. Does market-based mean what the market will bear? Does
service-based mean that service will be guaranteed? Does cost-based mean that
accurate costs will be known? And what about product redefinition? Is it an R2001
factor? How about activity-based costing? Will rates and strategies be in sync
this time? What about phased-in rates? Would 5% each year for three years be better
than 15% all at once? How effective is cost management? It should be playing a
major role, but is it? How can the mailer help?
These are some of the questions
we are preparing to answer at GCA’s Annual Summer Conference, returning this year
to Philadelphia, August 21-23. It’s a plateful for the mailer to understand and
try to impact, but that’s our goal. In addition to rate increases, postal legislative
reform discussion is hot. How far does reform have to go to get mailer relief?
Is it realistic given the politics involved? Here again we can look for some straight
answers at the Summer Conference.
And while the Rate Case, along with reform,
will have major focus, operational issues will also be addressed. We’ll hear a
report, for example, on compliance to the new package makeup rules, plus the status
of LOT, MERLIN, and more. They can all have direct impact on mailer costs and
rates.
