On January 26 of this year, first class letter stamps increased from 46 to 49 cents per one-ounce letter. Additional ounces also went up a penny to 21 cents for each ounce over the first. Ditto for postcard rates, which are now 34 cents. Bulk mail rates and the cost of mailing periodicals also saw an increase of 6 percent. Priority Express (formerly called Express Mail) increased an average of 3 percent, and there’s also a new 10:30 am delivery option costing $5 more.
But the one mail medium that doesn’t change is shaped mail, formally called Customized Market Mail, or CMM by the USPS. It remains at 46 cents.
“Shaped mail has always netted our customers great returns on their direct mail investment,” said Jim O’Brien, co-owner of Tampa-based ThinkShapes Mail. “Now, it’s an even better marketing buy than traditional square mail.”
In September, the Postal Service requested the rate hikes as “emergency” increases needed to make up for losses incurred during the Great Recession of 2008-2009. The Postal Regulatory Commission, which has oversight, approved the changes in a 2 to 1 split decision, but refused to make them permanent. But it’s not clear how long “temporary” will be. More and more companies using electronic communications such as invoicing, direct payroll deposit, and electronic bill payment also necessitated the price increase.
“If you have been thinking about testing the power of a shaped campaign, this is the perfect time,” said O’Brien.
