Mail Service Changes: New Service Offerings and Surcharge Increase
Surcharge Increases from 10% to 12%
Penn Mail Services will be increasing its surcharge from 10% to 12%, effective July 1, 2001. The fee increase is necessary to continue to offer the same quality of service and cover the rising costs for services paid by Penn Mail (i.e., costs of operations including fuel, utilities and equipment maintenance, new equipment purchases, relocation expenses, and employee wages/benefits).
Penn Mail Service currently provides the following services at no cost to departments:
- Sorting and delivery of approximately 2.6 million pieces of intramural mail
- Direct delivery service (twice daily) to 106 buildings and 159 mail stops
- Metering of more than 6.8 million pieces--all mail classes
- Provision of intramural mail envelopes
- Early morning mail pick-up at USPS for early distribution
- Pick-up of UPS ground shipments for same-day processing
- Bulk mail pick-ups for large orders (with prior notification)
- Provision of USPS trays and tubs for large mailings
- Consultative services on correct address, design, and postal discount policies
New Services; Savings Opportunities
New for 2001, Penn Mail Service (PMS) has purchased sorting equipment with advanced technology that accurately captures all classifications of USPS mail, ensuring that mail gets sorted in the appropriate postage categories. Additionally, PMS offers other opportunities to save on mail jobs, including competitive folding/insertion rates and mailing list verification and certification which eliminates duplicate names and addresses, ensures correct addressing to save on undeliverable mail costs, and offers "action messages" to attract recipients' attention.
Postal Rate Increase
The U.S. Postal Service has made several changes to its mail classes and rates, which also take effect July 1, 2001. The table below offers a summary of the key services and changes.
For a complete listing, consult the USPS website: http://www.usps.com/ratecase/.
Service |
Current Rate |
New Rate (effective 7/1) |
| First Class Letter | ||
1 ounce |
0.34 | 0.34 |
Additional ounce |
0.21 | 0.23 |
| Postcard | 0.2 | 0.21 |
| Express Mail | ||
_ lb. |
$12.25 | $12.45 |
Up to 2 lbs. |
$16.00 | $16.25 |
Flat rate env. |
$16.00 | $16.25 |
| Services | ||
Certified mail |
$1.90 | $2.10 |
Domestic money orders |
0.75 | 0.9 |
Penn Mail Service will continue its efforts to offer the University community high quality service at competitive rates. If you have questions regarding our offerings or any of the changes effective July 2001, please feel free to contact us at (215) 898-MAIL.
Additional information may be found on our website: http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/department/mail.html.
--Robert Furniss, Director, Transportation and Mail Services
Almanac, Vol. 47, No. 35, May 29, 2001