Postal Service Would Use Pricing Flexibility to Benefit Mailers
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 18, 2009--
Pitney
Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI) today lauded the U.S. Postal Service for its
proposed Summer Sale on Standard Mail® letters and flats. Pending
approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the sale, which is a
Standard Mail Volume Incentive Pricing Program, would provide large
mailers with a significant opportunity to save on their postage costs.
Recognizing that mail drives economic growth, the USPS is using the
pricing flexibility provided under the Postal Accountability and
Enhancement Act to offer this proposed opportunity to mailers. The
Summer Sale program would run from July 1 through September
30, 2009, and offer a 30 percent rebate to eligible mailers on Standard
Mail letters and flats volume above a mailer-specific threshold.
Mailers, including nonprofit mailers, who sent more than one million
Standard letters and/or flats from October 1, 2007 through March 31,
2008 would be eligible to participate in the Summer Sale.
Recent research indicates that, even during challenging economic times,
mail remains one of the best ways to communicate with customers and
prospects. For instance, a recent survey conducted by Pitney Bowes and DMNews
showed that consumers place a high value on the coupons and catalogs
they receive in the mail. Mail also helps consumers start and maintain
relationships with businesses and nonprofits, with 44 percent of
respondents making their first purchase from a business and 33 percent
making their first donation to a nonprofit because of a mail piece.
“Pitney Bowes applauds the Postal Service for utilizing its new pricing
flexibility to develop programs that would benefit mailers,” said Leslie
Abi-Karam, executive vice president and president, mailing solutions
management, Pitney Bowes. “The Summer Sale would help organizations
reduce postage expenditures and connect with their customers. Pitney
Bowes will leverage its solutions to help both mailers and the USPS
benefit from this program.”
About Pitney Bowes:
Pitney Bowes is a mailstream technology company that helps organizations
manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages. Our 35,000
employees deliver technology, service and innovation to more than two
million customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1920 and annual
revenues now total $6.3 billion. More information is available at www.pb.com.
Standard Mail is a registered trademark owned by the United States
Postal Service.
Source: Pitney Bowes Inc.
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Karen King, 203-351-6189
karen.king@pb.com