Mailing Tips To Reduce Your Postage

USPS POSTAL RATES ARE RISING

Price Increase Coming 2011

• Price of a First Class Stamp:• May 2006: $0.39• May 2007: $0.41• May 2008: $0.42• May 2010: $0.44• May 2011: $TBA*

View History of Postage Rates in the United States

* While the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) declined the USPS’ request for a 5.6% increase, proposed for January 2011, the USPS is still allowed to raise rates up to the CPI cap without approval from the PRC. We expect that there will be a 2.5% increase in USPS rates in 2011 prior to May 2011 and will be pleasantly surprised if it doesn't happen.

Select Prices Effective October, 2010

First-Class Mail letter (1 oz.)

$0.44

First-Class Mail letter (2 oz.)

$0.61

Postcard $0.28

First-Class Mail Large Envelope (2 oz.)

$1.05

Certified Mail $2.80

© 2010 EZ Office Products Pricing & Savings Based On USPS First Class $0.44 Rate

USPS Shape-Based Pricing

• Price Increases Reflect Differences In Costs To Handle Letters, Large Envelopes (flats), & Packages

• Weight No Longer Used As Primary Factor To Determine Cost

• A Combination of Size, Thickness, and Weight Is Now The Standard

• Letters, Flats, and Parcels Now Priced Differently

• Shape-Based Pricing Significantly Increases Postage Expense

© 2010 EZ Office Products Pricing & Savings Based On USPS First Class $0.44 Rate

USPS Letter Size Vs Flat Size

• Letter Size • A mail piece that has a final folded or envelope

size of 6-1/8" x 11-1/2" and under• Must also be less than 1/4" thick and weigh

less than approximately 3.3 oz. per piece

• Flat Size• Any piece larger than letter size

• How To Save• By configuring mail pieces to letter size

postage savings average $50.00 - $60.00 per thousand less than flat size

© 2010 EZ Office Products Pricing & Savings Based On USPS First Class $0.44 Rate

Letter Pricing Guidelines

#10 Envelope with 4 Pages or Less $0.44

#10 Envelope with 5 – 6 Pages $0.61

#10 Envelope with 7 Pages or More $0.92

6” x 9” Envelope with 5 to 10 Pages $0.78

#10 Envelope

6” x 9” Envelope

PriceExcludes Envelope

Cost

© 2010 EZ Office Products Pricing & Savings Based On USPS First Class $0.44 Rate

How To Save Nearly 50%!

9” x 12”Flat Mail Piece

With 2 Pages8-1/2” x 11”

Paper

Based on 20lb Paper

Cost = $0.88

6” x 9-1/2”Envelope

With

2 Pages

8-1/2” x 11” Paper

Folded In Half

Based on 20lb Paper

Cost = $0.44

© 2010 EZ Office Products Pricing & Savings Based On USPS First Class $0.44 Rate

Postage Savings Tips

• Use A #10 Envelope To Mail 4 Pages or Less• Use A 6” x 9” Envelope To Mail 5 Pages or More• Duplicate Pages To A Single Sheet

• Fold, Fold, Fold • Fold Down To A Smaller Size Envelope

• Fold Mail Previously Placed In A 9” x 12” Envelope In Half • Mail In A 6” x 9” Envelope

• Redesign Mail To Meet USPS Letter-mail Dimensions• Letter and Flat Mail Should be Rectangular Instead of Square• To Avoid A $0.17 USPS Surcharge the Length ÷ Height Should

Be Between 1.3” & 2.5”• Consider Purchasing The “Forever Stamp”