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Several Postal Customer Councils in the Boston-Providence area hosted the first National Postal Customer Council (PCC) in four years. PCC introduced its new educational and growth plan that would make it a more formal business alliance among mailers, mail service providers and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

A critical perspective of the Postal Service, which has plans to expand its Move Update regulation for addressing the undelivered-as-addressed mail, which costs the direct marketing industry $6 billions, is presented.

The Delivery Point Packaging concept is to have all mail sent to a given location delivered in one large package and then assembled by the postal service for delivery. The advantages and disadvantages of the system are discussed.

A proposal to change the Direct Mail Manual in the Federal Register was announced by the U.S. Postal Service pertaining to material eligibility for mailing at Standard mail postage rates. This issue was under comment for 60-days in the House and the Senate, which suggested that the mail piece examples should be displayed at acceptance centers to enable comparison for mail preparer and the acceptance clerk alike.

The author examines common mistakes and offers advice on proper maintenance and use of mailing lists. Topics include correct and up-to-date addresses, use of extended zip codes, and the proper use of merge/purge software programs.

Direct mailers should be prepared to support their industry and mount a good offense against its critics.

Senior US Postal Service executives were able to discuss certain developments which have transpired in the USPS and their effect on the direct marketing industry at the recent Mail Advertising Service Assn's annual Mailer Strategies Conference. The main issues are the reality that the postal service needs cash infusion to compensate for its current year revenue shortfall, the appointment of John Nolan as the new deputy postmaster general and the $1 billion cost of undeliverable as addressed mail.

Using the Postal Service's National Change of Address (NCOA) program can reduce the costs of direct mail campaigns in three ways. The NCOA's overall match rate in 1998 was 4.1%. This is equivalent to a 41,000 address changes for a 1 million-record file. Another advantage of the NCOA is the 'moved, left no forwarding address' category. The NCOA can also be used in improving address quality by applying ZIP+4 codes. Every improved record offers cost savings up to six cents from the First Class postage rate.