I think it’s safe to talk now. It’s summertime – well, almost – so mail delivery generally hits a plateau where service is at least OK. The Monday US Mail Traffic Report is a touch less critical. Maybe you can skip it now and again. But, just as autumn follow summer, well…autumn follows summer. Inevitably, in the fall, mail volume will pick up, and it is likely that there will be service performance issues. So here are some reassuring words, some good advice, and just some general thoughts from a guy who watches the mail an unhealthy amount.
First of all: Remain Calm.
Yes, service is not what it once was. On average, it takes about a day longer for a First-Class letter to be delivered. Not great, but not the end of the world. Marketing Mail has generally held on to its delivery performance. So, on average, not a big deal. However:
Do Not Trust Averages.
Averages are a funny thing. They are useful in measuring overall performance, but your mail is not average. Be sure to measure performance for your planned mailings. In spring 2024, average delivery time for First-Class letters dropped a bit “on average,” but was disastrous in the Atlanta area. Keep an eye on how your mail is performing – that is what matters. You can also check the analytics in SnailWorks, which gets pretty specific, but still not as good as tracking your own mail.
Transport Your Own Mail When You Can.
Some parts of the USPS delivery system work very well – particularly the last mile, at destination facilities, and in the hands of a letter carrier. Other parts may be less reliable – slowdowns can occur at origin facilities and in long-distance transportation. When you can transport the mail yourself to the destination SCF, or whatever they’re calling it these days, you eliminate a lot of the risk of slow delivery. This is another strong incentive to commingle your mail. Delivery won’t necessarily be faster if you commingle, but it will generally be much more predictable. New rules are scheduled to be implemented along with the July rate change – specifically, the elimination of the NDC discount – will offer even more incentive to commingle.
Set Appropriate Expectations for Flat Size Mail.
Flats. Oy. Flat service is a challenge. First-Class flats can take anywhere from days to weeks to reach their destination, and it can change from day to day, so it is very difficult to set accurate expectations, except not to have any. Marketing Mail flats generally follow the same rule as Marketing Mail letters – if you transport them close to the destination, they get handled well. I would generally recommend not mailing First-Class flats if you don’t need to. Of course, sometimes you do need to, and, ironically, First-Class flats tend to be some of the highest value mail in the mail stream. Bank and brokerage statements for people who have so much money that their statement won’t fit in a letter-size envelope are too often the victims of poor delivery. Such mailers may want to consider entering those big statements closer to the destination by either drop-shipping or distributed production. Neither of those is an economical solution, so it depends on how critical timeliness is.
Prepare for a Challenging Fall Mailing Season.
Of course, you should always prepare for a busy fall mailing season, but this year’s may have an additional challenge – catalog-ageddon. The USPS catalog promotion is scheduled to start on October 1, 2025. Yes, that is this year. Many catalog producers have announced plans to produce catalogs in August and September, but will wait to mail them all on October 1 to get the discount. This could result in a huge, sudden influx of mail in an already busy season. This could also tax Postal transportation, already a weak spot. It is best to be prepared by considering mailing early, and possibly forego the catalog discount, or being sure to set appropriate expectations. Not just for catalogs, but for all mail. Hopefully, in the end, it is not a big deal – but better prepared than not prepared.
Track Your Mail. Every Single Piece, Every Single Time.
I know, I know – you saw that coming, but it is essential advice. No one can be an expert on how your mail is delivering better than you. Set expectations, intervene in delays, and bring peace of mind. Those are important to you and your customers.
Enjoy the Summer. Stand By for Fall.
The sky is not falling, the wheels are not coming off the bus, the train is firmly on the tracks – insert your favorite cliché here. The fall mailing season will come and go as it does every year, and we can start worrying about what the next fall may hold in store for us.