<VV> Unfair Postal Rate Hikes?

[Harry Jensen, CORSA Executive Secretary]

Hello--

Steve Oxford kindly posted this note to Mike and I. Visit the site. Read 
what they have to say about rate increases for periodical class mail.

Here's what I can see. Quoting from Decision of the Governors of the United 
States Postal Service on the Opinion and Recommended Decision of the Postal 
Regulatory Commission on Changes in Postal Rates and Fees, Docket No. 
R2006-1 published March 19, 2007:

>For the Outside County subclass, the Commission recommends rates resulting 
>in an average increase of 11.7 percent and a cost coverage of 100.2 
>percent. While the percentage increase is the same as the Postal Service 
>proposed, the recommended rate structure differs quite substantially from 
>what the Postal Service proposed.  The Postal Service proposed rates based 
>on pieces, pounds, and containers.  The Commission instead recommends a 
>rate structure proposed by Time Warner, Inc, under which rates apply to 
>pieces and pounds, as today, but also to bundles, sacks, and pallets.  The 
>piece rates would vary based on machinability; and the bundle, sack, and 
>pallet rates would vary based on the type of entry facility.  As a result, 
>the recommended rate structure is much more complex than the one proposed 
>by the Postal Service.

Let me put the rate increase in perspective: Currently CORSA pays about 30 
cents to mail the Communique to you. The per piece price will increase to 
about 33 to 36 cents. But that's not all.

As part of the preparation to mail periodical class, your magazines are 
presorted, bundled, put into postal sacks, and finally on a pallet. We use 
about 130-140 mail sacks per issue, each of which contains about 6 bundles. 
The proposed increase will add new charges for bundles (about 4 cents), 
sacks (about $1.90), and pallets (about $22.00).

If we prepare the Communique to mail using the new rates, the 'ballpark' 
cost will be cost to $1900 versus the $1400 we spend per issue now. Act 
now. The deadline for comments is April 23.

--H






>----- Original Message -----
>To: <communique at corvair.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 3:15 PM
>Subject: Unfair Postal Rate Hikes?
>
>
>Harry - The issue detailed at the website below would seem to affect 
>mailing of the Communique:
>
>  http://action.freepress.net/campaign/postal
>
>If so, why not send an email out to all of the mailing lists and post a 
>note at CorvairCenter and on other Forums about the issue?
>
>Steve Oxford
>Golden, CO

|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Harry Jensen  mailto:corsa at corvair.org
| CORSA Executive Secretary
|
| Corvair Society of America (CORSA)
| P.O. Box 607, Lemont, IL 60439, 630.257.6530  fax 630.257.5540
| http://www.corvair.org
|--------------------------------------------------------------