USPS accelerates processing plant closure plans
Direct marketers who use address verification and depend on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver marketing materials will begin to see the USPS accelerate the closure rate for 55 mail processing plants nationwide that had been previously scheduled to cease operations in 2014. However, the USPS reported that the plants will now close this year after the agency found ways to increase the plan without disrupting current service standards.
According to USPS Spokesperson Sue Brennan, the financial position of the postal service is forcing the early closures.
"As First Class Mail declines, we must continue to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs by making better use of space, staffing, equipment and transportation in processing the nation's mail," Brennan told Post&Parcel.
Many citizens and members of Congress are shocked at the accelerated pace of the plant closures and are planning to fight the plan through legislation. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) believes the USPS decision was to interrupt the time for Congress to create a bipartisan reform legislation for the financial future of the postal service.
"There is a sense of betrayal with this decision," Blumenthal said in a recent interview with CTPost.com. "There will be a major impact on the community ... not to mention the loss or potential loss of 1,200 jobs."
Many direct marketers utilizing address verification may experience longer distribution times and climbing postal prices that will come as a result of the USPS' effort to stabilize its finances. Marketers might need more help in delivering mail due to the USPS plant closures; however, businesses can overcome the interruption in mail service by employing address validation software to target their marketing campaigns and direct mail initiatives.