Postal Watchdog Files Complaint Over USPS Elimination of Bound Printed Matter Rate
Douglas F. Carlson, an attorney and self-professed postal watchdog has filed a complaint with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) alleging that the Postal Service after May 14, 2007 eliminated single-piece Bound Printed Matter rate as a mailing option for customers.
Carlson’s complaint alleges that “When a customer presents items for mailing at a retail window and asks for the least-expensive shipping method and the window clerk knows or should know that the item would qualify for a Bound Printed Matter rate, Postal Service policy prohibits the window clerk from offering or suggesting Bound Printed Matter service to the customer, even if Bound Printed Matter service might or would fulfill the customer’s shipping needs at the lowest price of any service.”
Carlson’s complaint cites several incidents :
On May 14, 2007, the Postal Service ceased to offer single-piece Bound Printed Matter service at retail windows.
Prior to May 14, 2007, the Postage Rate Calculator at www.usps.gov provided rates for Bound Printed Matter. Since May 14, 2007, the Postage Rate Calculator has not provided rates for Bound Printed Matter or mentioned the existence or availability of this service.
Automated Postal Center kiosks in post offices do not offer Bound Printed Matter or Media Mail or advise customers that these less-expensive alternatives may exist to the services that the APC’s do offer, such as Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, and Parcel Post.
Although the decision of the Postal Service Governors in Docket No. R2006-1 asserted on page 19 that Postal Service window clerks “will continue to provide customers with information regarding Bound Printed Matter,” postal clerks do not provide accurate information to customers seeking to mail items that qualify as Bound Printed Matter.
The Postal Service’s decision not to offer Bound Printed Matter at retail windows unduly and unreasonably discriminates against individual and smallbusiness mailers, in a manner not specifically authorized by title 39. Compared to large mailers, individual and small-business mailers are less likely to know about services that window clerks do not offer, that Automated Postal Centers do not offer, and that the Postage Rate Calculator at www.usps.gov does not mention.
Carlson Requests that “the Commission order the Postal Service to offer Bound Printed Matter service to customers at retail windows.”
click here to read the full complaint
January 5th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
This will be the only guy who will ever request this service and the window clerks don’t know and don’t care about BPM.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:27 am
not true Juan, I have several customers who use BPM several times a week!
January 6th, 2008 at 6:39 am
I know for those sending books , they need this discount. I at one time was a homeschooler on a tight budget. I sent / received alot of books via the mail.
February 17th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I sell lots of magazines on ebay and ship BPM on all that are over the 1st class weight limit. It’s frustrating that they removed it from the shipping calculator and seems very shady on their part. If it’s available to the customer, they should have to offer it.
February 19th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I do most my mailing at 2 post offices which accept BPM with pre-affixed postage. Today I happened to go to the central PO with 3 articles. The clerk said BPM single piece was no longer offered. The supervisor said the same and copied the relevant section of the DMM. A trainer was finally called who said yes, the rate is offered (with pre-affixed postage) and the computer are capable of verifying that sufficient postage was placed. But he went on to say that books are not “promotion, advertizing, directory, editorial, or some combination of content” — I believe editorial is inclusive of books. I’ve encountered significant disagreement with that opinion, and yielded today to pay the difference to send them as Media Mail.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I have wondered about this. I use Paypal and select media mail but I can’t at USPS kiosks or the USPS.com site. I avoid window clerk contact at all costs, there is rarely a need for it. Juan is just wrong, I mail books, CDs, DVDs very often.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:44 am
I volunteer as an audio/visual librarian for a non-profit. The USPS has pretty much refused us service for Media Mail. I have been told that by USPS customer service that they are told not to offer it unless requested and I think clerks have taken that to mean that they should refuse it–some clerks have gotten downright hostle with our members when they request this service. We are trying to send slide shows with cassette tape recordings (which *are* listed as media in the Library rate). The only info on “why” I can get out of the USPS is that “the local (!) postmaster decides eligibility”.
September 12th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Check our our website we may be able to help you
ship BPM and/or media mail depending on your volume.