The Coalition of Catalog Mailers Thursday filed a motion with the Postal Regulatory Commission to delay implementation of the new standard mail flat rates. The group also offered Edward Spiegel, professor of integrated marketing communications at Northwestern University and catalog industry veteran as its only witness.

“CCM seeks to supplement the record with testimony on the inability of catalogers to adjust quickly to the unexpectedly steep rate increases,” said the CCM in its filing. “If the Commission reopens the record, CCM will submit evidence that much of the potential damage from these rate changes and the resulting economic waste can be avoided by allowing catalogers time to prepare for the changes.”

On March 19, the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors approved most of the PRC’s recommended postage rate hikes but asked the Commission to reconsider its decisions on standard mail flats– some of which it recommended raising by more than 40%–and set April 12 the deadline for comments on these rates.

At present, all postal rates are set to go up on May 14.

The Coalition of Catalog Mailers Thursday filed a motion with the Postal Regulatory Commission to delay implementation of the new standard mail flat rates. The group also offered Edward Spiegel, professor of integrated marketing communications at Northwestern University and catalog industry veteran as its only witness.