The U.S. Postal Service has agreed to test the machinability of a thinner, less expensive polywrap for flat direct mail pieces, catalogs and magazines.
The test, which most likely will begin at the end of the month, will determine if Standard A (formerly third class) direct mail pieces and catalogs, as well as magazines wrapped in the thinner, less expensive plastic wrap, will qualify for automation rates if they can be processed by a machine called the FSM 1000 instead of the FSM 881.
More importantly it will determine whether mailers will eventually save money –both on polywrap and postage costs — by shifting to a cheaper and lighter-weight plastic wrap. No one contacted by Direct Newsline would estimate how much money a mailer using the lighter-weight polywrap would save.
But they did point out that the cheaper plastic doesn’t meet USPS current rigidity and flexibility requirements for the FSM 881’s.
The test will determine how much volume is shifted from one machine to another. That, postal officials say, is important because any significant change would overload one set of machines and cause significant processing and eventually delays in delivery.
The USPS also says it’s considering whether flats qualifying for automation rates can be mixed in the same package for processing by either the FSM 881 or the FSM 1000. Normally they must be in separated.
Formal announcement of the test, which runs through April 30, is to be made next week in a notice published in the Federal Register.
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