Latest Changes to
Postage $aver Pro and Lite

We've updated Postage $aver Pro and Lite to keep up with the latest postal changes, and made some software improvements. Here are the details. Note that each update includes all previous updates, so you only need to download and install the latest.

What’s new in Version 11.2.6 – October, 2021

Postal Updates:

• Updated for October and November USPS routing changes required for mail sent on or after November 1, 2021. (May be used before then).

Software Improvements:

• When preparing a barcoded mailing using a .csv file, tracking numbers are now saved in two segments with a space in between, instead of as a single 20-digit number. When reading or saving a .csv file in Excel, Excel tries to shorten the 20-digit number, making the tracking number unreadable. Excel does not do that if there is a space within the tracking number, so we have added that space.
  
  
  
  
• We corrected a bug that sometimes prevented reports from printing when preparing presorted Bound Printed Matter mailings.
  
  
• We removed a reference to the "Highest Piece ID" from the screen that appears after a mailing is sorted. USPS only asks for the "Lowest Piece ID" so having both was confusing.
  

For Periodical Class mailers, we made several improvements in how Postage $aver handles in-county and local mail:

• In-county rates are now always use when allowed by USPS rules. You no longer must click a box to indicate that you want to use in-county rates. Since in-county rates do not require any special sorting, there is no reason not to get the better prices when they are applicable.
  
  
• If your mailing is entirely in-county, Postage $aver will no longer include blank outside-county pages in your postage statement (form 3541). Only the front page and the in-county prices page will be printed. Blank pages are not required by USPS.
  
  
• Postage $aver now automatically looks up your county of publication and the zip codes for that county, based on the home zip code you indicate on the Addressing and Mailing screen. The county and zip codes are shown on the Periodical Class Settings screen so you can verify that the correct county was selected. Note that in-county rates are based on the county that you tell USPS is your "county of publication", which is not necessarily the county where the publication is mailed.
  
  
  
  You can still designate additional addresses as "in-county" by flagging them in your mailing list file. That feature has not changed.
  
  
• If you are sorting local mail for more than one zip code handled by the same post office, Postage $aver can now apply DDU carrier-route rates for up to 5 zip codes.
  
  Previously, we only provided carrier-route rates for the zip code where you indicated that you submit your mailing. But some post offices prepare mail for more than one zip code, and you are eligible for DDU carrier-route rates for all of those zip codes if you sort the mail to comply with carrier route rate requirements.
  
  To have Postage $aver apply DDU carrier-route rates for more than one zip code handled by your local post office, enter those zips in "Zips for carrier route rates" on the Periodical Class Settings screen. You can have up to five zip codes. Leave a single space between each.
  
  
  
  Note that while Postage $aver will apply DDU carrier-route pricing for these zip codes (if minimum quantity requirements are met), it will not show this additional level of sorting on your price qualification report, since Postage $aver does not have your carrier route information.
  
  
• We fixed a bug where tray and sack tags indicated that a zip code was sorted by carrier-route even though the user did not select the "manually sort for carrier route rates" option.
  
  
• We fixed a bug where the carrier-route piece price was not applied in certain mailings even though the user selected the "manually sort for carrier route rates" option.
  
  

What’s new in Version 11.2.5 – August 29, 2021

Postal Updates:

• Updated for USPS price increase for Marketing Mail and Bound Printed Matter, effective 8/29/21.
  
  
• Updated with new postage statement forms effective 8/29/21. Note that form 3605 (for Bound Printed Matter and Parcel Select Lightweight) did not change, so the January version of form 3605 remains the correct version.
  
  
• Updated for September USPS routing changes.

Changes to postage rate calculations:

• First Class Postcards: The size limit for the First Class postcard rate has been increased to 6" x 9". That means you can now send half-sheet postcards using First Class Presort for about the same price as using Marketing Mail letter rates, and get faster First Class service. For example, for full-service barcoded postcards, the First Class rates range from .303 - .323, while Marketing Mail rates range from .247 - .327.
  
  To take advantage of this new larger size for First Class postcards, you need to have a First Class Presort permit, which costs $265/year, but the fee will be waived if all of your mailings use full-service barcoding. You do not need to pay a separate Permit Imprint Authorization fee if you already use an imprint for Marketing Mail.
  
  There is a 500 piece minimum for First Class Presort mailings. Note that the increased size limit applies only to cards in a First Class Presort mailing. Cards mailed as regular retail mail must still be no larger than 4 1/2" x 6" to get the 40 cent postcard rate.
  
  
• First Class Nonbarcoded Machinable Letters: These had been priced at a single rate per ounce. There will now be two separate rates depending on whether the pieces are in an AADC tray or in a Mixed AADC tray. (This is the same way that Marketing Mail nonbarcoded machinable letters are currently priced.) However, nonbarcoded postcards will still be priced at a single rate regardless of tray level.
  
  
• Bound Printed Matter Flats: Rates will no longer depend on zones. The same rate will apply regardless of distance. The rule requiring submission of the zone report printed by Postage Saver is still in effect, but we have asked USPS to delete that rule since zone reports are no longer necessary to verify correct rates. Zone pricing will still apply to Bound Printed Matter parcels.
  
  
• Periodical Class Outside-County Per-Pound Zone Rates: Rates for advertising content will no longer depend on zones (except for a separate zone 1-2 rate for Science of Agricultur publications). The same rate will apply regardless of distance. The rule requiring submission of the zone report printed by Postage Saver is still in effect, but we have asked USPS to delete that rule since zone reports are no longer necessary to verify correct rates.
  
  
• Periodical Class In-County DDU Rates: USPS has clarified its interpretation of the rule for when In-County DDU rates can be used. (These are the rates on lines A1 and A17 of the postage statement.)
  
  The rule, as written, only requires that pieces be mailed from the delivering post office in order to get the DDU discount on line A17, while the pieces on line A1 need to be sorted in carrier route order. But USPS has clarified that carrier route sorting is required in both cases.
  
  Postage Saver does not sort by carrier route, but it has been providing the discount on line A17, based on earlier advice from USPS.
  
  We know that some of our users, especially community newspapers, hand-sort their local pieces by carrier route to get faster delivery. We have added a checkbox on the Periodicals Settings screen (in the wizard) to indicate that you are preparing local pieces by carrier route.
  
  
  
  If you check that box, Postage Saver will put local pieces on lines A1 and A17 on the postage statement. If the pieces are barcoded flats, it will also move them from the 5-digit price on line A12 to the lower carrier route price on line A13. Postage Saver will also sort your local zip code into a separate tray/sack, if minimums are met, and the tag for that tray/sack that will indicate that the pieces are sorted and bundled by carrier route.
  
  Note that to meet the carrier route sorting requirements, you must not only put each carrier route in its own bundle(s), but you must arrange the pieces in each bundle in delivery order. If you are not going to do that, you should not check the box saying that you are sorting by carrier route.
  
  We realize this may all be confusing, so please reach out if you have questions.

Software Improvements:

• We fixed a bug that caused the Mail Preparation Report to print incorrectly when printing only a specific group of pages.

What’s new in Version 11.2.4 – July, 2021

Postal Updates:

• Updated for July and August USPS routing changes required for mail sent on or after August 1, 2021. (May be used before then).

What’s new in Version 11.2.3 – May, 2021

Postal Updates:

• Updated for May and June USPS routing changes required for mail sent on or after June 1, 2021. (May be used before then).

Software Improvements:

• We fixed some bugs that caused too many copies of some reports to be printed when more than one copy was selected.
  
  
• We made some minor visual changes and added some help links.
  
  
• We fixed several other minor bugs.

What’s new in Version 11.2.2 – March, 2021

Postal Updates:

• Updated for March and April USPS routing changes required for mail sent on or after April 1, 2021. (May be used before then).

Software Improvements:

• We replaced the info circles with help links on various screens to remove clutter, and we improved the help information that you see when clicking on a help link.
  
  
• We added a warning where Windows prevents Postage $aver from saving information in your file, because of an incorrect detection in Windows "Controlled Folder Access" (ransomware protection).
  
  
• We fixed a bug where a CASS date was incorrectly required for nonbarcoded Bound Printed Matter.
  
  
• We fixed a bug where the default directory did not appear in the update installer.
  
  
• We fixed several other minor bugs.

What’s new in Version 11.2.1 – January, 2021

Postal Updates:

• The annual postage rate increase is effective on Jan. 24. This update includes the new rates and corresponding changes to postage statements. While the impact of the increases varies depending on the exact breakdown of your mailing, the overall increases are as follows:
  
  Marketing Mail Letters - up 0.8%
  Marketing Mail Flats - up 3.6%
  
  First Class Presort Letters - up 2.1%
  First Class Presort Postcards - up 3.3%
  First Class Presort Barcoded Flats - up 4.1%
  
  Periodicals In-County - up 1.2%
  Periodicals Outside-County - up 1.5%
  
  Bound Printed Matter Flats - no change
  
  Regular First Class stamps for one ounce letters remain at 55 cents.
  
  
• Updated for January and February USPS routing changes required for mail sent on or after February 1, 2021. (May be used before then).
  
  
• For Periodical Class mailers, the container charge for trays is now lower than the charge for sacks, in some cases, and we have made that change. For flats, you have the choice of using "flat trays" (tubs) or sacks.

Software Improvements:

• We improved the Mail Preparation Instructions report by clearly showing the savings for each mailing, the supplies required, and some other helpful assembly information.
  
  
• Postage $aver Pro now accepts files from the USPS "IMsb" small business tool, and automatically detects the correct fields for zip codes and delivery point codes in those IMsb files.
  
  
• We fixed several minor bugs.

We hope you find these improvements helpful. Many of "our" best ideas come from our users, so please don't hesitate to let us know if you have suggestions or questions.

Thanks!