ZIP CODES, SORTING CAN LEAD TO POSTAL SAVINGS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Mailers adding ZIP+4 bar codes to their first and third-class letter mail, then pre-sorting to 5-digits can save money on postal costs.

"The mail is processed faster, delivery is more accurate, turnaround is speedier, and best of all, your profits can be greater," said Donna Rippee, director of marketing and communications of the Springfield Division U.S. Postal Service office.

Rippee was one of five speakers who appeared on a Postal Rates Hearing program, held at the Show Me Center on Southeast Missouri State University campus Wednesday.

New postal rates, which are now in effect, and opportunities for work sharing which results in savings to business mailers, were among topics discussed at the day-long workshop.

"This conference was dedicated to discussions of the new rates and ways that companies can take advantage of rate discounts which are available," said Rippee.

About 124 participants were present for the workshop, sponsored by the Southeast Missouri Postal Customer Council.

The U.S. Postal Service, which recently adopted a new rate schedule which increased first-class letter mailings from 25 cents to 29 cents among other increases, explained its latest computerized mail processing machines.

The new high speed equipment is programmed to "read" and "sort" up to 36,000 pieces of mail per hour, said Rippee.

"The optical character readers (OCRs) and bar code sorters (OCSs) are the latest in computerized processing machines," said Rippee.

She added that letters have to be a proper size to be mailable, and the address must be placed in certain areas on the envelope. ZIP+4 codes must be used, such as 63701-0699 instead of just 63701.

Conducting the classes were Ron Cunningham, mail classification, and Sally Carroll, account representative, and Rippee, all from the Springfield office; and Dottie Garber and Janet Dodd from the Kansas City office.

She added that by pre-sorting, firms could save up to four cents per letter.

"Pre-sorting not only helps the mailer with a discount price, but it also helps the Post Office," said Rippee. "It's what we refer to as `work-sharing.'"

"In many cases a company may not have enough mailings to qualify for pre-sort discounts," she said. "But, a pre-sort company will pick up mail from several sources, and pre-sort it to qualify for the discounts. The firm then splits the discounts with the companies involved."

Mail in Missouri currently goes through six processing centers, but within six months, there will be only two centers Springfield and Cape Girardeau.