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. Get the update.


Postal Updates:

• USPS has added a new Part Z to the USPS Postal Wizard and the postage statements. Part Z shows the totals of all extra discounts, such as the full-service discount and discounts for USPS promotions.
  
  Part Z totals are calculated automatically in the USPS Postal Wizard and are shown below the other postage totals on the totals screen. We have added the Part Z totals to the Postal Wizard Instructions report so you can check your totals against those shown in the Postal Wizard.
  
  Part Z is optional for postage statements, so we have not added it to the postage statement printouts.
  
  
• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• We added support for precanceled stamps and USPS promotional incentives in the Postal Wizard Instructions report.
  
  
• When entering USPS promotional incentive discounts on the statement information screen, we changed the entry from the total amount of the discount to the percentage discount, since the total amount is not known until the total postage without the discount is calculated. Postage $aver will calculate the total amount of the discount and print that on the postage statement and also include it in the Postal Wizard Instructions report.
  
  
• On the postage statement, we corrected the affixed postage and lowest postage rate shown when using USPS promotional incentives.
  

Postal Updates:

• USPS made a significant change in how they designate Sectional Center Facilities (SCFs). Those are the locations where you can take your mail to use lower "DSCF" postage rates on mail going to addresses within the SCF's service area.
  
  Up until now, you would take the mail to the same location whether it was letter-sized or flat-sized. But effective February 1, there will be separate "DSCF" locations for letters and flats for the zip areas listed below.
  
  The SCF location shown on the second screen of the preparation wizard may show a different location depending on whether you have selected letters, flats or parcels on the first screen.
  
  You can still take your mail to either location, but you will only get DSCF rates for the location that corresponds to the size of the mail (i.e. letters, flats or parcels). Otherwise, the location will be considered a local station and should be entered that way.
  
  This will initially apply to the following zip code areas:
  
  For zips 010-012, 060-065, 067:
   DSCF location for letters: Hartford CT; for flats: Springfield MA
  
  For zips 018-019, 055:
   DSCF location for letters: Middlesex-Essex MA; for flats: Boston MA
  
  For zips 111, 113-114:
   DSCF location for letters: Queens NY; for flats: Brooklyn NY
  
  For zips 184-188:
   DSCF location for letters: Scranton PA; for flats: Lehigh Valley PA
  
  For zips 395:
   DSCF location for letters: Gulfport MS; for flats: Mobile AL
  
  For zips 541-545:
   DSCF location for letters: Green Bay WI; for flats: Oshkosh WI
  
  For zips 560-561:
   DSCF location for letters: Mankato MN; for flats: St. Paul MN
  
  For zips 566:
   DSCF location for letters: St. Paul MN; for flats: St. Cloud MN
  
  For zips 683-685, 688-689:
   DSCF location for letters: Lincoln NE; for flats: Omaha NE
  
  For zips 808-812:
   DSCF location for letters: Colorado Springs CO; for flats: Denver CO
  
  For zips 850-853, 855, 859-860, 863:
   DSCF location for letters: Phoenix AZ; for flats: West Valley AZ
  
  For zips 949, 954:
   DSCF location for letters: North Bay CA; for flats: San Francisco CA
  
  
• USPS has made other routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  
  
• USPS has released new revisions of the postage statement forms, and we have updated the software to use the new forms.
  
  
• USPS has corrected an earlier change and again allows the preparation of 5-digit scheme trays for First Class barcoded flats. This could allow more pieces to earn the lower 5-digit rate. We have updated the software to include this change.
  

Postal Updates:

• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• We added support for the Macintosh Tahoe operating system.
  
  
• We corrected an error in the Postal Wizard Instructions report for Periodical parcels where it listed the containers as trays rather than sacks.
  
  
• We added a warning to prevent weights over 70 pounds from being entered for Periodical parcels.
  

Postal Updates:

• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• We removed Optional Endorsement Lines (OELs) from flat-sized pieces in Mixed ADC tubs that have no bundles, if you have chosen not to prepare optional bundles.
  
  OELs are only used when pieces are prepared in specific bundles according to destination. When bundles became optional for some flat-sized mailings, we did not initially remove unnecessary OELs from pieces in Mixed ADC tubs that did not have bundles.
  
  
• We corrected an incorrect postage statement line number in the Postal Wizard Instructions report in the Mac version.
  
  
• We corrected missing group numbers on address labels and label separators for several types of mailings where pieces are grouped by destination within trays but are not bundled.
  

Postal Updates:

• The USPS July rate changes, effective July 13, are included in this update.
  
  
• USPS has issued new postage statement forms for use on and after July 13. We have updated the software to use the new forms.
  
  
• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  
  
• USPS has temporarily removed the 1/10 cent catalog discount for Marketing Mail and Bound Printed Matter, so we have removed it from the Mailing Categories screen. USPS plans to start a different "catalog incentive" discount in October. We will provide details when they are available.
  
  
• USPS has changed its distribution system to repurpose "Network Distribution Centers (NDCs)" and "Auxiliary Service Centers (ASFs)", and has eliminated the "DNDC" postage discounts that shippers could get by mailing from those centers. We have changed the software so that you can no longer select an NDC or an ASF as an entry location. If you are taking your mail to one of those facilities, it now is considered a local station for postage purposes, and should be entered that way in the software.
  
  Note that this does not affect entry at SCFs (Sectional Center Facilities), which still qualifies for postage discounts. It also does not affect Presorted First Class mailings, which do not have entry point discounts.
  
  
• USPS has made the following changes to the bundling rules for flat-sized mail, which we have incorporated into the software:
  
  
  • Presorted First Class flats:
    
    For nonbarcoded Presorted First Class flats, sorting is now optional and bundling is not allowed. Since there is no postage discount for sorting nonbarcoded First Class flats, the software will prepare all pieces in Mixed ADC trays.
    
    For barcoded Presorted First Class flats, bundling is no longer required or allowed. All pieces should be placed flat in the trays. However, pieces in ADC trays must be grouped by 3-digit zip code. Similarly, pieces in Mixed ADC trays must be grouped by ADC. To comply with this requirement, pieces in these trays should be kept in the same order as they are sorted by the software.
    
    
  • These changes apply only to flats. Preparation of letter and postcard sized pieces have not changed.
    
    
  • Marketing Mail flats:
    
    Rubber bands or string can no longer be used when preparing bundles. Plastic strapping or shrink wrap must be used.
    
    Bundling is now optional for barcoded Marketing Mail flats, and for some mailings of nonbarcoded Marketing Mail flats. Postage Saver now gives you a choice of whether or not to bundle if you are preparing Marketing Mail flats. This option is on the Mailing Categories screen.
    
    For barcoded Marketing Mail flats, postage may be cheaper if you bundle, depending on how much of the mail goes to the same zip codes or sorting areas. For nonbarcoded Marketing Mail flats, any postage difference for bundling will be minimal, though bundling may improve service. To see if bundling is worth any postage savings, you can run your mailing through the software with each option.
    
    These changes apply only to flats. Preparation of letter sized pieces has not changed.
    
    
  • Periodical Class flats:
    
    Rubber bands or string can no longer be used when preparing bundles. Plastic strapping or shrink wrap must be used.
    
    Bundling is now optional for Periodical Class mailings of 500 pieces or fewer. Postage Saver now gives you a choice of whether or not to bundle if you are preparing Periodical Class flats. This option is on the Mailing Categories screen. (Your selection will only apply if the mailing has 500 pieces or fewer.)
    
    Postage may be cheaper or higher if you bundle, depending on how much of the mail goes to the same zip codes or sorting areas. We suggest running it both ways to see which is cheaper before deciding whether to bundle.
    
    These changes apply only to flats. Preparation of letter and parcel sized pieces have not changed.
    
    
  • Bound Printed Matter flats:
    
    Rubber bands or string can no longer be used when preparing bundles. Plastic strapping or shrink wrap must be used.
    
    Since Bound Printed Matter is prepared in sacks, bundling is still required.
    

Postal Updates:

• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• Postage $aver now includes the option to print the tray or sack number and bundle number on a line above each address, whether you are printing on labels or directly on your mail pieces.
  
  On the label printing window, you'll see the option to add tray or sack numbers and bundle numbers (as applicable). Note that adding tray or sack numbers will add one line to your addresses, which could cause the font to be smaller. Or it could cause there to be too many address lines to fit on the selected label, in which case you'll see a warning to correct the issue.
  
  If you are using a mail merge in Word to print your addresses only because you needed to print the tray numbers, you can now do that directly in Postage Saver without the extra step of going to Word.
  
  To print addresses directly from Postage $aver (if you are not currently doing that), change the "How will you print your addresses" setting on the Addressing and Mailing screen in the preparation wizard, to "I'll print them using Postage $aver".
  
  
• On the Postal Wizard Instructions report, Postage $aver now provides the lowest piece ID for basic-service mailings, even though it is not a required entry. Not entering the lowest piece ID can cause a warning on your acceptance report, even though it's not required that you enter it.
  
  
• We fixed a bug on the Postal Wizard Instructions report that caused postage totals to be left blank for Periodicals mailings that are entirely in-county.
  
  
• We fixed other minor bugs and made some wording changes to improve clarity.
  

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!