Quiet Boycott Leads to New Postal Rates That Will Benefit Some Publishers and Printers

A quiet boycott by some mailers helped persuade the U.S. Postal Service to change how it charges for publications, catalogs, and other flat mail.

As a result, many mailers will pay lower postage bills next year, printers will earn more money from their co-mail programs, and the USPS is likely to benefit as well.

The USPS announced on Wednesday average rate increases of slightly less than 1% for First-Class, Standard, and Periodicals classes, to take effect on January 22. But some customers, including the most efficient mailers of magazines and catalogs, will apparently see their postage bills drop.