• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, March 13, 2025

The growing number of newspapers that send their print editions via the U.S. Postal Service should be aware of a new USPS bundling rule that takes effect on July 1. 

On the positive side, the USPS is exempting mailings of 500 or less flat-sized pieces from bundle preparation--these pieces may be placed loose in flat trays. Of course, most major publishers will probably not be sending such small mailings.

Firms bundling their flats, though, will have to have two or more cross-strapped brands or be shrink-wrapped with one or more cross-strapped bands 

Relieved of this burden are newspapers placed in a flat tray and entered as exceptional dispatch mailings.

Exceptional dispatch newspapers can use a single strap around the middle to prevent damage. Also, the USPS is eliminating the use of rubber bands and twine/string for securing bundles of flats except for bundles of First-Class Mail flats placed in flat trays. 

In addition, shrink-wrapped multi carrier route bundles will require two or more cross-strapped bands.

This may all sound innocuous to non-postal specialists. But it is already drawing negative comment.

“We’re disappointed USPS chose not to allow an exception to the new rule for DDU and Exceptional Dispatch mailings,” says Matt Paxton, publisher of the News-Gazette of Lexington, Virginia, and representative of the National Newspaper Association’s Mailers Technical Advisory Council. “Postal officials say that the bundling issue is still being evaluated and we hope to be involved in that.”

Of 29 mailers who commented, one said, “Changes proposed would be too costly to implement or comply with.” Another observed, Original proposed implementation date of January 19, 2025, was too quick and did not allow enough time for purchasing equipment and modifying product lines.”

In the old direct mail business, the USPS was the institution you loved to hate. But this is no time to jeopordize it.