Bad Move: USPS Decreases Summer Mail Discount

For the second summer in a row, the U.S. Postal Service is offering discounts for summer mailings that use QR codes.

But the postal service might be its own worst enemy here: it’s only giving mailers a 2% discount, down from the 3% offered to participating mailers for the past two years.

During July and August, the discounts will apply to standard and first class letters, flats and cards that include a two-dimensional barcode or other media that can be read or scanned by a mobile device, according to the USPS. These codes can go directly to smartphone users’ personal URLS, according to the USPS.

In this year’s program, the USPS says it wants to encourage greater use of this ever-growing technology. Really? Then why the heck is the Postal Service diminishing mailers' incentive to use the program?

Could the program be cost-prohibitive at a time when the USPS is facing the financial crisis of its life?

Not likely. The size of this discount is probably way too small to have any material effect on the USPS’s dire financial state. The postal service lost $3.2 billion for the quarter ended March 31. 

Mailers haven't necessarily been totally on board with the USPS summer discounts. Several have said they only benefit larger mailers. Others have criticized the USPS for not on effectively promoting this program to mailers.

Last year the USPS staked the entire summer sale on QR codes and now says the effort was quite successful. Why are they backing off the initiative now?

Engaging in idiotic practices like cutting the summer discount only adds fuel to the fire of those who say the USPS cannot operate like a business and should be privatized.

And they may have a point.