A: The Mobile Barcode Promotion is intended to build awareness of mobile technology and demonstrate to mailers how mobile barcodes can increase the value of mail. The promotion provides business mailers with an upfront 3% discount on Standard and First- Class mail letters, flats and cards that include a two-dimensional barcode that can be read or scanned by a smartphone.
A: The Mobile Barcode Promotion was designed to increase the value of direct mail and build awareness around integrating mobile technology into direct mail communications.
A: The promotion runs from July 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011.
A: All companies, including mail service providers, who mail using a permit imprint and submit their mailing documentation electronically are eligible to participate.
A: The Mobile Barcode Promotion does not require an application or advance registration.
A. Submit qualifying First-Class or Standard Mail letters, flats or cards electronically using a permit imprint payment method to the BME for acceptance within the specified promotion period and meet all other promotion requirements.
A: All of the following must apply:
A: The marketing information relayed in the mobile barcode must be relevant to the contents of the mailpiece. Barcodes directing customers to marketing information for products and services unrelated to the mailpiece content do not qualify for the discount.
A: If there are multiple companies placing advertising within one mailpiece and only one of the companies uses a barcode in its advertisement, the entire mailpiece will qualify for the discount. It is prohibited, however, to place a barcode on a mailpiece leading to information that has no relevance to any companies who have placed customer communications or advertised in the mailpiece.
A: The scope of this promotion includes only mobile barcode mailings supported by a single postage statement. First-Class Mail and Standard commingled, combined and co-mail mailings (including MLOCR mailings) may only qualify for the Mobile Barcode promotion if all of the pieces commingled in the mailing have mobile barcodes or if the mailings include multiple clients (or versions) , but have separate postage statements generated by client (or version) that contain mobile barcode.Commingled, combined and co-mail mailings which do not separate mobile barcode mailings in separate postage statements from non-mobile barcode mailings, are not eligible for the discount.
Individually presented and accepted mailings that are later copalletized are eligible for the Mobile Barcode Promotion. This includes Standard Mail copalletized trays when the mailings are individually presented for acceptance and then copalletized.
A: Each mailing is eligible only for one incentive per mailpiece, per postage statement. "Workshare discounts" such as destination entry prices, or IMb full-service discounts, are part of the published price schedule and are not considered incentive discounts. If all other program requirements are met, these mailings can qualify for the Mobile Barcode Promotion discount.
A: If a mailer is participating in the Reply Rides Free incentive all First-Class Mail Presort and Automation Letter volumes count toward the threshold. If the mailer is declaring mail in a mailing and on a mailing statement as qualifying for the Reply Rides Free rebate, it cannot receive the discount for the Mobile Barcode Promotion. Mailings that have no declared Reply Rides Free volume can qualify for the Mobile Barcode Promotion assuming all other program requirements are met.
A: If a mailer is participating in the 2011 Saturation & High Density Standard Mail Incentive Program, the mailer may qualify for the Mobile Barcode Promotion. Any mailings that receive the Mobile Barcode discount, however, are excluded entirely from the Saturation & High Density incentive.
If a mailer elects and receives the Mobile Barcode Promotion on any High Density or Saturation mailings, those volumes and revenue will be deducted from its participationeligible volumes at the end of the program. Those volumes will not be counted toward meeting the mailer thresholds, nor will they be rebate-eligible.
A: Yes, assuming all Mobile Barcode Promotion requirements are met and mail is entered at a BMEU.
EDDM Retail mailings that are taken to the local Post Office retail unit for processing, however, are ineligible to participate (these mailings do not meet the permit imprint payment requirement).
A: There are no minimum volumes required to participate, however the mailer must still meet the minimum applicable volumes required for the category and class of mail as outlined in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM).
A: Yes, non-profit mail is eligible for this promotion discount, as long as all other program requirements are met.
A: No, Periodicals are not included in the promotion. Only mailpieces that pay First- Class Mail and Standard Mail postage can qualify for the discount.
A: Postage prices as listed in the published price schedule apply to the mailing and the mobile barcode discount is applied to those prices. The mobile barcode discount is calculated in PostalOne! and applied to the mailing statement at the time of mailing. The three percent Mobile barcode discount is deducted from the total postage amount that is paid at the time of mailing.
A: No, the mobile barcode must contain information or a link that is intended for and usable by the mail recipient.
A: Not necessarily. The Intelligent Mail barcode does not meet the two-dimensional barcode requirements and it is not used for marketing purposes. However, if all the mailpieces in the mailing contain a two-dimensional mobile barcode that is used for marketing purposes (in addition to the Intelligent Mail barcode), then that mailing may qualify for both discounts.
A: A one-dimensional barcode only encodes data along the width of the barcode, while two-dimensional barcodes encode data along both the width and height. Twodimensional barcodes are therefore much denser than one-dimensional barcodes and encode much more data in the same space. Two-dimensional barcodes are also much better at detecting and correcting errors in damaged barcodes.
A: Any two-dimensional barcode can be used as long as it can be scanned or read by a smartphone and is used for marketing purposes.
A. The mobile barcode can be placed within the mailpiece or on the outside of the mailpiece, but cannot be placed in either the 'indicia zone' or the 'barcode clear zone.' The 'indicia zone' is two inches from the top edge by four inches from the right edge of the mailpiece, and the barcode clear zone is defined in the DMM section below.
Domestic Mail Manual mail design requirements (DMM Sections 302.5.1 and 202.5.1) must be met.
For Flats
DMM 302.5.1 General Barcode Placement for Flats
On any flat-size piece claimed at automation prices, the piece may bear one POSTNET barcode or Intelligent Mail barcode under 5.2 or it may bear two POSTNET barcodes under 5.3. Other non-USPS barcodes may appear on the address side of the piece if the barcode format is not discernable to automated postal equipment.
For Letters
DMM 202.5.1 Barcode Clear Zone
Each letter-size piece in an automation price or an Enhanced Carrier Route price mailing must have a barcode clear zone unless the piece bears a POSTNET or an Intelligent Mail barcode with a delivery point routing code (see 708.4.3) in the address block. The barcode clear zone and all printing and material in the clear zone must meet the reflectance standards in 708.4.4. The barcode clear zone is a rectangular area in the lower right corner of the address side of cards and letter-size pieces defined by these boundaries:
- Left: 4-3/4 inches from the right edge of the piece.
- Right: right edge of the piece.
- Top: 5/8 inch from the bottom edge of the piece.
- Bottom: bottom edge of the piece.
A: Mobile barcodes on the detached address label do not qualify for the discount. However, if the mobile barcode is placed on the host piece and all other program requirements are met, the entire postage amount (postage for host piece and DAL) qualifies for the three percent discount.
A: The Postal Service is verifying the presence of mobile barcodes on mailings qualifying for the discount in two ways:
At the time of mail acceptance the mailer must provide a sample of the mailpiece showing the placement of the mobile barcode to the acceptance clerk. If a mailing contains mobile barcode mail from multiple mailers, a sample of each mailers mailpiece must be retained. All mailings are subject to standard acceptance and verification procedures and may be inspected for use of the mobile barcode.
During the promotion period and after the promotion period has ended, the Postal Service will conduct a random sample of mailpieces that qualified for the discount. All customers who receive the discount must retain an electronic or hard copy sample of the mailpiece until October 31, 2011, and if requested by the Postal Service must forward such sample to the Mobile Barcode Promotion program office. One sample must be retained for each individual mailing that qualifies for the discount. If a mailing contains mobile barcode mail from multiple mailers, a sample of each mailers mailpiece must be retained.
A: For further technical information please refer to RIBBS at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intellmailguides for:
A: Individually presented and accepted mailings that are later copalletized are eligible for the Mobile Barcode Promotion, provided all other program requirements are met. This includes Standard Mail copalletized trays when the mailings are individually presented for acceptance and then copalletized.
A: No, all discounts must be claimed at the time of acceptance and payment. There is no process to claim the rebate after the mailpieces have been accepted by the Postal Service.
A: Qualifying mail must be accepted at the local BME within the promotion period, July 1 - August 31, 2011. Mail qualifying for the discount can not be submitted for acceptance at the local acceptance unit prior to July 1, 2011. Mail accepted at the local BME after the local critical acceptance time on August 31, 2011 will not qualify for the discount.
A: PVDS mailings that qualify for the Mobile Barcode Promotion may be verified and paid for beginning June 26, 2011, provided the shipments are not deposited at destination entry postal facilities until July 1, 2011 or later, when presented with appropriate verification and payment documentation (PS Form 8125). PVDS mailings that are verified and paid for on July 1, 2011 and no later than August 31, that qualify for the Mobile Barcode Promotion will be accepted at destination entry postal facilities through September 15, 2011, when presented with appropriate verification and payment documentation (PS Form 8125).
A: No, there are no limits as long as all other promotion requirements are met.
A: No, there are no limits as long as all other promotion requirements are met.
A: For additional information about the promotion you may contact the program office at mobilebarcode@usps.gov.