News & Events
USPS QR Code Summer Sale
Since 2009, the USPS has provided mailers the opportunity to participate in special "Summer Sale" promotions that are designed to lower postage costs for their clients as well as drive volume for the USPS. Last year the Summer Sale focused on a client’s mail volume from the previous year and provided postage rebates for clients that met or exceeded a certain volume.This year, the Summer Sale program is focused on QR codes that can be scanned by a smartphone and link consumers to a customized URL. During the months of the promotion, any mail piece that has a QR code that is used for marketing purposes, will receive an up-front 3% discount on their postage. The goal of the promotion is to build awareness of mobile barcodes and demonstrate to mailers how mobile barcodes can increase the value of mail while "blurring" the lines between online and offline marketing. Below are some of the specifications of the QR Code Summer Sale:
- The Mobile Barcode Promotion applies to mail entered into the postal stream from July 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011, and provides an upfront 3% discount on First Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Non-Profit letters, cards, and flats that include a mobile barcode.
- Mobile barcodes must be readable by a smartphone and used for marketing or advertising purposes and be reasonably relevant to the mail piece.
- Mailing documentation must be submitted electronically and postage must be paid using a Permit Imprint.
- The Mobile Barcode Promotion does not require an application or advance registration and there is not a minimum volume required to participate other than the needed volume for the category and class of mail (For Example 200 is the minimum to mail via Standard Letter Rate).
- The discount must be claimed at the time of mail acceptance and postage payment.
- The mobile barcode can be placed within the mail piece or on the outside of the mail piece.
- There is no limit on the number of times a mailer can receive the discount as long as the mail is accepted during the promotional period.
- During the promotion period and after the period has ended, the USPS will conduct a random sample of mail pieces that qualified for the discount. All customers who receive the discount must retain an electronic or hard copy sample of the mail piece until October 31, 2011 and if requested by the USPS, forward a sample to the Mobile Barcode Promotion program office for verification.
