The USPS is now offering an Earned Value Promotion for mailers who use First-Class Mail Business Reply Mail (BRM).
The 2013 “Earned Value” promotion will be offered to mailers who use First-Class Mail Business Reply Mail (BRM) which includes Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM); and Courtesy Reply Mail (CRM) enclosures. Mailers must register their Mailer IDs (MIDs) and the Permit account to which future earned credits will be applied on the Business Customer Gateway to participate. The Intelligent Mail Visibility (IMVIS) system will send scan data to the Alternate Postage system. All mailpiece counts for BRM and CRM pieces containing the registered MID(s) that customers return to the registered mailer will be collected. At the end of the promotion, the award value assigned to BRM will be multiplied by total BRM pieces scanned and the award value assigned to CRM will be multiplied by the total CRM pieces scanned. The award amount or credit will be applied to the mailer’s Permit account. The mailer can apply the earned credit to future mailings of First-Class Mail Presort automation letters, and Standard Mail letters.
You can find the requirements for the Earned Value Promotion here.
Registration Requirements – Participants must register their MIDs on the Incentive Programs Service Registration Page within the Business Customer Gateway. Mail service providers can register on behalf of mail owners but they cannot enroll customers via the auto-enrollment features. At the time of registration, participants must also select a Permit account to which future credits will be applied. Mailers agree to participate in a survey about the promotion. Registration is now open and ends on March 31, 2013.
The rebate calculation for the Earned Value is at the end of the promotion. The award value assigned to BRM will be multiplied by total BRM pieces scanned and the award value assigned to CRM will be multiplied by the total CRM pieces scanned.
Earned Value Calculation
Earned Value = $0.02 x Total BRM Pieces Scanned
Earned Value = $0.02 x Total CRM Pieces Scanned
Redemption Process
Rebate Credits: The rebate credit is earned on Reply Mail (i.e., BRM/QBRM, CRM) that is scanned by the IM-VIS system during the promotion period April 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013. Rebate credit will not be earned on pieces scanned after June 30, 2013 even if the outbound mailpiece was sent prior to that date. Additionally, will a credit cannot be earned for reply pieces that do not contain an IMb.
Rebate Redemption: Participants can redeem rebate credits for postage on future mailings of FirstClass Mail Presort and Automation letters and cards and Standard Mail letters paid from the Permit account where the Earned Value credit was applied. At this time, there is no expiration on these credits and the earned value or credit may be applied until the mailer has drawn down the balance to zero. EDoc is required to obtain their credits on a mailing statement.
For more information on mailpiece/mailing design requirements and other frequently asked questions, visit the USPS Earned Value Promotion FAQs page.
Information from this article was taken directly from the USPS.
