USPS to Offer a Sale on Postage

Does postage ever go on sale? It looks like it will this summer. The USPS is set to offer a special 3% discount in July and August for any letters or flats that include QR codes.

QR Code for CR Print website

QR codes are those two-dimensional mobile barcodes that can be read by smartphones like the iPhone, Blackberry or Android. Smartphone users have to first download an app to read the code. Scanning a QR code with the phone's camera opens the app which launches a browser taking you directly to a page on the internet. The uses of this technology are limited only by your imagination. A printed ad can immediately take you to a web page with detailed information about the product or service in the ad. A postcard promoting a restaurant could have a QR code that opens to the menu, a view of the dining room, and a link to make an online reservation. Want to know what seats are available for a performance? Scan the QR code on the poster for a seating chart. The QR code on any packaged item might provide detailed information about assembly, warranty, accessories, nutrition, or innumerable other options.

So why is the Post Office offering a discount to mailers? The Post Office believes that, over time, QR codes can increase demand for mailing services. According to Thomas Foti, the Postal Service manager of marketing mail, “As customers continue to use QR codes, we think this increases the effectiveness of mail, which encourages the demand for mail, and hopefully longer term it increases our volume.” Marketers already know that direct mail is an very effective advertising medium. Adding the ability to connect quickly and efficiently to an internet landing page increases the power of that medium exponentially.