Canada post rates going up

[Eric B]

Hello

It seems Canada postage rates are going to be going up steeply in 2014. The regular postage rate of 63 cents will be a dollar.

This will have an impact on small organizations which still depend on mailing newsletters and magazines.

It will have an impact on the OMVA. Not sure yet what the rate will be per mailing but should be in the 2.00 area for within Canada, its currently 1.34.

I know the BC club has their newsletter on line. I know not all of our members are on the computer or internet.

What we would save in printing and mailing would be spent on the web page if we were to go online. Plus we would have to have a members only area for them to see the magazine, otherwise anybody could view it. Then what would be the point of being a paying member!

Any thoughts or ideas?

Eric

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Eric

We have been going through basically unannounced postal rate hikes here in the states for the last few years. Recently US Postal started offering Forever Global Stamps current price $1.10 US. Guess I should buy some for the couple of Newsletters we send up to Canada.

Your point is very well taken the jumps in postal rates are going to hit non-profits who have mail out newsletters. Our clubs cost per newsletter printed and mailed is $1.48 each.

Our club has discussed going to a web based Newsletter but each time we check we find that about 1/2 the club doesn't really use computers and prefer a hard copy.

Also suspect that magazines will be taking a $.50 jump in the near future.


Cheers Phil

[rob love]

The postal system is an archaic dinosaur. Anything that can be mailed can now be sent by email. Other dinosaurs include clubs (why travel 20 miles to meet like minded individuals when you can sit at your terminal like we are doing now?) Libraries (anything worth knowing will be on the internet) and brick and mortar stores. Maybe bank tellers too.

Canada Post, but cutting it's home delivery and raising it's lettermail prices, is simply ensuring it's extinction sooner.

[Robin Craig]

Send copy by pdf to members, allowing viewing online on a web page with passwords doesn't work that well as OVLR found out, much easier to pdf it.

R

[Eric B]

Definetly some good ideas and feedback.

Our latest issue of CMP is 122 MB as a PDF. Which would be too large to send out via e-mail. Of course there is probrably a way to reduce this size somewhat.

Plus about 1/4 or more of our members are not on the internet or do not have Internet capability where they live.

If everybody was on line and i knew how to reduce the size, this would definetly be a feasable option.

The issue of logging in to read from a web page might be the reason why other clubs are choosing to go with a non log in version.

Thanks, Lots to ponder.

Eric

[servicepub (RIP)]

This is a real concern to me insofar as the future of Service Publications is concerned.
At this rate the cost of postage will have a significant effect on sales and thereby on my ability to produce new books. Although new books reflect current postage (at $10 for a hard cover book), my backlist books are still at the rate in effect when the book was released.
Unlike most publishers of mass market publications, I cannot rely on the sales of e-books nor can I survive on sales to libraries alone. These proposed increases will hit small publishers very hard.
Clive