Richard, no need to come to the defense of USPS with me. I still feel like our postal service is the best bang for our buck we have in this country.
I explored the possibility of using 2nd class mail when I started the magazine. I was told there is no such thing as second-class mail any more. There is Periodical mail in its place and the percentage of paid advertising pages within the publication dictates qualifications and rates. there is an inspection, application fee and some other rigamarole one must go thru to obtain the permit. The mailing service I use calulated both ways and my postage would almost double if it went periodical. I already pay ovr $1,000/mo. to mail them standard bulk pre-sort. I'm too new and poor yet to spend that much more on postage. Besides my regular monthly mailing, I must pay $1.42 for every single piece sample requested, or someone who subscribes on the 10th of the month and wants to start with that month (which has already mailed) and I get many of those requests in a month's time.
The magazine has never been in the red (thank God) but I'm not to the really comfortable level yet either. So I save where I can and try to compensate by getting the magazine out a little earlier each month. Sometimes I get bitten by holiday mail or non-mail holidays, first of the month mail, or other priority mailings. I just pray for now that the readers will know that with the exception of the ARHA hunt schedules, the articles and information within the magazine are timeless and a few days either way won't change it. Sometimes an issue won't survive the mail and that can't be helped. The readers know (I hope they do) that I will never let them go without an issue they paid for if I have to send it out 3 times.
All is well with me and the USPS. Perhaps one day the magazine will be profitable enough that I can afford to send it out first-class. Wouldn't that be great?
