Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 5 down vote favorite

In the table published at this U.S. Postal Service Website, USPS compares different service classes in different aspects. One aspect is called "incentive". I wonder what it means? From Google, I guess it may mean "A payment or concession to stimulate greater output or investment", but this meaning doesn't explain the aspect in the USPS table well to me.

share|improve this question
The only definition I could find that made sense was this "an additional payment made to employees as a means of increasing production". If all have incentive, though, what's the point of it? How is it "additional"? I'm eager to see other's input. – Luke Aug 5 '12 at 0:00
The basic incentive is monthly or annual salary or hourly wage. The additional incentive is something akin to a tip (gratuity) for a waiter or waitress, a bellhop, etc., a commission for a salesperson, or, as I just read in a paper about teaching university classes in Taiwan in English instead of in Chinese, a 30-50% higher teaching fee per English-taught course. – Bill Franke Aug 5 '12 at 1:01
I think it just means there are incentive programs available to encourage commercial mailers to use all of those classes of mail. See these links: usps.com/mobile-barcode/pdf/… and piworld.com/article/… – JLG Aug 5 '12 at 1:02
@JLG: Does "incentive" mean that the unit price will be lower, if a mailer mails a lot of mails? – Tim Aug 5 '12 at 1:15
Yes, I think they get some sort of discount if they enroll in the programs. It doesn't seem to apply to residential customers. – JLG Aug 5 '12 at 1:19
show 1 more comment

2 Answers

up vote 5 down vote

It refers to discounts applied for certain classes of customer participation, be it volume or voluntary technological compliance (USPS barcode labelling, etc.)

share|improve this answer
That's how Old Thrashbarg got to know! :) – asymptotically Aug 5 '12 at 7:47
@asymptotically: What does "thrashbarg" mean? Same question for "Old Thrashbarg"? – Tim Aug 5 '12 at 11:35
@Tim In "Mostly Harmless," Old Thrashbarg is a fake sage who claims that he has been sent to the world by a mighty "Bob," and all that he knows was told to hi by Bob. – asymptotically Aug 5 '12 at 12:39
up vote 2 down vote

Generically, the USPS defines "incentive programs" to mean:

Incentive Programs allow customers to participate in marketing campaigns offered by the USPS®. Customers can register for these events and qualify for incentives available for certain products offered by USPS. Conditions and terms will vary.

That said, after looking through the links provided in JLG's comments, browsing some USPS websites, and talking to my cousin last night (who works for the USPS), I can't find any incentive program other than the one that gives a 2% discount if registered business customers use barcodes on their mailings. (Intuitively, such a discount would make sense, as the barcodes would reduce USPS labor costs by allowing the envelopes to be sorted via automation, rather than by hand.)

However, a USPS website says:

The 2012 Mobile Commerce and Personalization Promotion will provide business mailers with an upfront 2% postage discount on Standard Mail® and First-Class Mail® letters, flats, and cards (presort and automation only) that include a two-dimensional (2-D) barcode or print/mobile technology that can be read or scanned by a mobile device.

Similar to last year's Mobile Barcode promotion; this promotion focuses on the integration of mobile technologies with direct mail as a means of reinforcing mail's continuing relevance as a marketing channel. The 2012 promotion specifies that barcode or similar technology must lead the recipient directly to either: (1) a webpage that allows the recipient to purchase a product or service on a mobile device, or (2) a personalized URL, which leads to a web page that is unique to an individual recipient. Best practices such as directional copy and mobile optimization are also required.

Stamps.com mentions up to four ways an envelope can be barcoded:

enter image description here

but I'm not sure if any of those barcodes would lead someone to "a webpage that allows the recipient to purchase a product or service on a mobile device, or a personalized URL, which leads to a web page that is unique to an individual recipient," causing me to wonder if any of those barcode(s) would qualify a registered business customer for the discount.

I don't believe any volume discount applies when referring to "incentives" in this context. The USPS does offer bulk mailing rates, but I don't think that falls under "incentives" in the table at the O.P.'s website.

Moreover, incentive programs don't seem to be run year-round; the one mentioned above ends at the end of August 2012.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.