Asheville P&DC Studied for Consolidation
September 14, 2011
The United States Postal Service announced today it is engaging in a study to determine if the Asheville area Processing & Distribution Center (P&DC) on Brevard Road should be consolidated with the P&DC in Greenville, SC.
As a small business dealing primarily with direct mail and marketing, we are very concerned about this news and will be monitoring the situation closely. Nearly all of the mail we produce, sort or otherwise manage ends up being inducted at the Brevard Road station, so any consolidation to the Greenville station would have great interest for us and our local client base.
The study will be concluded sometime in early 2012, and should the Asheville P&DC be on the list of centers suggested for consolidation, there will be a window of public commentary regarding the changes. A public hearing on the proposed consolidation would also be held to gather information prior to a final decision being made by the USPS.
However, it is our opinion that the Asheville P&DC will not be consolidated to Greenville. Given the wide area this P&DC serves, and the often remote geography of Western North Carolina, we do not see a consolidated P&DC in Greenville as a viable cost-cutting solution. This solution is far better suited to more metropolitan areas where multiple types of centers operate within a far smaller geographic area.
Additionally, part of the official press release from the USPS stated that as a result of these planned consolidations, First-Class Mail service (such as what you send with a regular stamp) delivery time would be reduced from it's current 1-3 day delivery window to a 2-3 day delivery time.
In either case, MMS will continue to provide the fast, cost-efficient expert service the area has come to expect. Our proactive approach to scheduling and managing direct mail projects already takes into account expected delivery times for all classes of mail. Should there be a reduction in guaranteed delivery times, we will simply shift our scheduling and continue to help you deliver your message on time.
Despite ongoing losses at the USPS, the mailing industry is very much alive. Direct mail is still considered one of the best, most effective means of marketing.
As a part of our industry trade group, MFSA, we are part of the largest lobbying effort to keep the USPS operational and financially sound. Needless to say, we are keeping very close watch on the events surrounding the USPS and will endeavor to keep you, our customers, informed as well.
