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  • This graphic from www.usps.com/service-standards/ for periodicals being mailed from 69152 shows the western half of Nebraska and parts of South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas should be getting their Tribune in 4 days. But with Sundays not counting, that means 4 days could mean not until Monday. The rest of the nation - including the eastern half of Nebraska has an even longer service standard.
    This graphic from www.usps.com/service-standards/ for periodicals being mailed from 69152 shows the western half of Nebraska and parts of South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas should be getting their Tribune in 4 days. But with Sundays not counting, that means 4 days could mean not until Monday. The rest of the nation - including the eastern half of Nebraska has an even longer service standard.

    by Gerri Peterson 
    Last week I watched a webinar that the National Newspaper Association did earlier this month discussing changes the U.S. Postal Service has made to its delivery network. The session discussed what we as periodicals can do to get the timeliest delivery possible to our subscribers. 
    Unfortunately, here at the Tribune the only thing I’m not already doing is driving directly to other post offices to drop off papers, which in rural areas is just not feasible - especially with a one-person staff! 
    I did learn that you can go to www.usps.com/service-standards/, enter the mailing service you are using and the zip code from where you are mailing something to see what the USPS says their delivery standards are. This is the number of days a customer should expect for the delivery of a mail piece. 
    It should also be mentioned that Sundays are no longer considered part of the service standard days. And if your regional USPS hub is more than 50 miles from you, that adds to the standard too. 
    This is obviously having a huge affect on rural areas! 
    Not to mention we are rarely seeing the delivery standards actually being met. 
    It was eye opening to me though - I now see why my eastern Nebraska subscribers (including as close as Kearney) are getting their Tribunes a week after I mail them! The entire eastern half of the state is in the 5 day delivery standard and if you throw in a Sunday… there you go. 
    For those who wonder why your First-Class mail never arrives when you think it should - delivery standards for 69152 are just one day less than the periodical’s for most areas!
    As always when I’m “bashing” the USPS - I have nothing but great things to say about our local post office employees! They, like me, have no control over the mail when it leaves their post office. 
    The presenter said exactly what I already encourage - if you want to get your paper the week it actually comes out, an e-edition is the way to go. 
    The e-edition of the Tribune is emailed early every Wednesday morning. There is no additional charge to add an e-edition to your print subscription, just go to www.hookercountytribune.com and click on e-edition at the top of your screen. 
    I’ve had many subscribers switch over to the e-edition only. The photos are in color. You can zoom in on the text so it’s easier to read. And oh - it arrives on time.