Information about undeliverable magazines will now come electronically

Starting January 14, the old system of magazines receiving a bundle of covers and address blocks torn off undeliverable magazines will be going the way of the dodo. After consultation with the industry, Canada Post is instituting an electronic reporting system.

Publications currently pay for the undeliverables service as part of their publications mail agreement. Now, though they'll have to register for it, they can receive a weekly electronic report showing the address and keyline (subscriber account) information from undeliverable copies by e-mail, at no extra charge. The undeliverable magazines will be disposed of by Canada Post.

[UPDATE] The sharp-eyed Shoestring blog for small magazines (Magazines Canada) spotted that returned copies for magazines that don't register will now cost $1 apiece! Yikes.