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July 2007

CONTENTS:

  FRONT PAGE

• Getting To Know You
• New Product Brings Sweet Success
• Making Appointed Rounds
• New Small Bundle Tracking System

  WHAT'S UP

  SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS

  KEEPING POSTED

  INFO@USPS

FRONT PAGE

Getting To Know You

Spread the word about your mail-related services

If you’re a mail service provider, are you ready to “network” with business mailers?

Through the Postal Customer Council (PCC) Network of more than 200 PCCs nationwide, you can enroll in the Mail Service Provider (MSP) program, with options for local or national participation. You can participate in the program if you offer the following mail-related services:

• Mail preparation
• Mailing lists
• Mail printing
• Mailing support
• Mailing supplies
• Mailing equipment

How do you enroll? Go to the National PCC website at www.usps.com/pcc, click on the “Locate a PCC” link to find a PCC nearest you and then contact the person listed for details.

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New Product Brings Sweet Success

Newest “Link” technology helps you connect with business customers

The Postal Service is making it easier for mailers to reach their business customers with the newest “Link” technology product. It’s called Suite^Link.

According to USPS estimates, nearly 1.8 billion mailpieces are sent to business addresses in large buildings without the correct suite number. Getting these mailpieces delivered depends entirely on the carrier's personal knowledge. But the carrier might not always know where the mail should be delivered and the mailpiece can end up as undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA).

Suite^Linkis designed to help fix these incomplete or inaccurate business addresses by matching to the business name and providing the correct suite number. This allows the mailpiece to be correctly and completely addressed to a valid delivery point and avoid becoming possible UAA mail. With Suite^Link, mailers experience more efficient processing and delivery of their business-addressed mail.

Suite^Link has such a positive impact on UAA mail that address-matching software manufacturers have been notified that Suite^Linkwill be a required component of the CASS Cycle M certification process for all CASS Certified software products effective August 2008. In addition, effective Cycle N mailers will be required to use the Suite^Linkcomponent in their CASS Certified software beginning August 2009.

There’s no need to wait to take advantage of this sweet deal. Suite^Linkis available now through many address-matching software providers. For more information about this new “Link” technology product, contact the National Customer Support Center at 800-238-3150 or your software provider.

Treat all your business mail to Suite^Linkand enjoy the sweet taste of success!

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Making Appointed Rounds

Mailer Rating is being pilot tested as part of FAST

The Postal Service has launched a pilot program to improve the drop shipment process for Standard Mail and Package Services customers. It’s called Mailer Rating, part of the Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) system. Mailer Rating currently is being used at the following facilities:

• Cedar Rapids Plant, Cedar Rapids, IA.
• Des Moines Bulk Mail Center, Des Moines, IA.
• Industry Plant, Industry, CA.
• Queens Plant, Flushing, NY.
• New York Plant, New York, NY.

Mailers making drop shipments at any of the above pilot facilities should be aware that appointment availability is now based on the Mailer Rating tier system.

Mailer Rating offers the most efficient drop shipment customers a greater opportunity to schedule appointments. Mailers who provide advance notification and arrive at the scheduled date and time with accurate contents will have more access to appointments than mailers who do not.

Mailer Rating applies to all Standard Mail and Package Services. Pure Periodicals appointments are not rated.

Questions or concerns about the Mailer Rating pilot should be directed to fast@usps.com.

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New Small Bundle Tracking System

Improving mail visibility through Intelligent Mail

Now you can get real-time tracking for small packages.

A scanning system newly introduced by the Postal Service will provide passive enroute tracking for mail processed on Small Parcel and Bundle Sorter (SPBS) machines. The Small Parcel and Bundle Sorter Tracking System (SPBSTS) is the latest addition to the Intelligent Mail and Address Quality platform.

The new system will capture in real time all barcoded mail processed on the sorter machines, allowing customers to track their mailpiece through the USPS Track and Confirm customer Web page at www.usps.com. SPBS Tracking System supports the implementation of full end-to-end visibility and enhances USPS mail tracking services.

For more information, contact the Intelligent Mail group at imaq@usps.gov.

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WHAT'S UP

Reminder For Periodicals Mailers

New mailing standards and prices for all Periodicals mail were implemented July 15. A summary of the Periodicals changes, as well as corresponding Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) changes, were published in the June 7 and June 21 editions of the Postal Bulletin. New Periodicals rates and fees appear on page 10 of Notice 123, Ratefold, which can be found at http://pe.usps.com/. A list of frequently asked questions on Periodicals can be found at www.usps.com/ratecase/.

The July 2007 edition of PS Form 3541, Postage Statement — Periodicals: One Issue or One Edition, as well as instructions for completing this statement, can be found at usps.com/ratecase.

If you enter mailings at Post Offices supported by PostalOne!, the system enables you to submit domestic postage statements using a secure Internet connection. All that’s needed is an Internet connection and a logon ID. The system offers different features for mail owners as well as mailing agents. For additional information, go to the PostalOne! website at usps.com/postalone and click “New Customers – Apply for a PostalOne! account.”

If you have questions, or require assistance, contact the Post Office where you enter your mailings.  

FAST For Periodicals

All Periodicals mailers will be required to schedule appointments in FAST beginning Sept. 4. Recurring appointment requests should be submitted by July 31. You must register for FAST through PostalOne! to obtain corporate and scheduler IDs. A scheduler ID is required to make an appointment. 

For more information on registration and training, go to https://fast.usps.com. Without logging in, you can click Resources, then Reference Documents. Job aids and training are available for download. Send an e-mail to fastperiodicals@usps.com to be added to our mailing list.

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SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS

Building A Bigger Board For Van Nuys PCC

Van Nuys PCC members: standing, Bob Belz and Sharon Postelwait-Belz with George Parsons.

Ahead of implementation of new pricing by the Postal Service, the Van Nuys PCC set up three certificate programs on delivery point validation, shape-based pricing and mailpiece design. More than 100 people attended each session — double the usual participation — and 40 people qualified for a “Mail Center Professional Certificate” by attending all three meetings.

During the meetings, the Van Nuys PCC promoted advisory board participation to this larger audience, and the class was paying attention. The advisory board added five new members.

Go to the head of the class, Van Nuys! Through education efforts, this PCC is building a bigger board to better serve members.

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• National PCC Day, Sept. 19. Events are planned at PCCs across the nation. Check with your local PCC.   
• NPF Call for Papers: If you would like to be considered to present a workshop at the Anaheim, CA 2008 National Postal Forum, you can go to www.npf.org and click on “Call for Papers” link to access the National Postal Forum - May 18-21, 2008 - Workshop Proposal Form. Your proposal must be submitted no later than close of business Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. Every proposal will be reviewed by Oct. 1, 2007, and all submissions will receive a response.

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