FRONT PAGE
Stamp Program Offers Custom Fit
Specialty Store program makes it easy to order and send postage
Whether you need to order postage for one store or thousands of locations, the Postal Service’s Specialty Store program offers your business the simplicity of ordering and sending postage from a single supplier.
Accounts are easy to set up and payment can be made through check, ACH, wire transfer or credit card. You can order any format, design and denomination of stamps to fit your mailing needs. You can order whenever you need stamps, or set up a regular schedule of postage purchases and pay no shipping and handling. You can receive a monthly report of orders placed and costs involved.
This program is a great way for businesses to allow individual stores to maintain their postage inventory while at the same time providing corporate level control and tracking.
Financial institutions, clothing companies, direct marketing and mailing houses, and state government agencies are among the businesses and organizations currently using the Specialty Store program.
Want to learn more? Contact Mary Derks with Stamp Fulfillment Services at 816-545-1282 or e-mail mary.s.derks@usps.gov.
Honoring Outstanding Achievement
Premier PCC Program recognition during National PCC Day
At the recent National PCC Day, the Postal Service recognized outstanding achievements through the Premier PCC Program. The program provides PCCs with a set of national standards that serve as benchmarks of PCC excellence and is intended to give every PCC an opportunity to become the best it can be, regardless of size.
The following PCCs were honored:
Bronze Level
- Buffalo/Niagara
- Central Massachusetts
- Central Ohio
- Des Moines
- Evansville River Cities
- Fairfield County
- Greater Charlotte
- Greater Philadelphia
- Greater Pittsburgh
- Greater Rochester
- Greater Spokane
- Kentuckiana
- Lehigh Valley
- Midlands
- Mid-Michigan
- Western Massachusetts
Silver Level
- Capital Region
- Central New York
- Erie
- Greater Atlanta
- Greater Dallas
- Greater Oklahoma
- Greater St. Louis
- Greater Triangle Area
- Middle Tennessee
- Northeast Florida
- Northern Illinois
- Providence
- South Central Minnesota
- Twin Cities
- Utah
Gold Level
- Central Florida
- Fort Worth
- Greater Kansas City
- Long Island
- Sacramento
- Tampa
- Washington Metropolitan
- West Michigan
You can find out more about the PCC Premier Program at http://www.usps.com/nationalpcc/premierprogram.htm.
WHAT'S UP
Sizing The IM Barcode
Need the new specs for the Intelligent Mail (IM) barcode? A document detailing revised height and clearance requirements is posted on the Rapid Information Bulletin Board System (RIBBS) website at http://ribbs.usps.gov/onecodesolution. Changes to the specifications were requested by mailers of flat-size mailpieces. The barcode height now can be between 0.125” and 0.165”. In addition, we also reduced the clear zone requirement to 0.028” above and below the barcode. The 0.125” clear zone on each end of the barcode remains unchanged.
The RIBBS website also has revised specification documents for the IM container barcode and IM tray label.
For more information on how you can make your mail smarter, contact the Intelligent Mail group at imaq@usps.gov.
FSS At Dulles
Delivery and assembly of the first flat sorter sequencing (FSS) machine at the Dulles Processing and Distribution Center in Virginia is under way. The FSS will sort flat mail into delivery point sequence much like the delivery barcode sorter sorts letter mail into delivery sequence. The assembly of the pre-production model should be complete by the end of this month. Following a six- to eight-week testing and burn-in, live mail processing will begin. When completed, Dulles will house four FSS machines and sequence flats for all of Northern Virginia.
Click For DMM Updates
Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com is your source for up-to-date mailing standards. The Domestic Mail Manual is fully searchable on Postal Explorer and features fly-out menus, cross-reference links and an extensive subject index. Click Summary of Changes for recent revisions, which include updated flexibility and uniform thickness standards for flat-size mail, new parcel design options and Periodicals optional tray preparation.
Periodicals Debut
As of Sept. 4, all Periodicals mailers began scheduling appointments in the Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) system. FAST for Periodicals enhances visibility into scheduled Periodicals drop shipments at each USPS facility. FAST also provides mailers the ability to submit and manage their Periodicals recurring appointment requests online.
Mailers should have their appointment number on PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance, as soon as operationally possible. Software vendors who have been unable to generate PS Forms 8125 with the appointment number will be able to comply by Nov. 13.
FAST for Periodicals does not mean that Periodicals drop shipments without an appointment will be turned away. Periodicals mailers who arrive without an appointment will be accepted after Periodicals mailers who have scheduled an appointment in FAST.
All Periodicals customers who have not yet registered for FAST should do so immediately by visiting the PostalOne! home page at usps.com/postalone. Instructions on how to register are available at the FAST website at https://fast.usps.com/fast. Without logging in, you can click Resources and Reference for information.
Send questions or concerns about FAST for Periodicals to fast@usps.com. Put “FAST for Periodicals” in the subject line.
Mailer Rating Goes Nationwide
The national deployment of Mailer Rating enters its final phase today and will include FAST/Surface Visibility facilities in the Capital Metro, New York Metro, Northeast, Pacific and Southeast areas. Mailer Rating applies to all Standard Mail and Package Services drop shipment appointments. Pure Periodicals and perishable appointments are not rated. Mailer Rating does not apply to destination delivery units.
Information about Mailer Rating rules is available on the FAST website at https://fast.usps.com/fast. Without logging in, click Resources. Training presentations also are available for download.
E-mail your questions or concerns about Mailer Rating to fast@usps.com. Be sure to include “Mailer Rating national deployment” in the subject line.
SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS
What Makes A PCC Of The Year?
Honored as PCC of the Year for 2007, the Greater St. Louis PCC is committed to educating its members about mail and postal services to help grow the mailing industry and vendor-related businesses. It offers distinctive educational programs through promotion of certificate programs and workshops-in-a-box. Among its many accomplishments, the Greater St. Louis PCC added 175 new PCC members, added rotating membership spots on its Executive Board to bring in fresh new ideas, and published a quarterly newsletter featuring education programs, membership meetings, member spotlight, Postmaster column and money-saving ideas and interesting facts. Want to learn more about what it takes to become a PCC of the Year? Go to the National PCC website at usps.com/pcc. You’ll also find information about all the 2007 PCC Leadership Award winners.
KEEPING POSTED
2008
- The 2008 National Postal Forum is May 18-21 in Anaheim, CA. Make plans now to attend. Check the NPF website at npf.org for more information.
INFO@USPS
Your Links To Mailing Resources
U.S. Postal Service: www.usps.com
National PCC Network: www.usps.com/pcc
Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: ribbs.usps.gov
Questions? Comments? Send an e-mail to pccinsider@usps.gov
Sign up for PCC Insider at www.usps.com/pcc, select "PCC Insider Registration"
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