Making it easier for customers to use the Postal Service

Happy Anniversary, Mailing Online!

Got a product to sell and have a staff of one — yourself? Or maybe your business is a bit larger, but you’re looking for a way to save time and money in getting your message out to your customers. USPS offers an easy way to create and send traditional hard copy mail directly from your desktop computer. It’s Mailing Online, one of the NetPost Services available at www.usps.com.

Mailing Online (MOL) marked its three-year anniversary in September and it’s more popular than ever. In fact, twice as many customers are mailing more than twice as many pieces as they did just one year ago with Mailing Online.

MOL is one of the NetPost Services available to customers on www.usps.com. These services allow customers to create and send hard copy mail — letters, flyers, postcards, self-mailers, greeting cards, etc. — directly from their desktop computers. Users simply upload a document and recipient address list, choose printing and mailing options, make a secure payment and the USPS does the printing and mailing for them.

“Mailing Online provides real convenience for our customers, especially the small to medium size business mailer,” said Jim Samaniego, Manager of e-Commerce for the Postal Service. “Our customers have really embraced Mailing Online. In fact, in the month of October, we had more customers use the service and we produced more mail for these customers than any other accounting period in our history! Whether mailing one piece or ten thousand, users can create and send their mailings online directly from their desktop computers faster, easier and more affordably.”

MOL also has big plans for its fourth year. Customers can look forward to some exciting enhancements to the service in early 2004 that will increase printing and mailing options. MOL is implementing new technology designed to provide increased features to customers as well as improved order processing. New features and options will include the ability to incorporate company logos in return addresses, a new oversized 6x9 postcard, and the ability to accept variable graphic elements. And that’s only the beginning.

Stay tuned for more ways to leverage the power of the mail….coming soon to a PC near you!

Mailing Online, and all the NetPost Services, are available at www.usps.com/netpost.

Got holiday shopping and shipping to do? Do it all online at www.usps.com.

Online Tracking Is Now Easier

USPS is making it easier for customers who use postal tracking services to get information online. Instead of separate websites, this information soon will be available in one place — Mail Tracking & Reporting at http://mailtracking.usps.com.

This is the place to go for information and reports on all postal tracking initiatives such as Confirm, Entry Information, Parcel Select Performance, Delivery Confirmation and Signature Confirmation. The website also can be accessed from the Customer Gateway via the “National and Premier Accounts” link on USPS.com.

Customers who use old Web addresses — such as Confirm customers who go to www.planetcodes.com — will automatically be directed to the new mail tracking website. They’ll get the same information as before — and much more. For example, as part of the new site, USPS will release a new Confirm Web-based report system.

“Intelligent Mail” products that track the mail from origin to delivery are part of the Postal Service’s transformation strategies. Knowing the delivery status of mail can help business customers improve the effectiveness of their communications, lower their costs and improve customer satisfaction.

Cyber Expansion — USPS Now Part of eBay’s Shipping Center

It just got easier for eBay sellers to ship items using USPS products and services. Sellers can stay on eBay and do all their USPS shipping from the auction site.

Sellers can print shipping labels, pay postage and check the delivery status of their items right from eBay. And buyers can calculate shipping costs online. It’s convenient, one-stop shipping for eBay users.

“eBay sellers rely on the Postal Service to deliver their items sold online,” said PMG Jack Potter. “Working with eBay, we have made it easier and more convenient for sellers to prepare and pay shipping for their sold products without leaving their homes.”

Click on the USPS symbol on eBay’s website www.ebay.com to find USPS shipping options and online tools to help make shipping easier. eBay also plans to include Express Mail rates in the eBay shipping calculator later this year.

Other future enhancements include moving USPS shipping options onto sellers’ eBay accounts.

Flat Rate Envelopes — Questions and Answers

Which USPS-provided envelopes can be used to mail items at the Express Mail or Priority Mail flat rate?

Until old inventory has been depleted, all 12.5” x 9.5” USPS-provided cardboard envelopes that reference the old two-pound flat rate or reference no rate are considered to be “Flat Rate Envelopes” and are charged the current flat rate for the corresponding service ($3.85 for Priority Mail and $13.65 for Express Mail).

Are flat rate items limited to documents or can any item be placed in flat rate envelopes?

Contents enclosed may consist of any mailable matter. A flat rate envelope does not have to remain physically flat to be eligible for flat rate postage. Any amount of mailable material enclosed within the flat rate envelope is afforded the flat rate regardless of the weight.

Can cellophane or masking tape be used to close or reinforce packages?

When mailing at the Priority Mail or Express Mail flat rate, the contents of the flat rate envelope must be confined within the envelope with the adhesive provided on the flap as the primary means of closure. The flap must be able to close and adhere to the envelope. Tape may be applied to reinforce the envelope provided the design of the envelope is not enlarged by any means.

Flat rate envelopes and other shipping supplies are available at your local Post Office and at www.usps.com.

INFO @ USPS

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