MEMO TO MAILERS - NOVEMBER 2006 (text)
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
VOLUME 41 NUMBER 11
NOVEMBER 2006

WHAT'S INSIDE
DIRECT MAIL
INTRODUCING SCAN
APPROVED SHIPPER PROGRAM
SHIPPING ASSISTANT
KEEPING POSTED
POSTAL NEWS BRIEFS

-------

GOT IT! SCAN CONFIRMS SHIPMENT
Got you covered, from start to finish.

The Postal Service has launched a new PC Postage feature — Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice (SCAN) — that lets customers know their packages have been picked up and are entering the mailstream. When teamed with Delivery Confirmation, which verifies packages have arrived at their destinations, the USPS gives online shippers end-to-end visibility to meet their business needs.

How does SCAN work? When mailers go online to ship packages, using Click-N-Ship or other USPS-authorized PC Postage/label printing solutions, they can print a shipping notice — PS Form 5630, Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice. It contains a barcode that’s linked to all packages in the shipment. They can give the packages to their letter carrier or bring them to the retail counter or back dock.

“Having the ability to manifest my packages is awesome,” says Eugene Buccellato, president of Digital Media Outlet, based on Long Island, NY. The company, which specializes in the sale of memory cards and chips used in cell phones and digital devices, ships 200-400 packages each day. “If I had to have each package scanned individually at the Post Office, I’d never get out of there,” he says. “The fact that I can have them all connected to just one barcode allows me to get in and out in a flash, or better yet, have them picked up by my carrier with Carrier Pickup.”

With SCAN, shippers can show their customers that items have been shipped by entering the label barcode number on USPS.com or the PC Postage vendor’s site.

“The acceptance scan eliminates 90 to 95 percent of my customers’ concerns,” says Buccellato. “When customers are dealing with an online retailer, trust is a big factor. Knowing they can go online and see that their item is in the mail builds customer trust in my business. People remember those kinds of things. It’s just good customer service.”

USPS customers now have a complete online solution for shipping expedited packages — online labels with postage, free packaging, free Delivery Confirmation service, free Carrier Pickup service and, with SCAN, the ability to validate shipment acceptance.

Shipping packages doesn’t get much easier than that, does it? Go to USPS.com for online shipping and mailing options.

-------

SIGNS OF GREAT SHIPPING
With the busy holiday mailing season ahead, customers will find plenty of signs of convenient shipping — the Postal Service Eagle displayed at hundreds of small shipping and mailing businesses across the country that are part of the USPS Approved Shipper Program.

Through a special licensing agreement, the program provides authorized Postal Service-branded signs at no charge to qualified small mailing and postal centers. These businesses must use a postage meter or PC Postage account, accept Click-N-Ship and other prepaid packages, and follow HAZMAT and Aviation Mail Security guidelines for accepting and handling packages.

USPS Approved Shippers can offer the most commonly requested postal services:

• Express Mail
• Priority Mail
• First-Class Mail
• Parcel Post
• Global Express Guaranteed
• Global Priority Mail
• Delivery Confirmation
• Signature Confirmation
• Certified Mail
• Insurance
• Return receipt

If you’re interesting in becoming part of the USPS Approved Shipper Program, contact your local Postmaster or station manager.

-------

INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY MAILING
If you’re sending holiday letters and packages overseas this year, your expedited delivery options include Global Express Guaranteed, Global Express Mail and Global Priority Mail. Go to usps.com/global/deliveryoptions for detailed information.

For delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25 to international addresses, the Postal Service suggests customers follow the recommended mailing dates listed below:

1 GXG: Global Express Guaranteed is available to more than 190 countries via a partnership with Federal Express. See a retail associate at participating locations for a complete list of countries and money-back guarantee details. Some restrictions apply.

2 GEM: Global Express Mail is available to more than 190 countries with delivery in 3 to 5 business days. See a retail associate at participating locations for a complete list of countries. Some restrictions apply.

3 GPM: Global Priority Mail is an accelerated airmail service available for items up to 4 lbs. to 51 countries. The service is available in two attractive-sized envelopes. Customers also can use their own packaging by adding the Global Priority Mail sticker. See a retail associate at participating locations for a complete list of countries. Some restrictions apply.

-------

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES
Mailers who use the Computerized Delivery Sequence (CDS) product, which organizes address data by carrier route, now have the option to receive weekly updates of that information.

CDS allows mailers to enjoy the benefits of postage discounts, and in turn, allows USPS to make more efficient deliveries. As part of efforts to further work-sharing opportunities, the National Customer Support Center in Memphis has successfully developed a weekly CDS product known as WCD.

Before WCD, the only option for mailers was to receive a bi-monthly CDS update.

Weekly availability of CDS data may generate increased revenue by bringing mail to new addresses sooner. Updates to sequencing affected by the addition of new addresses, changes in delivery sequence, route adjustments or changes to No Stat or Vacancy coding also bring benefits in the form of reduced handling by Postal Service employees.

An added benefit to mailers is that the new product only delivers updates when changes exist. This keeps file size small and updates are received by secure electronic file transfer, which makes WCD possible.

For information about these address data products, please contact the National Customer Support Center at 1-800-238-3150.

-------

SHIPSHAPE AND SHARP
Need shipping services? USPS Shipping Assistant, the free and easy-to-use desktop application at USPS.com, has been redesigned with a new look and new features.

USPS Shipping Assistant Version 3.0 combines label printing and package management into one convenient location, helping customers save time and money. Mailers can create domestic, international and merchandise return shipping labels and customs forms, and they can verify domestic addresses, schedule a Carrier Pickup and even compare postage rates. Mailers also can review shipping records and confirm the delivery status of their shipments.

The simplified version of Shipping Assistant helps customers save time by having fields pre-populated with frequently used data for their packages.

Customers can work offline or online, and they can print labels immediately or save them in the shipping cart and print them all at once. Mailers must affix postage on each label.

USPS Shipping Assistant users can click on the Shipping Assistant Message Center tab to stay informed of timely news that could affect their shipments.

Download USPS Shipping Assistant 3.0 at usps.com/shippingassistant.

-------

MAIL PRO - NEWS FOR MAIL PROFESSIONALS
It's everything you need to know.
Coming in 2007

We’re combining two Postal Service publications — Memo to Mailers and Mailers Companion — into a single bi-monthly publication called MailPro. The inaugural issue will be January/February 2007. How do you get it? If you currently receive one or both publications, your transition to MailPro will be seamless — you’ll be automatically subscribed.

-------

INFO@USPS
SMALL BUSINESS TOOLS
Get new customers.
Meet customer demands.
Around town or around the world.
www.usps.com

SIMPLE FORMULAS
Use the mail to grow your business.
Order a Simple Formulas kit.
800-THE-USPS, ext. AD4433

SEND MAIL FROM YOUR PC
Send postcards, letters,
flyers, booklets or greeting cards.
www.usps.com/netpost

THE POSTAL STORE ONLINE
Open 24/7. Stamps.
Subscription services.
Digital scales.
www.usps.com/shop

SHIPPING INFORMATION
Express Mail, Priority Mail
and package support line.
800-222-1811

PRINT POSTAGE ONLINE
Your shipping label is just
a Click-N-Ship away.
www.usps.com/clicknship

CARRIER PICKUP
From your home or office
at no extra charge.
www.usps.com/pickup

ONLINE SHORTCUT
One-click access.
www.usps.com/smartbusiness

QUESTIONS?
800-ASK-USPS

-------

KEEPING POSTED
NEWS FROM AND FOR POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCILS
www.usps.com/pcc

ARE YOU A PCC INSIDER?
IF SO, THIS PUB'S FOR YOU.
PCC Insider is your electronic gateway to information about the U.S. Postal Service, Postal Customer Councils and the issues that affect the mailing industry.

PCCs have an important role in helping the Postal Service add value and make the mail work better for customers. And PCC Insider will have an important role in keeping you informed.

The more you know about the mail, the more it can help your business grow.

Sign up to receive PCC Insider at your e-mail address.

Go to www.usps.com/pcc and select “PCC Insider Registration.”

GET LISTED
You’re the mailing experts. Share your expertise. Get listed on the PCC Mail Service Providers (MSP) website. It’s the place where Postal Service customers can connect to mail-related services offered by PCC members. The MSP programs offers six categories of service providers: mail preparation, mailing lists, mail printing, mailing support, mailing supplies and mailing equipment. PCC members can enroll in the program as either local or national providers. Go to www.usps.com/pcc and click on the link to “Enroll as a Mail Service Provider.”

NATIONAL PCC DAY 2007
Remember the third Wednesday in September. Beginning next year, that’s when National PCC Day will be held. Who will host the main event and the satellite broadcast by the Postmaster General? This year’s PCC of the Year winner — Cincinnati, OH. What does it take to achieve best-of-the-best honors in the National PCC Day Recognition Program? Read all the 2006 winners and their accomplishments on the PCC website at www.usps.com/pcc.

-------

FYI
Every U.S. household will get the message — “the Post Office comes to you at usps.com/holiday” — when USPS drops its latest Holiday Shipping & Mailing Guide into mailboxes across the country this month. The Holiday Shipping & Mailing Guide lets customers know about all the helpful ways that the Postal Service comes to them — online, at the Post Office or in alternate locations like grocery stores or ATMs.

-------

POSTAL NEWS BRIEFS
SEVEN AIRLINES AWARDED CONTRACTS
The Postal Service has awarded air transportation contracts to seven passenger airlines: American Airlines, Dallas, TX; American Trans Air, Indianapolis, IN; Continental Airlines, Houston, TX; JetBlue Airways, Queens, NY; Midwest Airlines, Milwaukee, WI; Sun Country Airlines, Minneapolis, MN; and US Airways, Washington, DC.

The agreements contain on-time delivery requirements and performance standards established in 2003 as part of the Postal Service’s previous three-year commercial air contract.

“By achieving consistent, on-time delivery for our customers, the performance standards implemented three years ago have helped us improve customer service overall,” said USPS Network Operations Vice President Tony Pajunas. “The new agreements ensure that, together with the airlines, we will continue to provide the highest levels of service.”

Pajunas said the contracts also contain tracking provisions so USPS can account for a customer’s mail the entire time it is in the air transportation system. The airlines are required to scan mail at three key points: when they take possession from the Postal Service or when mail is loaded onto a flight, during transfers to connecting flights, and when mail is delivered to the Postal Service after the flight’s arrival.

While the value of the five-year contracts is dependent on each carrier’s capacity, service performance and mail volume transported, total value for fiscal year 2007 is estimated at approximately $225 million. The volume of mail to be transported under the contracts is estimated at approximately 450 million pounds for fiscal year 2007.

The contracts cover domestic transport of Express Mail and First-Class Mail, and Priority Mail originating from designated Transportation Security Administration sites.

-------

HYDROGEN FUEL CELL VEHICLE TESTING EXPANDED
The Postal Service has signed an agreement with General Motors to extend for another year hydrogen fuel cell vehicle testing in the Washington, DC, area and to expand the program to the West Coast. A GM HydroGen3 minivan has been added to the Postal Service’s Irvine, CA, mail delivery fleet.

For the past two years, the Postal Service has been collecting and analyzing data from GM’s hydrogen fuel cell minivan, which has been delivering mail three days a week. Though the technology is still being refined, Postal Service engineers say that the minivan has held up well to the rigors of stop-and-go driving and cold weather.

“The Postal Service has a long history of helping to develop nearly every major mode of transportation used in the last 230 years,” says Walter O’Tormey, vice president of Engineering for the Postal Service. “GM is helping to lead the way to a hydrogen-powered future — with advanced technologies that are more energy efficient, kinder to the environment and help increase the energy security of our country.”

A vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel cells emits just pure water and is twice as energy efficient as an internal combustion engine.

The Postal Service has more than 37,000 alternative-fuel vehicles in its fleet — the largest in the nation. The agency is currently evaluating other kinds of alternative fuels, such as biodiesel; an electric vehicle and those that run on compressed natural gas and ethanol.

_________________________________

MEMO TO MAILERS
Volume 41 Number 11

Ilze Sella
Editor

David Ostroff
Designer

George Huelsman
Purchasing Specialist

John E. Potter
Postmaster General and CEO

Thomas G. Day
Senior Vice President, Government Relations

Jon Leonard
Acting Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications

MEMO TO MAILERS
is published by U.S. Postal Service
Public Affairs and Communications.
USPS eagle symbol and logotype are
registered marks of the
United States Postal Service.

© 2006 United States Postal Service. The following are among the many trademarks owned by the United States Postal Service: USPS®, U.S. Postal Service®, United States Postal Service®, Postal Service™, Post Office™, Priority Mail®, Express Mail®, Standard Mail™, First-Class Mail®, Registered Mail™, Certified Mail™, Delivery Confirmation™, Signature Confirmation™, ZIP Code™, Click-N-Ship®, NetPost® and The Postal Store®. This list is not a comprehensive list of all Postal Service marks.

Send address corrections and
subscription requests to:
MEMO TO MAILERS
NATIONAL CUSTOMER SUPPORT CENTER
US POSTAL SERVICE
6060 PRIMACY PKWY STE 201
MEMPHIS TN 38188-0001

Send stories, photos and editorial suggestions to:
EDITOR
MEMO TO MAILERS
US POSTAL SERVICE
475 L’ENFANT PLAZA SW RM 10541
WASHINGTON DC 20260-3100
fax: 202-268-2392
e-mail: mmailers@usps.com

See our Privacy Policy on USPS.com

Online services:
www.usps.com
ribbs.usps.gov
PCC website: www.usps.com/nationalpcc
Direct Mail Kit: 800-THE-USPS x 2110