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Postal News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2002
Contact: (202) 268-2155
Release No. 02-070
Parcel Select Acceptance Hours To Begin Before Sunrise
BOSTON - In a move to make it easier for parcel consolidators to conduct business through the nation's mail system, the Postal Service today announced it will expand and standardize Parcel Select Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) acceptance hours nationwide by adding "early-bird" hours.
"Parcel Select mailers have indicated a high degree of interest in expanding the current 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. acceptance window to include early morning hours," explained Chief Operating Officer Patrick Donahoe. "I am pleased to announce a two-phased approach that helps Parcel Select customers get their mailings into the system earlier in the day."
In describing the two-phased approach, Donahoe said that in Phase One, effective October 19, the drop ship times for Parcel Select DDU products will be standardized nationwide at a minimum of 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. among the 1,000 largest offices with limited exceptions. Headquarters will continue to support current local initiatives to expand Parcel Select drop ship hours beyond these standardized minimums based on mailers' requests and current staffing.
Phase Two will include modified standardized early morning acceptance times for an additional 7,800 offices, based on current staffing, scheduling, and facility capacity. While a specific date has yet to be determined, it is expected to be implemented in the not too distant future.
"We believe we can increase our market share of the package business via the Parcel Select products while our consolidator and package shipping customers enjoy better service."
Parcel Select is directed toward high volume shippers who serve residential customers. Parcel Select is directly associated with a series of cost saving service offerings now available at the Postal Service such as workshare discounts. By introducing parcels further into the mail stream, customers become eligible for destination entry rates which are reduced because delivery zones are skipped. Electronic rate Delivery Confirmation™ is available to Parcel Select customers at no additional charge.
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Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that makes deliveries to 137 million addresses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion, it is the world's leading provider of mail and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 43 percent of the world's mail volume - some 207 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year - and serves 7 million customers each day at its 38,000 retail locations nationwide.
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