Pre-order 2012 Denominated Stamps Now

Jan 12 2012 | No Comments | posted by admin | in News

Effective January 22, 2012, all the Forever stamps will be revalued at 45-cents.  As there was no change in the additional ounce price, 20-cent stamps do not need to be replaced.

Because the Postal Regulatory Commission issued its decision on the price changes during Thanksgiving week, availability of the new denominated stamps will not be universally available at local post offices as of January 22.  However, large purchasers of stamps should pre-order from the Stamps Now program at 1-800-STAMP-24 (1-800-782-6724), 816-545-1282 or by emailing StampsNow.info@usps.gov for additional information and expedited direct fulfillment.

Below are the six categories of denominated stamps and when they will be available for pre-ordering.

  • 32-cent postal card stamps – Items 115100 (pane) & 788800 (coil) – January 9
  • 65-cent two-ounce stamps – Item 115300 – January 10
  • 85-cent three-ounce stamps – Item 115200 – January 10
  • 65-cent butterfly surcharge stamp – Item 114800 – January 10
  • $1.05 international stamps – Item 575500 – January 14
  • 45-cent large coils (3,000 and 10,000) and Items 789000 (3000) & 788900 (10000)  –  January 14

Since the Stamps Now program offers convenience, flexibility, customization, easiness, speed, and much more, it should be the method of choice to purchase your stamps. (see attachment)

New Postage Statements Effective January 22, 2012

Jan 11 2012 | No Comments | posted by admin | in DMM Advisory

New postage statements associated with the January 2012 price change are available on Postal Explorer®.  The Postage Statement link is in the left column under *NEW* Jan. 22, 2012 Price Change Info.

As of January 2012, all postage statements dated prior to April 2011 or June 2011, as applicable, are obsolete.

Manifest mailers may use postage statements dated April 2011 and June 2011 if they reflect the January 22, 2012 prices.

Only the January 2012 postage statements can be used if new offerings are in use. This includes mailings with Express Mail International® Flat Rate Boxes (Postage Statement—International Mail, PS 3700), Priority Mail® Regional Rate Box C, new Priority Mail Open and Distribute (PMOD) boxes, First-Class Package Service™, Parcel Select® Lightweight, Periodicals prepared in Mixed Sacks/Pallets at ONDC or Outside County on Mixed Pallet, international mail containing pieces to Canada and/or Mexico, or Permit Imprint-Transmits Customs Data.

If vendors, software providers, or mailers encounter difficulty submitting January 2012 postage statements, please contact your local acceptance office or Manager of Business Mail Entry to determine the best solution. Mailers using the Electronic Verification System (eVS®) for manifesting who need assistance should contact their Strategic Account or Business Alliance Manager.

Proposed Service Standard Changes

Dec 6 2011 | No Comments | posted by admin | in DMM Advisory

On December 5, the Postal Service™ filed a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for an advisory opinion on proposed changes to mail service standards. The Postal Service also will seek public comment on proposed service standard changes for various mailing services products through a notice in the Federal Register.  This action follows the solicitation of public comment on service standard changes previously published on September 15 along with numerous outreach efforts to the mailing community.

The most significant revisions would eliminate the expectation of overnight service for significant portions of First-Class Mail® and Periodicals; however, there would be an opportunity for mailers who properly prepare and enter mail at the destinating processing facility prior to the day’s critical entry time to have their mail delivered the following delivery day. In addition, the 2-day delivery range would be modified to include 3-digit ZIP Code origin-destination pairs that are currently overnight, and the 3-day delivery range also would be expanded.

These revisions would allow for a significant rationalization of the Postal Service’s mail processing and transportation networks. The Postal Service is completing the facility reviews using the well-established Area Mail Processing guidelines, which will continue as announced in September.

Supporting documents such as the proposed rule, an illustrative Service Standard Directory (SSD), and illustrative labeling lists are just a few of the requested documents that will be available on the Mailer Information website <http://about.usps.com/news/facility-studies/welcome.htm> . By Thursday, December 8, the website (http://about.usps.com/news/facility-studies/welcome.htm) and RIBBS <https://ribbs.usps.gov/>  will be updated with documents and links supporting this announcement.

USPS announces deadlines for holiday mailings

Nov 8 2011 | No Comments | posted by admin | in News

USPS — the “Official Shipper of the Holidays” — has released its suggested mail-by dates to make sure packages, cards and letters reach their intended destination in time for this year’s holiday festivities.

“We suggest holiday shippers both in and outside the country use one of our Priority Mail products to send gifts and good wishes,” said Gary Reblin, vice president, Domestic Products. “The Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes come in a variety of sizes and are always free. Remember — ‘if it fits it ships’ for a low flat rate.”

The first holiday mailing deadline is Nov. 12 for customers sending packages using USPS Parcel Post to all APO/FPO/DPO addresses. All SAM (Space Available Mail), regardless of the APO/FPO/DPO address, must be mailed by Nov. 26.

Last-minute shoppers who need to send holiday packages to locations in the U.S. have until Dec. 22 — the deadline for Express Mail packages.

Click here for a list of this year’s holiday shipping deadlines.

November DMM Update

Nov 8 2011 | No Comments | posted by admin | in DMM Advisory

Postal Explorer® (pe.usps.com) is your source for up-to-date mailing standards. The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) is fully searchable on Postal Explorer and features fly-out menus, cross-reference links, and an extensive subject index. Yesterday, we updated our mailing standards to include the following changes:

Listing of USPS-Approved Adult Fowl Mailing Containers

We revised 601.9.3.4 to add a reference for a new listing of USPS-approved container vendors for the mailing of adult fowl and other approved birds.

Centralization of Move Update and ZIP Code Accuracy Standards

We revised 233.3.0, 243.3.0, 333.3.0, 343.3.0, 363.4.0, 433.3.0, 443.3.0, and 463.4.0 to consolidate and centralize Move Update and ZIP Code accuracy standards into new sections 602.5.0 and 602.6.0.

Post Office (PO) Box Fee Groups for Merged Locations

We revised 508.4.0 to allow Post Office Box (PO Box) fee groups to be merged into a single location due to Post Office mergers and to have the ability to change a fee group more than one higher or lower level at a time in limited circumstances.

Suspension of Periodicals Privileges

We revised 707.8.3.4 to amend the authority for noncompliance from the postmaster to the Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC) when a publisher does not file PS Form 3526, Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation, or publish the information provided on the form.

USPS Return Services

We revised 126.1.0, 136.1.0, 156.1.0 and 705.24.0 to introduce new options designed for the return of merchandise; and to add a new subchapter 505 to consolidate all other USPS return service standards.

Reassignment of ZIP Codes Between NDCs and ASFs: Revision to Destination Entry Exhibits

We revised 246, 346, 366, 446, 453, and 466 to change the exhibits for destination network distribution center (DNDC) eligibility to reflect the reassignment of certain 3-digit ZIP Code ranges.

Mailing Firearms—Clarification

We revised 601.12.1 through 601.12.3 to clarify the standards surrounding the mailability of firearms.

Our next scheduledDMMupdate is January 22.