USPS AND U.S. ARMY JOIN FORCES.

USPS AND U.S. ARMY JOIN FORCES. Throughout our history, American soldiers have fought battles to protect our basic liberties. To honor those soldiers and their families, the U.S. Army is launching Freedom Team Salute. This program gives all Army soldiers — active duty, reservists and national guardsmen — the opportunity to recognize parents, spouses and employers for their support. As thanks, the Army is mailing Freedom Team Salute packages to 240,000 veterans and supporters. It’s the first wave of a First-Class mailing that runs until Sept. 30.

USPS: 2006 Proposed Priority Mail Rate Increase

On April 8, 2005, the Postal Service™ filed a rate case with the Postal Rate Commission seeking an expedited recommended decision to raise prices 5.4 percent for almost all categories.This filing is unique in that the decision to seek a rate increase is due to the Postal Service’s legal obligation to fund the $3.1 billion escrow requirement imposed by Public Law (PL) 108-18. Should legislation be enacted that eliminates the escrow funding requirement, this rate case will be withdrawn.The proposal calls for an almost uniform 5.4 percent rate and fee increase spread over all classes and subclasses of mail and special services. The postage for a one-ounce piece of First-Class Mail® would go from 37 to 39 cents. No classification-related changes are proposed.If favorably recommended by the Postal Rate Commission, new rates would be implemented no earlier than January 2006.

Escrow Rate Case FAQs

Priority Mail
Current								Proposed
Weight (lbs)	Local, Zones 1, 2 & 3	Zone 4	Zone 5	Zone 6	Zone 7	Zone 8		Weight (lbs)	Local, Zones 1, 2 & 3	Zone 4	Zone 5	Zone 6	Zone 7	Zone 8
1	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85		1	$4.05	$4.05	$4.05	$4.05	$4.05	$4.05
2	3.95	4.55	4.90	5.05	5.40	5.75		2	4.20	4.80	5.15	5.30	5.70	6.05
3	4.75	6.05	6.85	7.15	7.85	8.55		3	5.00	6.40	7.20	7.55	8.25	9.00
4	5.30	7.05	8.05	8.50	9.45	10.35		4	5.60	7.45	8.50	8.95	9.95	10.90
5	5.85	8.00	9.30	9.85	11.00	12.15		5	6.15	8.45	9.80	10.40	11.60	12.80
6	6.30	8.85	9.90	10.05	11.30	12.30		6	6.65	9.35	10.45	10.60	11.90	12.95
7	6.80	9.80	10.65	11.00	12.55	14.05		7	7.15	10.35	11.25	11.60	13.25	14.80
8	7.35	10.75	11.45	11.95	13.80	15.75		8	7.75	11.35	12.05	12.60	14.55	16.60
9	7.90	11.70	12.20	12.90	15.05	17.50		9	8.35	12.35	12.85	13.60	15.85	18.45
10	8.40	12.60	13.00	14.00	16.30	19.20		10	8.85	13.30	13.70	14.75	17.20	20.25
11	8.95	13.35	13.75	15.15	17.55	20.90		11	9.45	14.05	14.50	15.95	18.50	22.05
12	9.50	14.05	14.50	16.30	18.80	22.65		12	10.00	14.80	15.30	17.20	19.80	23.85
13	10.00	14.75	15.30	17.50	20.05	24.35		13	10.55	15.55	16.15	18.45	21.15	25.65
14	10.55	15.45	16.05	18.60	21.25	26.05		14	11.10	16.30	16.90	19.60	22.40	27.45
15	11.05	16.20	16.85	19.75	22.50	27.80		15	11.65	17.05	17.75	20.80	23.70	29.30
16	11.60	16.90	17.60	20.85	23.75	29.50		16	12.25	17.80	18.55	22.00	25.05	31.10
17	12.15	17.60	18.35	22.05	25.00	31.20		17	12.80	18.55	19.35	23.25	26.35	32.90
18	12.65	18.30	19.30	23.15	26.25	32.95		18	13.35	19.30	20.35	24.40	27.65	34.75
19	13.20	19.00	20.20	24.30	27.50	34.65		19	13.90	20.05	21.30	25.60	29.00	36.50
20	13.75	19.75	21.15	25.35	28.75	36.40		20	14.50	20.80	22.30	26.70	30.30	38.35
21	14.25	20.45	22.05	26.55	30.00	38.10		21	15.00	21.55	23.25	28.00	31.60	40.15
22	14.80	21.15	22.95	27.65	31.20	39.80		22	15.60	22.30	24.20	29.15	32.90	41.95
23	15.30	21.85	23.90	28.80	32.45	41.55		23	16.15	23.05	25.20	30.35	34.20	43.80
24	15.85	22.55	24.85	29.90	33.70	43.25		24	16.70	23.75	26.20	31.50	35.50	45.60
25	16.40	23.30	25.75	31.10	34.95	44.95		25	17.30	24.55	27.15	32.80	36.85	47.40
26	16.90	24.00	26.60	32.25	36.20	46.70		26	17.80	25.30	28.05	34.00	38.15	49.20
27	17.45	24.70	27.55	33.35	37.45	48.40		27	18.40	26.05	29.05	35.15	39.45	51.00
28	18.00	25.40	28.50	34.50	38.70	50.15		28	18.95	26.75	30.05	36.35	40.80	52.85
29	18.50	26.15	29.45	35.60	39.95	51.85		29	19.50	27.55	31.05	37.50	42.10	54.65
30	19.05	26.85	30.35	36.80	41.20	53.55		30	20.10	28.30	32.00	38.80	43.40	56.45
31	19.55	27.55	31.20	37.85	42.40	55.30		31	20.60	29.05	32.90	39.90	44.70	58.30
32	20.10	28.25	32.15	39.00	43.65	57.00		32	21.20	29.80	33.90	41.10	46.00	60.10
33	20.65	28.95	33.10	40.10	44.90	58.70		33	21.75	30.50	34.90	42.25	47.30	61.85
34	21.15	29.70	34.00	41.25	46.15	60.45		34	22.30	31.30	35.85	43.50	48.65	63.70
35	21.70	30.40	34.95	42.40	47.40	62.15		35	22.85	32.05	36.85	44.70	49.95	65.50
36	22.25	31.10	35.85	43.55	48.65	63.85		36	23.45	32.80	37.80	45.90	51.30	67.30
37	22.75	31.95	36.80	44.65	49.90	65.60		37	24.00	33.70	38.80	47.05	52.60	69.15
38	23.30	32.65	37.70	45.85	51.15	67.30		38	24.55	34.40	39.75	48.35	53.90	70.95
39	23.75	33.50	38.65	47.00	52.40	69.05		39	25.05	35.30	40.75	49.55	55.25	72.80
40	24.25	34.30	39.60	48.10	53.60	70.75		40	25.55	36.15	41.75	50.70	56.50	74.55
41	24.70	35.00	40.45	49.25	54.85	72.45		41	26.05	36.90	42.65	51.90	57.80	76.35
42	25.20	35.85	41.35	50.30	56.15	74.20		42	26.55	37.80	43.60	53.00	59.20	78.20
43	25.65	36.60	42.30	51.50	57.40	75.90		43	27.05	38.60	44.60	54.30	60.50	80.00
44	26.15	37.40	43.25	52.60	58.70	77.60		44	27.55	39.40	45.60	55.45	61.85	81.80
45	26.60	38.20	44.15	53.75	59.95	79.35		45	28.05	40.25	46.55	56.65	63.20	83.65
46	27.10	39.00	45.05	54.85	61.20	81.05		46	28.55	41.10	47.50	57.80	64.50	85.45
47	27.55	39.75	46.00	56.05	62.50	82.75		47	29.05	41.90	48.50	59.10	65.90	87.20
48	28.05	40.60	46.95	57.20	63.75	84.50		48	29.55	42.80	49.50	60.30	67.20	89.05
49	28.50	41.35	47.80	58.30	65.05	86.20		49	30.05	43.60	50.40	61.45	68.55	90.85
50	28.95	42.15	48.75	59.45	66.30	87.95		50	30.50	44.45	51.40	62.65	69.90	92.70
51	29.45	42.95	49.65	60.55	67.55	89.65		51	31.05	45.25	52.35	63.80	71.20	94.50
52	29.90	43.75	50.60	61.75	68.80	91.35		52	31.50	46.10	53.35	65.10	72.50	96.30
53	30.40	44.50	51.50	62.85	70.05	93.10		53	32.05	46.90	54.30	66.25	73.85	98.15
54	30.85	45.25	52.45	63.95	71.30	94.80		54	32.50	47.70	55.30	67.40	75.15	99.90
55	31.35	46.10	53.40	65.05	72.50	96.50		55	33.05	48.60	56.30	68.55	76.40	101.70
56	31.80	46.85	54.25	66.25	73.75	98.25		56	33.50	49.40	57.20	69.85	77.75	103.55
57	32.30	47.65	55.15	67.35	75.00	99.95		57	34.05	50.20	58.15	71.00	79.05	105.35
58	32.75	48.45	56.10	68.50	76.25	101.65		58	34.50	51.05	59.15	72.20	80.35	107.15
59	33.25	49.25	57.05	69.60	77.50	103.40		59	35.05	51.90	60.15	73.35	81.70	109.00
60	33.70	50.00	58.00	70.80	78.75	105.10		60	35.50	52.70	61.15	74.60	83.00	110.80
61	34.20	50.85	58.85	71.95	80.00	106.85		61	36.05	53.60	62.05	75.85	84.30	112.60
62	34.65	51.55	59.80	73.05	81.25	108.55		62	36.50	54.35	63.05	77.00	85.65	114.40
63	35.15	52.40	60.75	74.20	82.50	110.25		63	37.05	55.25	64.05	78.20	86.95	116.20
64	35.60	53.20	61.70	75.35	83.70	112.00		64	37.50	56.05	65.05	79.40	88.20	118.05
65	36.10	53.90	62.50	76.45	84.95	113.70		65	38.05	56.80	65.90	80.60	89.55	119.85
66	36.55	54.75	63.45	77.55	86.20	115.40		66	38.50	57.70	66.90	81.75	90.85	121.65
67	37.05	55.60	64.40	78.70	87.45	117.15		67	39.05	58.60	67.90	82.95	92.15	123.50
68	37.50	56.30	65.35	79.80	88.70	118.85		68	39.50	59.35	68.90	84.10	93.50	125.25
69	38.00	57.10	66.25	81.00	89.95	120.55		69	40.05	60.20	69.85	85.35	94.80	127.05
70	38.45	57.95	67.15	82.10	91.20	122.30		70	40.55	61.10	70.80	86.55	96.10	128.90
Notes:								Notes:
1. Parcels that weigh less than 15 pounds but measure more than 84 inches in combined length and girth are charged the applicable rate for a 15-pound parcel.								1. Parcels that weigh less than 15 pounds but measure more than 84 inches in combined length and girth are charged the applicable rate for a 15-pound parcel.
2. The 1-pound rate is charged for matter sent in a flat-rate envelope provided by the USPS, regardless of the actual weight of the piece.								2. The 1-pound rate is charged for matter sent in a flat-rate envelope provided by the USPS, regardless of the actual weight of the piece.
3. Postage for the flat-rate box is $7.70								3. Postage for the flat-rate box is $8.10

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Aspen Postal Workers Say Mail Deliberately Delayed

Aspen Postal Workers Say Mail Deliberately Delayed
(Colorado) "Local residents are facing extra delays to their mail; staff morale is at an all-time low at the Aspen post office; and some letters are being left in piles on the floor instead of being placed in their correct post office boxes, two postal workers claimed Thursday." Al DeSarro, spokesman for the Postal Service's western region, said it is unlikely mail is allowed to pile up in this manner."(4/29) http://www.aspendailynews.com/articles.cfm?id=2

DHL PRESENTS UNIQUE LINE OF PREPAID, FLAT-RATE PRODUCTS TO INDEPENDENT RETAIL MAIL AND PARCEL CENTERS

DHL PRESENTS UNIQUE LINE OF PREPAID, FLAT-RATE PRODUCTS TO INDEPENDENT RETAIL MAIL AND PARCEL CENTERS

PLANTATION, Fla. -- April 28, 2005

DHL ShipReady(TM) Offers Consumer and Small Business Customers Hassle-Free, Paperwork-Free, Guaranteed Domestic Overnight Delivery

DHL, the world's leading express delivery and logistics company, today presented a unique line of prepaid, flat-rate express delivery products to independent mail and parcel centers in the United States. Beginning next month, DHL ShipReady(TM) products will be available for purchase at participating independent retail shipping locations affiliated with the Associated Mail & Parcel Centers (AMPC) and offering DHL express delivery and shipping services.

The introduction of the DHL ShipReady product line for AMPC-member independent mail and parcel centers is the latest initiative launched by DHL as part of an ongoing commitment to better serve the express shipping needs of consumers and small businesses everywhere, while increasing the company's street-level footprint and helping independent retail shipping locations to grow their own business. Independent retail mail and parcel centers were introduced to the DHL ShipReady line of products today as part of the AMPC's National Sales Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

"DHL ShipReady offers customers the most unique and innovative prepaid, flat-rate express shipping solution in the market place," said John Pearson, executive vice president, commercial, for DHL. "ShipReady addresses a specific customer need for convenience in shipping, and we expect it will be overwhelmingly accepted by both the independent mail and parcel centers and their consumer and small business customers. Through this product, DHL is greatly enhancing its portfolio of services offered through independent retail shipping locations across the country, providing their customers with increased and simplified access to DHL."

DHL and the AMPC
Last year, DHL launched a nationwide program with AMPC-member independent mail and parcel centers and current licensees of the group's cooperative buy program and consumer brand, the Neighborhood Postal Center (NPC). Under DHL's Preferred Provider Program, participating retail shipping stores adopted DHL as their preferred transportation provider for express delivery and shipping services, and promote DHL services to their customers. To date, more than 1,600 independent retail mail and parcel centers are participating in the program.

DHL ShipReady Benefits
DHL ShipReady products are available in three sizes ? Express Letter Envelope, Express Legal Envelope, and Express Pack ? and will be available for purchase at a flat-rate price with no hidden charges at participating independent retail shipping locations. Customers may also order ShipReady products directly from DHL and review DHL's standard terms and conditions of carriage at www.dhl-usa.com.

Customers can use ShipReady products to ship door-to-door, to and from anywhere within the 48 contiguous United States. Customers can simply complete the pre-printed address label on their ShipReady package and call DHL to schedule a free pick-up, or drop off their shipment at their nearest DHL drop box, service center, or retail shipping location. Customers can visit the DHL drop-off locator at www.dhl-usa.com to locate their nearest service center, drop box, or retail shipping location.

ShipReady products have no weight restrictions, as long as the envelope or pack can be sealed safely and securely, and no expiration date, so they can be used by customers anytime.

DHL ShipReady products are guaranteed for next-day domestic delivery by 12:00 PM, and offer customers total visibility into the delivery status of their shipments via DHL's global tracking system.

Photo Stamps are back......

Upload your photo, customize your PhotoStamps and place your order. It’s that simple!

Minimum order is one sheet of 20 stamps (Price for 1st Class, 1 oz envelope) $16.99 a sheet of 20 ($0.8495 per stamp.)

Pricing can be found here --> http://photo.stamps.com/PhotoStamps/support/prices/

USPS: TRACKING INTERNATIONAL FORGERS

TRACKING INTERNATIONAL FORGERS. More than 3,700 counterfeit postal money orders were intercepted from October to December, exceeding the total for the previous 12 months, according to the Postal Inspection Service, with most of the forgeries originating in Nigeria, Ghana and Eastern Europe. Inspectors are warning financial institutions to be vigilant and are working to intercept packages containing bogus money orders as they enter the country. Arrests of 160 individuals have been made in the U.S. Find tips to help identify counterfeit postal money orders at the Postal Inspection Service site.

Picture Stamps Could Return As Early As Next Month

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE SEEKS CUSTOMIZED POSTAGE VENDORS
Request for proposals reflects USPS commitment to meeting customers' needs

Washington, D.C. - Personal photos on postage could return as early as next month as the Postal Service moves into the second phase of an extensive test of this popular product that debuted last year.

Customized postage allows a customer to personalize postage with pictures or images using PC Postage® technology. The United States Postal Service today began looking for qualified PC Postage® vendors able to produce customized postage to be used on First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and Express Mail for personal use only.

"We're combining the trust people have in the Postal Service with the technology and efficiencies of the private sector to bring customized postage to our customers," said Nicholas Barranca, Vice President of Product Development. "Customized postage allows us to make mail more valuable and more meaningful to people."

Customized postage will have two parts: a customer-supplied image and a state-of-the-art secure bar code. All customized postage is compatible with the Postal Service's automated mail processing systems.

Like postage meters, PC Postage® facilitates customer access to postage payment and use of the mail. PC Postage® is not a stamp and the use of customized postage will not affect the Postal Service's production or commitment to postage stamps, Barranca said.

Customized postage will be limited to personal use only during the one-year test. This is the second step in the Postal Service's testing of the product to determine its appeal to customers and the value it may add to postal services.

To become an authorized PC Postage® provider, applicants must be able to prove the ability to generate high quality, computer-based postage or metered postage and demonstrate they routinely use secure encryption technology to protect postal revenue.

"We want to make sure that anyone we authorize has the ability to produce postage in an efficient way," Barranca said. "While we continue to strive to meet the needs of our customers, we want to make sure that any product also meets our standards for quality and security."

USPS will require vendors to produce a product that meets current postal regulations and conclusively prove that all images produced and services provided abide by all federal laws, including copyright laws.

Authorized vendors will determine pricing and are expected to price their products based on the value provided to the consumer. The Postal Service's role is to authorize and monitor qualified providers.

The formal request for proposals from qualified vendors will be advertised in the Federal Register on April 27.

The year-long test is expected to last through May 2006. Vendors may begin offering PC Postage® within 20 days of being authorized by the United States Postal Service.

Woman Hurt Getting Mail Goes to Court

The Supreme Court will consider the case of an injured postal customer that slipped and fell on mail delivered to the porch of her home instead of to her mailbox.

Barbara Dolan, is suing the United States Postal Service for the back and wrist injuries she suffered. She is suing for negligent mail delivery.

USPS: NEW BARCODE MOVES FORWARD

NEW BARCODE MOVES FORWARD. A new postal barcode is being tested. The four-state barcode — named for its four vertical bar types — is being tested at the National Customer Support Center in Memphis, TN, to ensure that barcode sorters can read, decode and transmit data correctly. The four-state code contains more data than current codes, with the potential to benefit both mailers and USPS.

USPS: Carrier Pickup reaches 8 million mark

An online company that sells blue jeans worldwide — usedblue.com — has shipped the 8 millionth package collected as a result of Carrier Pickup Online Notification.

Akron, OH, North Hill Station Letter Carrier Rita Shook takes package number 8 million from customer Julie Godfrey-Cornish Saturday.

Julie Godfrey-Cornish of Akron, OH, started her company about a year ago and now ships about 500 Priority Mail parcels a month to U.S. addresses — plus another 60 internationally.

A competitor’s service was “very expensive and not very convenient,” says Godfrey-Cornish. “With the Postal Service, I’m saving $2,000 a month in shipping costs.”

Part of that savings is in Godfrey-Cornish’s use of Priority Mail envelopes and flat-rate boxes supplied free by USPS.

“Carrier Pickup Online Notification is helping us grow package revenue,” says Northern Ohio District Manager Kathy Ainsworth. “Business customers like usedblue.com appreciate the value and reliability of shipping packages with the Postal Service, especially with an option like Carrier Pickup to make their business models work.”
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