STAMPS, USEFUL WORKS OF ART

USEFUL WORKS OF ART. NC State Magazine reports that stamps “might be the most useful — and the most used — works of American art. About 44 billion were printed last year, passing through our mailboxes affixed to the corners of bills and invitations and holiday cards.” NC State College of Design Professor Meredith Davis, who recently served on the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, agreed. “I don’t know another design activity that reaches so many people,” she said.

USPS: INNOVATOR WITH IMPACT.

INNOVATOR WITH IMPACT. The April issue of Folio, a periodical for magazine publishers, features Pricing and Classification VP Stephen Kearney as one of 40 “industry innovators with impact.” Kearney said USPS has increased productivity in recent years, and is working to help magazines do the same. One example is co-palletization, which helps smaller publishers and printers save time and money by shipping periodicals from closer to their final destination. “Eventually, everybody will be co-palletizing or co-mailing,” Kearney said. “We think that’s the wave of the future.”

USPS: BEST IN THE WORLD

BEST IN THE WORLD. The Postal Service is short-listed for awards in five categories of the 2005 World Mail Awards. USPS is among the finalists in Customer Service for change of address services and the Automated Postal Centers, in e-Commerce for Click-N-Ship, in Innovation for Intelligent Mail, in Marketing for the USPS Ambassador Program, and in Security for multimedia initiatives to educate consumers. Winners will be announced tomorrow in Brussels, Belgium. Sponsored by a global consortium of mail industry interests, the awards encourage and celebrate best practices worldwide.

USPS: Mail volume on the rise

Mail volume on the rise

Delivery points increase 400,000

Chief Financial Officer Richard Strasser told the Postal Service Board of Governors today that mail volume in the second quarter showed a gain of 600 million pieces — to 52.1 billion — and a $17 million increase in revenue.

Strasser also said total revenue of $17.3 billion exceeded total expenses of $17.0 billion, producing a net income of $275 million — down from $741 million in Quarter 2 of last year.

“There was a dip in revenue and volume in January and slight increases in February and March,” Strasser explained. “Increased expenses due to cost inflation, additional volumes and deliveries were contained by productivity gains through workhour savings.”

The number of delivery addresses continued to increase, up by 400,000 in Quarter 2. That brings the total number of delivery points to 143.2 million — 1.8 million more addresses than a year ago.

EXPRESS MAIL Scores 95% for two years straight

GOING STRONG IN OVERNIGHT DELIVERY

First-Class EXFC score at 95% for two years straight

More than 24 months in a row — and no signs of letting up!

That’s how long USPS employees — working as a solid team — have held the record of 95% or higher for on-time First-Class Mail overnight delivery.

Six USPS districts reached 97% on-time scores during this reporting period, the second quarter of fiscal 2005. They are Big Sky, Spokane, Central Plains, Dakotas, Colorado/Wyoming and Northland.

Customer satisfaction adds another outstanding long-running record for USPS during the period. For 14 continuous quarters, the Postal Service customer satisfaction score has been 93% or higher. This quarter, 12 districts achieved scores of 96% and 97%.

This round of scoring also cites two-day service performance of 90% and three-day air mail at 83%. The scoring, taken independently by an outside company, measures the time it takes a piece of First-Class Mail, once it's deposited into a collection box, to be delivered.

The External First-Class score (EXFC) was announced today during the Postal Service's Board of Governors meeting in Atlanta.

Pronto delivery of Harry Potter book brought to you by USPS, Amazon.com

Pronto delivery of Harry Potter book brought to you by USPS, Amazon.com

The Postal Service has teamed with Amazon.com to bring wizard-like delivery of the latest Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It will be available to the public, Saturday, July 16.

“We’re delighted to have a role in helping young people discover the joy of reading,” said Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer Anita Bizzotto.

“Our employees will be working hard so that hundreds of thousands of excited fans can enjoy the new book on the day it is released,” Bizzotto said.

Pre-orders of this sixth installment in author J.K. Rowling’s epic series were offered at a 40% discount Dec. 15. The book became a best seller within an hour and has held its position for 15 consecutive weeks.

The first day the fifth of Rowling’s books, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, was available to the public in June 2003, the Postal Service delivered more than 400,000 copies to Amazon.com customers. Projections for first-day delivery of this year’s release have already reached 1 million.

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.