When Age Makes a Difference ...

A new age-verification service from the U.S. Postal Service is expanding the suite of delivery options available to merchants and customers looking for greater control over delivery of their shipments. Adult Signature is now available as a delivery option for commercial account holders and online customers choosing Express Mail, Priority Mail, Critical Mail and Parcel Select barcoded (nonpresort and Regional Ground) shipping services.

Designed to meet the security and privacy concerns of the marketplace and for shipments requiring the signature of an adult by law, Adult Signature offers control over the delivery recipients of high-value merchandise such as pharmaceuticals or documents such as legal instruments.

The service requires adult age verification in the form of government-issued photo identification from a recipient at the time of delivery. There are two variations of Adult Signature:

-- Adult Signature Required verifies the signature of a recipient 21 years of age or older upon delivery. The cost is $4.75 per piece.
-- Adult Signature Restricted Delivery verifies the signature of the addressee (or agent with written authorization) only, who must be 21 years of age or older upon delivery. The cost is $4.95 per piece.

Adult Signature is available to commercial and online customers and can be combined with other extra services such as insurance. Adult Signature is not available for purchase at retail locations or for delivery to APO/FPO/DPO addresses. Adult Signature represents the first service placed within a new “Competitive Ancillary Services” product category. Additional details can be found online at usps.com/shipping/adultsignature.htm.

USPS Has Leg Up on Carbon Footprint

The Postal Service has reported an eight percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, based on a fiscal year 2008 baseline. The reduction of 1,067,834 metric tons of carbon dioxide is an amount equal to the annual emissions of approximately 204,000 passenger vehicles.

“These results demonstrate the Postal Service’s commitment to reduce our GHG emissions 20 percent by fiscal year 2020,” said Emil Dzuray, acting chief sustainability officer. “Our leaner, faster, smarter energy reduction and conservation efforts have placed us more than one third of the way toward our goal.”

Reduced facility energy use represented almost half of the Postal Service’s GHG emissions decrease. “Postal Service employees are laser-focused on reducing energy use at Post Offices and mail processing centers,” said Tom Samra, vice president, Facilities. “We’re proud to have reduced our facility energy-related emissions 12 percent from FY 2008 to FY 2010 — enough to power approximately 39,000 average American households for a year.”

From FY 2003 to FY 2010, USPS reduced its facility energy use by more than 29 percent, or 9.9 trillion Btus, an amount equal to the energy used by approximately 100,000 average American households in a year.

Other USPS positive GHG results include:

-- Creation of more than 400 cross-functional Lean Green Teams across the country, which have produced significant results in energy reduction and resource conservation.
-- More than 44,000 alternative fuel-capable vehicles.
-- "Green mail delivery,” including nearly 10,000 “fleet of feet” walking routes, nearly 70 bicycle routes and close to 80,000 “park and loop” routes, where carriers deliver mail on foot after driving to neighborhoods.
-- More than 27 billion Cradle-to-Cradle Certified stamps and shipping supplies provided to customers in FY 2010 — which meet established standards for human and environmental health and recyclability. USPS is the only mailing and shipping company in the world to have earned this certification.
-- USPS also helps customers reduce their own carbon footprints. Visit usps.com/green and the green newsroom for more information.

Parcel Return Service Grows Our Business

Wrong color? Wrong size? Or maybe you just changed your mind. Whatever the reason, Parcel Return Service (PRS) makes it easy for our customers to return something they bought from a catalog or on the Internet.

Businesses provide customers with a special Parcel Return Service mailing label with their order. If customers need to return items, merchants pay the postage. All our customers need to do is to affix the label to the package and mail it. Quick. Easy. Convenient.

Couldn't be simpler, right? Well . . . not so fast. The return label has the address of the Network Distribution Center (NDC) in the customer's service area. And the NDC address on the label contains a unique ZIP Code — one that begins with 569. Because ZIP Code span 569 is unique and different than the expected NDC ZIP Code span, some employees believe it's incorrect. In some cases, Parcel Return Service packages have been rejected at retail counters or returned to the sender because to some employees, the address appears to be an incorrect ZIP Code. But the ZIP Code span is correct, and these packaged must be accepted, collected, and processed.

USPS Continues Service to Canada

Despite the 24-hour rotating strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers that began in Winnipeg at 11:59 last night, the U.S. Postal Service will continue to accept, process, and deliver mail to Canada until further notice. This limited action by the Winnipeg local is expected to have minimal impact on service, as Winnipeg represents two percent of the population of Canada.

U.S. Postal Service officials have been closely monitoring the possible strike situation in Canada and have been making contingency plans in the event of a full or partial strike by Canadian postal workers.

In the unlikely event of a nationwide Canadian postal strike, the U.S. Postal Service will still be able to provide customers letter and package service via Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) service. GXG is the premium, date-certain international shipping option from the U.S. Postal Service with international transportation and delivery by FedEx Express. GXG is available online at usps.com and at thousands of participating retail locations throughout the United States.

Additional information and updates regarding acceptance and movement of international mail are posted online at usps.com/communications/news/serviceupdates.

Postal Service Adds Alternate Access Options; Edison Center, MIA Finance Units Close June 3

With nearly 100,000 places to buy stamps, ship a package, or renew a passport, the U.S. Postal Service is expanding customer access to its products and services. It’s not about brick-and-mortar Post Offices anymore, as postal products move online and into retail outlets, grocery stores, office supply chains, and pharmacies.

Friday, June 3, is the last day of operation for two Miami Post Offices --- Edison Center Finance Unit, 760 NW 62 Street, and Miami International Airport Finance Unit, 4th floor of the airport terminal. However, customers still may conduct their postal business at alternate access locations listed at http://www.uspseverywhere.com/.

For example, customers who conduct business at the Edison Center Finance Unit now may purchase stamps at CVS, Publix, Walgreens, and Winn Dixie stores --- all within 3.5 miles of the closing Post Office. Customers who need money orders may choose from 10 locations within a one-mile radius. Many alternate access locations are open later than Post Offices --- some as late as 9 pm and others 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Little River Station, 140 NE 84th Street, and the Buena Vista Station, 66 NE 39 Street, respectively located 2.4 and 2.5 miles from the Edison Center Finance Unit, are the two closest full retail Post Offices. Customers who visited the Miami International Airport Finance Unit also have options at http://www.uspseverywhere.com/ or may visit Post Offices within 5 miles of the closing Post Office: Miami GMF Postal Store, 2200 NW 72 Avenue, Miami (5 miles); Milam Dairy Branch, 5600 NW 72 Avenue, Miami (5 miles); Blue Lagoon Branch, 6200 NW 7 Street, Miami (4.5 miles); and Miami Springs Finance Unit, 107 Westward Drive, Miami (4 miles).

As a self-supporting government enterprise, the Postal Service receives no tax dollars, but relies solely on the sale of postage, products, and services to pay for operating expenses. Due to the drastic decline in mail volume, coupled with the unique burden of prefunding retiree health benefits, the Postal Service is in a financial crisis and must take action to reduce the size of its retail and delivery network. This financial pressure has created a situation the Postal Service hasn’t faced before --- the need to adjust its entire infrastructure at every level.

The decision to close these two Post Offices was based on a lengthy feasibility study that included operational reviews and community input. Such studies have been conducted at Post Offices in many locations across the country. The South Florida Postal District also has consolidated some of its carrier annexes, adjusted carrier routes, and restructured administrative and processing functions.

The Edison Center and Miami International Airport Finance Units are retail operations; their closure will not impact local mail delivery. Customers with computer access may request letter carriers pick up packages --- at no charge --- from their homes and offices.

At one time virtually every postal transaction required a visit to the local Post Office retail counter. Today nearly 35 percent of transactions are conducted using alternate access channels. Customers may purchase stamps or discounted shipping labels, request free package pickup, or research PO Box availability at usps.com. Stamps also may be purchased at 1-800-STAMP24 or by order form from a letter carrier.