USPS Mobile Apps Download is Climbing

More than 1 million iPhone, iPod touch and iPad customers have downloaded the U.S. Postal Service mobile app since it launched in December 2009. The free business app has consistently been one of the top 10 in the App Store.

“We’re expanding access to our products and services,” said PMG Pat Donahoe. “We know simpler is better — a million mobile customers can’t be wrong.”

The new USPS Mobile application takes advantage of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) capabilities, using the Locator function to show the closest Post Offices, Automated Postal Centers and collection boxes. Maps and directions to the closest location — driving, walking or mass transit — are available.

The Postal Service app also has a ZIP Code lookup, providing the ZIP Code of the user’s current location by tapping into the phone’s GPS capability.

The Track and Confirm feature offers information on the progress of mailpieces and requires 1-time entry of tracking code numbers. This means follow-ups are only one click away.

Source: NewsLink 6/7/11

Electronic Post Office is Just a Click Away

Need stamps but don’t want to leave the house? Go to usps.com/shop. Need to send a package but can’t leave the office? Go to usps.com/shipping. Need to track a package or find a ZIP Code while sitting in a meeting? Use the Postal Service’s mobile applications. The Postal Service is providing access to postal products and services when and where its customers want them and the “electronic post office” is open 24/7 to meet that need.

“We know our customers are busy people and they need simple solutions to conduct their postal business,” said Kelly Sigmon, vice president, Channel Access. “Whether it’s online or on smart phones, we’re creating easy, more convenient access to postal products and services when and where our customers want them.”

The Postal Service launched its first mobile application for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices in December 2009. Since then, it has consistently been listed as one of the top 10 free business apps in the App Store. Using this application, customers can find Post Offices, look up ZIP Codes, calculate postage prices and track packages. This application has been downloaded by nearly 985,000 customers and more than 50,400 use it at least once a week.

In March of this year, the Postal Service launched a mobile application for Android devices. To date, it has been downloaded by more than 36,000 customers. It is listed in the top 25 free business applications in the Android Marketplace.

“Don’t look at the Postal Service and see only brick and mortar post offices. Nearly one and a half million customers each day go online to usps.com or on the postal smart phone applications,” added Sigmon.

Postal customers receive an online discount for postage and free Delivery Confirmation service on Priority Mail and Express Mail packages when using Click-N-Ship at usps.com/clicknship.
Click-N-Ship offers a quick and easy way for customers to print mailing labels with postage using a desktop computer at home or the office. And when the package is ready to be shipped, customers can schedule free package pickup from their home or office at usps.com/pickup.

Stamp sales account for roughly 85 percent of all postal retail transactions and they can be purchased at 100,000 locations around the nation, including bank ATMs and grocery stores, as well as online at usps.com/shop.

EDDM is a Dog-Gone Good Idea

When Randi Slocum’s dog Kaylee ran away from her Stillwater, NY, home, Slocum and her friends did what any group of concerned pet owners would do — they formed a search party and knocked on neighbors’ doors looking for the chocolate Labrador mix.

But Randi’s mother, Carolyn, had a better idea — use Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) to notify residents in Stillwater and nearby Schuylerville, NY, of the dog’s disappearance.

Carolyn Slocum, a board member of the local Postal Customer Council, had just attended an EDDM seminar given by Albany District Grow Your Business Coordinator Natalie Dolan. “I knew that the best way to reach every household was through the new EDDM program,” said Slocum. “Since many people work all day, this would be the most likely way to reach them.”

By the next morning, Carolyn had the mailings prepared to EDDM standards and dropped them off at the Stillwater and Schuylerville Post Offices. The flyer helped unleash a series of phone calls, and that helped lead to Kaylee’s safe return. -- Source: NewsLink 6/8/11

EDDM lets a business market to every address in the neighborhoods near the business without the need for names or street addresses. The business saves the cost of renting a mailing list and does not require a postage permit to mail. That means no annual fee! Just bring mail bundles to the Post Office that services the area you want to reach, and letter carriers will deliver these mailpieces during regular delivery. And the postage is only 14.2 cents per piece!

Nearly any business can take advantage of EDDM’s marketing power, according to Grow Your Business Days Coordinator Ellen Uptgrow. Retailers include auto dealers, restaurants and pizzerias, pharmacies, clothing stores, furniture dealers, flower shops, coffee shops, and bakeries would benefit. Not to mention service-based businesses such as attorneys, health care professionals, dry cleaners, home improvement companies, and real estate firms.

EDDM Requirements: Mail must be dropped at the Post Office that services the carrier routes being targeted, 5,000 maximum mailpieces per mailer per day, per-piece weight up to 3.3 ounces, Standard Mail flats only.

Do you know a business that would benefit from a free “Every Door Direct Mail” workshop? If so, ask the business to check out usps.com/growyourbusinessdays. How about you? Are you a small business owner? Employees are invited to attend an EDDM workshop, but participation must be off the clock. You also must register to reserve a seat. If you have any questions, please email Ellen Uptgrow at ellen.t.upgrow@usps.gov.

DPMG Addresses Liberty City Residents as Edison PO Closes, New Options Open

Front Row L to R: Angela Randle, Manager, Customer Service Operations (Miami); Lori Moore, Manager, Customer Service; District Manager Jeffrey Becker. Back Row L to R: Alain Iglesias, Marketing Manager; Robert Carr, Miami Postmaster; Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman; Chris Simmons, A/Manager, Operations Programs Support; and Rick Suarez, Miami Plant Manager.

Miami APWU Local 172 President Carol Sutton and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson strike a pose.

Marketing Manager Alain Iglesias holds map as District Manager Jeffrey Becker points to alternate access options in the Liberty City neighborhood.

DPMG Ronald A. Stroman chats with Brenda Davis, President, Edison Triplex Tenant Association.

DPMG Ronald A. Stroman greets Congresswoman Frederica Wilson prior to the community meeting.

Liberty City residents met with DPMG Ronald A. Stroman who explained the USPS's dire financial situation and welcomed questions on alternate access options.

Lovette McGill, President, Philip Randolph Institute, Greater Miami-Dade Chapter, told the DPMG how much the Edison Center Finance Unit meant to her.

At the invitation of Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman came to Miami on Saturday, June 4, to address the Liberty City community on the closing of the Edison Center Finance Unit. Residents wanted to keep open their Post Office (open since 1953), but the DPMG explained the Postal Service’s current financial condition and the need to review operations and close Post Offices where alternate access was available. There are two other Post Offices within three miles of Edison Center, plus 20 alternate access locations in the neighborhood.

He further explained that 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.

South Florida District Manager Jeffrey Becker and staff gave a presentation on alternate access options in the neighborhood and responded to questions from residents. 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. The DPMG encouraged businesses to seek additional information on “Every Door Direct Mail.”

District Staff attending included District Manager Jeffrey Becker, Miami Postmaster Robert Carr, Miami Plant Manager Rick Suarez, A/Manager, Operations Programs Support Chris Simmons, Marketing Manager Alain Iglesias, Communications Programs Specialist Debra Fetterly, Miami Manager/Customer Service Operations Angela Randle and Little River Manager/Customer Service Lori Moore (Little River PO is the parent station for Edison Center Finance Unit).

Local media promoted www.uspseverywhere.com as part of our “We’re Everywhere So You Can Be Anywhere” Campaign.

USPS Employment Opportunities

Do you know individuals who may be interested in working for the Postal Service? If so, be sure to let them know that applications for new, non-career positions will be available the week of June 13 only.

The South Florida District will begin the process of hiring employees for new positions called Postal Support Employee (PSE). These employees will work in Window Services, Mail Distribution, Motor Vehicle, and Maintenance operations. The posting will include specific geographic locations.

Applications must be submitted through the eCareer automated application process at www.usps.com/employment. The posting will open at 12:01 am on Monday, June 13, 2011. The announcement will be open five business days and will close at 11:59 pm on June 17, 2011.

As information, all current and former non-career employees may apply. However, these individuals must have a different external email address from one that was associated with a prior candidate profile submitted for an eCareer posting. Additionally, a new external profile must be created. Follow auto-generated email instructions to self schedule for an appropriate examination with our testing vendors.

Please ensure you add the following email addresses to your contact list to allow correspondence to be received, especially if you use SPAM blocking software, use a yahoo account or a military email address:

ecareerworkflow@usps.gov

usps_support@panpowered.com

uspseServices@geninfo.com