Supply Management

W. W. Grainger Chooses Parcel Select Service

We are proud to announce that effective August 3, 2009, W. W. Grainger, a national supplier for custodial and Main­tenance Repair and Operations (MRO) products, changed their Postal Service™ shipping method to Parcel Select® service.

Parcel Select service is provided by a third-party con­solidator that picks up and transports the mail to one of three destination entry points. USPS® then delivers the mail to its addressee or “the last mile.” Expect a 2-3 day delivery window from the time the order is received with Parcel Select service. Adequate planning will be required to receive orders when needed with this new delivery method. All orders will have a Delivery Confirmation™ barcode and will be traceable via USPS.com®.

Grainger is the first USPS national contract supplier of MRO products to make this commitment to the Postal Service.

The Parcel Select option brings revenue for delivery of products back to USPS. Mail processing changes may be needed to ensure that USPS orders from W. W. Grainger are delivered correctly within our plants and postal facili­ties. Mail processing operations will need to ensure that maintenance shipments from W. W. Grainger that are com­mingled with other mail are properly directed within the plant or Post Office™ facility to the correct internal addressee as shown on the label.

Maintenance managers should be aware of how these Parcel Select orders are handled within their facilities to ensure that these products are delivered to the end user in a timely manner. These products are critical for repair of equipment, and untimely delivery could result in delay of operations.

If you have any questions about your order please call Grainger’s USPS Customer Service line at 800-GOV-TEAM (800-468-8326). Direct all other questions to Vicki Koko­ruda at 214-819-7102.