Customer Relations

Mail Alert

The mailings below will be deposited in the near future.Offices should honor the requested home delivery dates. Mailers wishing to participate in these alerts, for mailings of 1 million pieces or more, should contact BusinessService Network Operations at 800-419-2769 at leastone month preceding the requested delivery dates. The Postal Service also offers electronic Mail Alerts viaADVANCE. For more information, see the ADVANCE Notification & Tracking System Technical Guide on the Internet at http://www.ribbs.usps.gov/files/advance/ADVTECH.PDF or contact the National Customer Support Center at 800-458-3181.

Domestic Mail

DMM CORRECTION

Tray Labels for Letter-Size Periodicals

Effective January 7, 2001, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) M210.3.0 is amended to correct tray labels for letter-size Periodicals. In the DMM revision entitled "Preparation Changes for Periodicals Nonletter-Size Mailing Jobs" (published in Postal Bulletin 22039 (12-14-00)), the label designator "`PER' or `NEWS'" was accidentally omitted. In addition, this notice corrects a typographical error for the 3-digit sack label in M210.4.0.

This correction has been made to the printed version of DMM Issue 56 (dated 1-7-01), which will begin arriving in the field in early March. This correction will be made to the February 8, 2001, update to the electronic DMM, available online via Postal Explorer (http://pe.usps.gov).

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

M Mail Preparation and Sortation

* * * * *

M200 Periodicals (Nonautomation)

M210 Presorted Rates

* * * * *

3.0 TRAY PREPARATION (LETTER-SIZE PIECES)

[Amend 3.0 by adding "`PER' or `NEWS' as applicable" to each Line 2 tray label to read as follows:]

Tray size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 and 2 labeling:

a. 5-digit: required at 24 pieces, optional with one six- piece package minimum.

(1) Line 1: use 5-digit ZIP Code destination of packages, preceded for military mail by the prefixes under M031.

(2) Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable; followed by "LTRS 5D NON BC."

b. 3-digit: required at 24 pieces (no minimum for required origin/optional entry 3-digit(s)), optional with one six-piece package minimum.

(1) Line 1: use L002, Column A.

(2) Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable; followed by "LTRS 3D NON BC."

c. ADC: required at 24 pieces, optional with one six- piece package minimum.

(1) Line 1: use L004.

(2) Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable; followed by "LTRS ADC NON BC."

d. Mixed ADC: required (no minimum).

(1) Line 1: use "MXD" followed by the city/state/ZIP of the ADC serving the 3-digit ZIP Code of the entry post office, as shown in L004.

(2) Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable; followed by "LTRS NON BC WKG."

4.0 SACK PREPARATION (FLAT-SIZE PIECES AND IRREGULAR PARCELS)

[Amend 4.0b(2) to correct the Line 2 sack label to read as follows:]

For mailing jobs that also contain an automation rate mailing, see 1.2 and M910 or M920. For other mailing jobs,the following are the sack size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 and 2 labeling:

* * * * *

b. 3-digit: required at 24 pieces, optional with one six- piece package minimum except under 1.5.

(1) Line 1: use L002, Column A.

(2) Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable; followed by "FLTS" or "IRREG" as applicable;followed by "3D NON BC."

* * * * *

- Mail Preparation and Standards,
Pricing and Product Design, 1-25-01

DMM CORRECTION

Documentation for Automation Letters

Effective January 7, 2001, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) M810.1.3 is amended to correct information about when documentation is required for a mailing of automation letters. In the DMM revision entitled "Standardized Acceptance and Verification (SAVE)" (published in Postal Bulletin 22028 (7-13-00)), M810.1.3 was revised to require presort documentation for all mailings of 10,000 pieces or more. Mailings of fewer than 10,000 pieces do not require documentation if the exact postage is affixed to each piece, or if the pieces are of identical weight and the pieces are separated by rate at acceptance.

In the July 13 revision, a sentence near the end of M810.1.3 seemed to contradict the 10,000-piece documentation limit and should have been deleted. This sentence is removed effective January 7, 2001.

Documentation is required for all automation letter mailings in the following situations:

• The mailing contains 10,000 pieces or more.
• The mailing contains non-identical weight pieces (regardless of the number of pieces in the mailing).
• Postage is affixed to each piece at a rate other than the exact postage (regardless of the number of pieces in the mailing).

Documentation is not required for automation letter mailings in the following situations:

• The mailing contains fewer than 10,000 pieces and exact postage is affixed to each piece.
• The mailing contains fewer than 10,000 pieces, all of the pieces are identical weight, and the pieces are separated by rate when presented for acceptance.

This correction has been made to hard copy DMM Issue 56 (dated 1-7-01), which will begin arriving in the field in early March. This correction will be made to the February 8, 2001, update to the electronic DMM, available online via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

M Mail Preparation and Sortation

* * * * *

M800 All Automation Mail

M810 Letter-Size Mail

1.0 BASIC STANDARDS

* * * * *

1.3 Documentation

A complete, signed postage statement, using the correct USPS form or an approved facsimile, must accompany each mailing. Each mailing also must be accompanied by presort and rate documentation produced by PAVE certified (or, except for Periodicals, MAC-certified) software or by standardized documentation under P012.

Exception: For mailings of fewer than 10,000 pieces, pre- sort and rate documentation is not required if postage at the correct rate is affixed to each piece or if each piece is of identical weight and the pieces are separated by rate when presented for acceptance. Mailers may use a single postage statement and a single documentation report for all rate levels in a single mailing. Standard Mail mailers may use a single postage statement and a single documentation report (with a separate summary for carrier route and a separate summary for all other rate levels) for both an automation carrier route mailing and a mailing containing pieces prepared at 5-digit, 3-digit, and basic automation rates, as applicable, when both mailings are submitted for entry at the same time. Combined mailings of more than one Periodicals publication also must be documented under M210 and M220. First-Class Mail and Standard Mail mailings prepared under the value added refund procedures or as combined mailings must meet additional standardized documentation requirements under P014 and P960.

- Mail Preparation and Standards,
Pricing and Product Design, 1-25-01

DMM REMINDER

Optional Endorsement Lines for Carrier Route Periodicals

Effective January 7, 2001, all basic carrier route rate Periodicals must be in line-of-travel sequence. To implement this change, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) M013.1.1 was revised to show a new optional endorsement line for packages of basic carrier route Periodicals (see Postal Bulletin 22030 (8-10-00)).

Employees should remind mailers that the correct formats for optional endorsement lines are as follows (excerpted from the chart in DMM M013.1.1):

DMM Issue 56, which contains this revision, is available online via the Postal Explorer Web site (http://pe.usps.gov). Questions about carrier route Periodicals or optional endorsement lines should be directed to your district manager of business mail entry.

- Mail Preparation and Standards,
Pricing and Product Design, 1-25-01

REMINDER

Clinical Specimens Using Business Reply Mail

Clinical specimens that are not known, or reasonably believed, to contain an infectious substance (etiologic agent) are mailable when properly packaged as detailed in Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) C023.8.4. Clinical specimens include materials such as urine, blood, and saliva samples being tested for medical reasons, drug programs, or insurance purposes.

Many commercial laboratories that test clinical specimens provide preaddressed business reply mail (BRM) packaging to their clients. When a BRM address format is used to send a clinical specimen to a laboratory for testing, a complete return address is not required. This is because the BRM permit holder has designed the return packaging to USPS specifications in DMM C023 and S922. If a problem should occur with the packaging while the mailpiece is in the mailstream, the Postal Service will contact the BRM permit holder to promptly correct the packaging deficiencies. (The customer using the BRM to return a clinical specimen has little, if any, control over the packaging design.)

As a reminder, a complete return address is required only on regulated quantities of hazardous materials. Under the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) 173.134(b), noninfectious clinical specimens are exempted from the requirements that apply to hazardous materials.

Employees with questions about packaging for clinical specimens should contact their district manager of business mail entry.

- Mail Preparation and Standards,
Pricing and Product Design, 1-25-01

NOTICE

PS Form 153, Signature Confirmation

PS Form 153, Signature Confirmation, retail label will be available after January 25, 2001, from the Material Distribution Center.

• Touch Tone Order Entry: 1-800-332-0317 (option 1, then option 2).
• Mail Order: Mail PS Form 7380, MDC Supply Requisition, to:

SUPPLY REQUISITIONS
500 SW GARY ORMSBY DR
TOPEKA, KS 66624-9702

Use the following information when ordering:

PSN: 7530-05-000-4046
PSIN: PS153
Unit of Issue: EA
Edition Date: 10/2000
Price: $0.0087

- Information Systems,
Expedited Package Services, 1-25-01

Domestic Mail Manual Issue 56

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) Issue 56, which contains all of the rate and classification changes resulting from the R2000-1 omnibus rate case, will begin arriving at post offices in early March. DMM Issue 56 also contains all revisions published in the Postal Bulletin since the publication of Issue 55 (January 10, 2000). DMM unit I010 contains a complete summary of changes, organized by effective date and by DMM module.

The DMM is distributed to employees on the basis of job codes. Additional copies of the DMM can be ordered through normal ordering procedures from the Material Distribution Center after March 15, 2001.

Customers can order the DMM through the Government Printing Office by calling 202-512-1800.

Electronic versions (PDF and HTML) of DMM 56 are available on the Postal Explorer Web site (http://pe.usps.gov). Employees are encouraged to share this information with customers so that they can access new rates, mail preparation standards, and postage statements. DMM 56 will also be included in Postal Explorer 11.0 (CD-ROM).

- Mail Preparation and Standards,
Pricing and Product Design, 1-25-01

SERVICE TALKS, TALKING POINTS, AND FAQS

Signature Confirmation Launch

The following materials - Delivery Service Talk, Retail Talking Points, and Frequently Asked Questions - are provided to assist you with the launch of Signature ConfirmationTM. A postmaster kit containing additional information was sent to offices this week.

Service Talk - Delivery

Signature Confirmation service goes on sale as a new special service on February 4, 2001. With Signature Confirmation service, customers receive the same information as they do with Delivery ConfirmationTM service, plus a signature! By using a toll-free number or visiting www.usps.com, customers can access their delivery information. They can also request a faxed or mailed delivery response letter, which will include an image of the recipient's signature, printed name, and address.

Signature Confirmation is a proof of delivery service that provides mailers peace of mind when shipping important documents or valuable items. This new service can be used on both Priority Mail and Package Services (Parcel Post, Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter, and Media Mail). You may see Signature Confirmation paired with COD, insurance, registered, or special handling services. As always, all USPS special service labels on each mailpiece must be scanned.

PS Form 153, Signature Confirmation retail label, and electronic postal printed "e" Label 315 are easy-to-spot hot pink. You will also see black-and-white labels similar to the Delivery Confirmation labels that many of our commercial customers use. Just look for the bold bars above and below the barcode and the "United States Postal Service Signature ConfirmationTM" text above the barcode.

Your scans are the key to success for this new service. Like all signature items, Signature Confirmation mailpieces must be scanned at the point of delivery with the appropriate event. When a Signature Confirmation item is delivered, the barcode on the corresponding PS Form 3849 must also be scanned. Ensure that PS Form 3849 is completed properly with the recipient's signature, printed name, and address. If the information on the PS Form 3849 is not complete, the information provided to our customers is not complete. This is our chance to generate more revenue by delivering services that our competitors offer. But we have to do it right!

When you see a mailpiece with Signature Confirmation service, all you need to do is follow the same scanning steps you use for Express Mail. In fact, when you deliver a Signature Confirmation mailpiece, your scanner will behave just like it does for Express Mail. You will be prompted to enter the recipient's first initial and last name. Signature Confirmation service also allows a waiver of signature. The Signature Confirmation barcode label will indicate whether the customer has chosen this option. When customers choose this option, it means that you must sign for delivery, if a recipient is not available to receive the item and you can leave it in a secure location. Instead of entering the recipient's name, press Shift, then 1 on the handheld scanner. You will sign and print your name on PS Form 3849 when the waiver of signature option is exercised.

Thank you for giving your customers the highest level of service with Delivery Confirmation. Let's make 2001 a banner year for Signature Confirmation service too.

Talking Points - Retail

Signature ConfirmationTM, our new proof of delivery service, will go on sale February 4, 2001. We can now provide our package mailers a quick, convenient, and cost-effective service that has the benefits of Delivery ConfirmationTM plus a copy of the recipient's signature.

Your responsibility is to know the proper acceptance procedures for Signature Confirmation service and to inform customers of our new service and its features.

Important points to remember:

• Signature Confirmation is available for Priority Mail and Package Services (Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, Library Mail, and Media Mail) only, similar to Delivery Confirmation.
• This service can be purchased only at the time of mailing.
• The Signature Confirmation tracking number is required to access information using the toll-free number and when visiting our Web site, the same as for Delivery Confirmation.
• Customers visiting our Web site, www.usps.com, receive the recipient's data-entered name, date, time, and ZIP Code of delivery.
• Customers who call the toll-free number 1-800-222-1811 will receive information on delivery date and time.
• The signature may be requested when visiting our Web site or calling the toll-free number. Information will be faxed or mailed to customers in a USPS customer response letter. Customers cannot view the recipient's signature on the Web site.
• Information in the customer response letter: an image of the recipient's signature, the printed name and address, and the delivery date and time.
• A waiver of signature is available at the time of mailing. Customers choosing this option want their packages delivered even though no one is home. The delivery employee's signature constitutes valid proof of delivery if the item can be left in a secure spot. When customers choose this option, a signature will not be included if they request that signature and delivery information be faxed or mailed to them. The delivery employee's signature remains on file with the Postal Service.
• Signature Confirmation is available only for domestic mail.
• This service can be combined with registered mail, insurance, COD, and special handling. It's also available with restricted delivery if purchased with insurance for more than $50, COD or registry service.
• Customers can request the recipient's signature and delivery information for up to 1 year.
• Selling Signature Confirmation:
• PS Form 153, Signature Confirmation retail label, is a three-section, hot pink form.
• The barcode section must be scanned when the mailing is accepted at the window.
• The customer receipt section must be round-dated and the "CHECK ONE" box completed if the customer wants proof of mailing.
• Customers choosing waiver of signature must check the "WAIVER OF SIGNATURE" box and sign the waiver section. This section is applied to the mailpiece only if the mailer chooses this option.
• The Signature Confirmation fee is $1.75 per piece for Priority Mail and Package Services.
• Refunds for Signature Confirmation fees are handled in accordance with Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) P014.2.4f.

Your sale of Delivery Confirmation service has made it an overwhelming success. We can make Signature Confirmation service another success story!

Frequently Asked Questions

- Information Systems,
Expedited Package Services, 1-25-01