Post Offices

NOTICE

Unofficial ZIP Code Directories

As previously announced, the Postal ServiceTM has discontinued Publication 65, National Five-Digit ZIP Code and Post Office Directory. It has been replaced by a new product, the AIS (Address Information System) Viewer CD- ROM, which is available through the National Customer Support Center (NCSC).

Postal Service facilities are no longer required to provide a ZIP CodeTM directory for public use in the lobby of a Post OfficeTM, station, or branch. Accordingly, Publication 65 will be removed from the Mystery Shopper list.

Some publishing companies have sent notifications to individual Post Offices offering their own hardcopy ZIP Code directories for purchase. These unofficial directories are neither endorsed nor approved by the Postal Service. The Postal Service does not require anyone to purchase these directories.

For information regarding the AIS Viewer CD-ROM, call the NCSC at 800-238-3150, then choose option 0.

— Address Management,
Intelligent Mail and Address Quality, 2-3-05

NOTICE

National Reclamation Process for Mobile Data Collection Devices

The Postal ServiceTM is preparing to replace the mobile data collection devices (MDCDs) that are near the end of their useful life with more than 300,000 new intelligent mail devices (IMDs). Before the national deployment of IMDs takes place, steps to return an initial quantity of existing MDCDs need to be taken. The first phase of the national reclamation process for MDCDs is that districts must immediately identify and return approximately 25,000 devices to the Critical Parts Center (CPC) in Indianapolis, Indiana, by March 31, 2005. The benefits of this reclamation include the following:

• It centralizes excess MDCDs in the CPC.

• It begins the process of scanner reduction to meet targeted IMD quantities.

• It provides a district review and update of site quantities before IMD deployment.

• It allows for devices to be refurbished and placed in stock for national deployment before the repair warranty expires.

Area and district IMD coordinators have been briefed and given individual targets for MDCD reclamation and IMD deployment. Coordinators will contact units directly to verify the current MDCD quantities and coordinate the return of devices. Postmasters, station managers, branch managers, and supervisors are asked to respond quickly to their individual coordinators to meet the March 31 deadline for reclamation.

Nationally, there is an opportunity to return more than 12,000 MDCDs, based on the current quantities for city and rural routes listed in the Delivery Confirmation Asset Management System (DCAMS) minus the number of devices authorized for the current number of actual routes. The remaining number of targeted devices will need to be reclaimed through an analysis of those in noncarrier operations and by a reduction the number of spares.

The second phase of reclamation for remaining MDCD devices will be seamless to the areas and districts, as those devices will be reclaimed during the National IMD Deployment slated to begin in July 2005.

For more information regarding this initiative, contact your local district IMD coordinator.

— Intelligent Mail Implementation,
Intelligent Mail and Address Quality, 2-3-05

ALERT

Be on the Lookout for Counterfeit Postal Money Orders

Revenue protection is everybody's business, especially when it involves identifying counterfeit postal money orders. Postal ServiceTM retail/acceptance clerks are intercepting an increasing number of bogus money orders. This fraud scheme is currently speeding across the Internet, victimizing U.S. residents and costing them money.

According to Postal Inspectors, the scam most often begins when someone claiming to need help cashing postal money orders contacts a victim by e-mail, through an Internet chat room, or on an online auction site.

Unsuspecting victims provide their mailing address to the scam artist and are told they will receive a postal money order they should cash or deposit into their own bank account. Victims are told they may keep some of the money as a gift or payment for their help, and that they should wire the remainder back to the scam artist.

The catch? The postal money orders are counterfeit.

To protect Postal Service revenue and our customers, be on the lookout for phony money orders. Although the cash value of counterfeit money orders varies, most of the phony notes identified by Postal Service employees range from $750 to $950 - just below the $1,000 maximum. It is also common for a victim of this scam to present multiple money orders.

Remember, genuine postal money orders are safe to use because they have many security features that distinguish them from counterfeit notes. Just as with U.S. currency, postal money orders are specially designed with different-colored inks, watermarks, and security threads.

Be aware of the security features incorporated into postal money orders:

• A watermark of Benjamin Franklin is visible on both the front and reverse side of the money order when held to the light.

• A "USPS" security thread is embedded in the postal money order paper.

• Red ink on the postal money order serial number bleeds through to the back side of the paper.

• Paper stock should be crisp and textured.

• Warning instructions are listed on the reverse side of a genuine postal money order.

• Denominations are indicated in two locations on the postal money order.

• Denominations should be no larger than $1,000.

• There should be no discoloration around the denomination amount. If there is, this indicates that the original amount has been erased and a new one inserted.

If you cannot see all of these security features when you hold the postal money order up to the light, do not accept it.

Let's all do our part to protect Postal Service revenue and to alert customers to this costly scam.

— Congressional and Public Affairs,
Postal Inspection Service, 2-3-05

NOTICE

USPS.com Information Package for Postmasters Who Are Not on My Post Office

Beginning in early January 2005, the Postal ServiceTM started a national advertising campaign to promote USPS.com®. With promotions appearing in print and on radio, television, and the Web, the campaign promotes the idea that "Almost anything you can do at the Post Office you can do online at usps.com."

Concurrently with the campaign, postmasters and station/branch managers are being asked to provide an introduction to the most important features and benefits of USPS.com to small business groups and individuals. For those on My Post OfficeTM, the Postal Service has developed a competition - "Play the Zone" - that rewards postmasters and station/branch managers for customer contacts they make between January 18, 2005, and March 11, 2005.

If you are a postmaster who is not on My Post Office (and therefore not eligible to compete in the competition), you can still spread the word about USPS.com. Please see the card below to request a basic package of information that you can use for presentation purposes.

— Advertising and Promotion,
Marketing, 2-3-05

[D-LINK]

Supply Management

NOTICE

New Office Supply Catalog

The 2005 USPS Office Supply Catalog is now available from BCOP Federal (formerly known as Boise). To order a new catalog, eBuy users may add the catalog item number to their next BCOP Federal order. The P code remains unchanged as P215. The full catalog item number is J9USPSMAX05.

If you do not have access to eBuy, you can request the catalog by calling the BCOP Federal customer service team at 888-229-8777. If you would like to fax your order to BCOP Federal at 888-285-8777 using the EZ order form, simply write in the quantity of catalogs desired on the form, and the catalogs will ship with the rest of your office products order.

— SCM Strategies,
Supply Management, 2-3-05