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 It has been replaced by a new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]
Retail
What's in Store
Play the Zone
Got game? You could score big with the national "Play the Zone" challenge for
postmasters and station/branch managers. Spread the word about USPS.com® to
business customers in your community and you could win tickets to the NCAA basketball
finals. Post OfficesTM that are in My Post Office can participate in the Play the Zone
challenge, which continues through March 11. Everything you need to know about the
contest is available at the Advertising Web site - http://blue.usps.gov/advertising.
Score!
Robots: the POP
The robots are coming to your Post Office - as part of a "refresh" point-of-purchase
(POP) kit. The materials in the kit feature the colorful characters from the upcoming film, Robots: The Movie, which opens March 11. There's a standee to promote NetPost®
CardStore and a poster to promote Hold Mail service - both on USPS.com. Follow your
planogram to display the refresh materials. They add to the POP already on display in
your Post Office. Do not remove any of the green New Year POP elements until March
31. Go to the Advertising Web site - http://blue.usps.gov/advertising - for a look at the
refresh POP kit.
GXG retail offices
The Postal ServiceTM has teamed up with FedEx to offer Global Express Guaranteed
(GXGTM) service anywhere in the world in 1-3 business days. Retail offices that offer
GXG will receive new signage that reflects this alliance. It will be part of the refresh POP
kit. Tell your customers about GXG. It offers a unique combination of access, speed,
convenience, and reliability. And compared to our competitors, GXG offers the lowest
published rates for 1-3 day international package delivery.
And spread the word about our other global services:
• Global Express MailTM, 3-5 business days
• Global Priority Mail®, 4-6 business days
• Global Air Parcel Post, 7-10 business days
What's in Store
eBay Days go nationwide
Sell on eBay. Ship with the Postal Service. It's a winning combination. With our quick,
easy, and convenient online services like Click-N-Ship® and carrier pickup, the Postal
Service is in an ideal position to assist eBay users. That's why the Postal Service will be
holding an eBay Day in hundreds of Post Offices throughout the country to spread the
word. The eBay Days held in test markets last year were such a hit that it's time to share
the success! Want to learn more? Go to the Advertising Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/advertising. There are links to advertising and promotional materials,
a training presentation, USPS/eBay shipping supplies, and much more!
Feedback Send comments and questions to:
WHATS IN STORE
US POSTAL SERVICE
475 L'ENFANT PLAZA SW RM 1141
WASHINGTON DC 20260-1019
Supply Management
NOTICE
New Office Supply Catalog
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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
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