FIELD INFORMATION KIT
Postal Service to Test New Verification Process With CD Trading Company
This field information kit is intended to inform Postal
ServiceTM employees of handling procedures for mail that is
part of a test beginning in June 2006 for a new postage verification process designed to streamline business mail
acceptance and payment.
The customer participating in the test is la la media, inc.,
an Internet company whose members trade music CDs
through the mail using prepaid First-Class Mail flat-sized
envelopes with a permit imprint and unique 4-state customer barcode.
During the test, la la will send the Postal Service a daily
manifest of CDs being mailed, and postage will be deducted daily from la la's Centralized Account Processing
System (CAPS) account accordingly. The Postal Service
will read Confirm scans from the la la mailpieces sorted on
Postal Service automated flat sorting equipment (AFSM
100 or UFSM 1000) and compare the information against
the manifests to verify postage.
Mail processing employees need to be aware that the
customized la la mailing envelopes will be extracted at the
Advanced Facer Canceller System (AFCS) as flats and
must be processed on automated flat sorting equipment to
verify that postage was paid based on the manifests provided. Address labels may be handwritten and still be
AFSM 100- and UFSM 1000-compatible mailpieces.
This new process takes advantage of 4-state customer
barcode technology to help make mail visible from creation
to entry to delivery, and it will open the door for similar processes in the future.
This kit contains the following materials:
• Stand-up Talk for Employees at Delivery and Retail
Acceptance Units.
• Stand-up Talk for Mail Processing Employees.
• Poster highlighting important features of la la
mailpieces.
Stand-up Talk for Employees at Delivery
and Retail Acceptance Units
[Please read this stand-up talk to all employees at delivery and retail acceptance units and then post copies on employee bulletin boards.]
Postal Service to Test New Verification Process
With CD Trading Company
Starting in June 2006, the Postal Service will begin testing a new seamless postage verification process designed
to simplify business mail acceptance and payment. The
customer participating in the test, la la media, inc., is an Internet company whose members trade music CDs through
the mail. la la members have been trading CDs via First-
Class Mail flat-sized envelopes with $0.63 in postage applied. When the test begins in June, members will switch to
a new prepaid envelope that utilizes a permit imprint for
postage and Confirm service using a 4-state customer barcode for postage verification.
What You Need to Know
• la la's mailpieces will typically be deposited in collection boxes or Post Offices or left for letter carriers to
pick up.
• Remember that these pieces are prepaid by la la, so
do not hold or delay delivery for postage payment.
By using the 4-state customer barcode and expanded
technology, this process will help make mail visible from
creation to entry to delivery, and it opens the door for similar
processes in the future.
Stand-up Talk for Mail Processing
Employees
[Please read this stand-up talk to all mail processing employees and then post copies on employee bulletin boards.]
Postal Service to Test New Verification Process
With CD Trading Company
Starting in June 2006, the Postal Service will begin testing a new seamless postage verification process designed
to simplify business mail acceptance and payment. The
customer participating in the test, la la media, inc., is an Internet company whose members trade music CDs through
the mail. la la members have been trading CDs via First-
Class Mail flat-sized envelopes with $0.63 in postage applied. When the test begins in June, members will switch to
a new prepaid envelope that utilizes a permit imprint for
postage and Confirm service using a 4-state customer barcode for postage verification.
What You Need To Do
• la la's mailpieces will typically be deposited in collection boxes or Post Offices or left for letter carriers to
pick up. Remember that these pieces are prepaid by
la la, so do not hold or delay delivery for postage
payment.
• la la's mailpieces will be extracted at the Advanced
Facer Canceller System (AFCS) as flats, and should
not be canceled.
• la la's mailpieces must be processed using automated flat sorting equipment (AFSM 100 or UFSM
1000) to ensure proper payment verification. These
are AFSM 100- and UFSM 1000-compatible
mailpieces.
What to Avoid
• Although similar in looks to other mailpieces (see
poster on next page), la la mailpieces are AFSM
100- and UFSM 1000-compatible and should not be
processed manually.
• Do not run these flat-size pieces on letter automation
equipment.
By using the 4-state customer barcode and expanded
technology, this process will help make mail visible from
creation to entry to delivery, and it opens the door for similar
processes in the future.
— Marketing Technology and Channel Management,
Customer Service, 6-8-06
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