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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

It's Hot. It's Humid. You're Working Hard. Do you know the signs of heat illness? A d-link is provided.
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Hitting the mailstream beginning June 1, 2006: Mailpiece with 4-state customer barcode. Part of a new verification process test. A d-link is provided.