Q. Will international rates change?
A. Yes, in addition to the prices changing, the international product line will be simplified.
Q. Will First-Class Mail® envelopes and stamped cards need to be revalued?
A. No. New envelopes will be available for sale.
Q. Will there be enough quantities of the Forever Stamp™ and new American Flag stamps available for sale?
A. Yes, the initial run will be 3 billion copies of the Forever Stamp and 4.5 billion of other nondenominated stamps. The Forever Stamp will remain on sale and an additional 1 billion will be produced this year. Two automatic distributions are scheduled to ensure sufficient quantities are available. Backup supplies are available at your local stamp distribution office (SDO).
Q. Will there be enough 2-cent stamps available for sale?
A. Yes, more than 3 billion 2-cent stamps are being produced. To ensure sufficient quantities are available at every retail unit, two automatic distributions are scheduled. Backup supplies are available at your local SDO.
Q. What are the plans to promote the Forever Stamp early?
A. The Forever Stamp will go on sale April 12, 2007. They will be available then in booklets only. Retail associates should encourage customers to purchase the Forever Stamp or nondenominated American Flag stamps during the weeks preceding the price change. Associates are also being asked to advise customers of the upcoming price change, so that customers have the option of purchasing enough new stamps to avoid a return trip.
Q. What promotion(s) are planned to encourage customers to purchase 2-cent stamps early?
A. Retail associates are being asked to offer 2-cent stamps in lieu of change during the weeks preceding the price change. Associates are also being asked to advise customers of the upcoming price change, so that customers have the option of purchasing the nondenominated stamp and avoid a return trip.
Q. Will there be sufficient stamp stock for vending?
A. Yes, sufficient quantities will be available. The Forever Stamp booklet of 20 along with the non-denominated American Flag booklet will be the primary stamp vending booklets. Vending stamp products will not have an automatic shipment, and offices with vending equipment must order the product they need.
Q. Will there be sufficient stamp stock for APC?
A. Yes, sufficient quantities will be available. This time, additional packets of new American Flag stamp and quantities of the Forever Stamp are being produced based on previous orders and usage.
Q. Will updates for IRTs and POS ONE units be available on time?
A. Yes, disks for updating IRTs will be sent to district IRT coordinators in May 2007. POS ONE updates will occur over the network.
Q. Electronic scales are located in our lobbies for customer use. These require a chip containing new prices. How do we obtain updated chips?
A. Headquarters is not supporting any existing scales for this rate case because of the variety of scales in use. Each office will need to contact the manufacturer of their specific scale to identify what is available for the rate case.
Manual offices that were using the obsolete Triner 70 lb. Fan Scale at retail counters will be getting a Pitney Bowes electronic scale shipped directly to them with a Fiscal Year 2007 price chip. For a list of offices scheduled to receive this scale, go to http://blue.usps.gov/delret/L4RetSrvEqp_Vending.htm; under “Projects” click Electronic Scales.
Q. Will there be a suspension of stamp stock limits for the automatic shipments we receive when prices change?
A. Yes, the stamp stock limit will be temporarily suspended effective April 1 through July 31, 2007. (See page 10 of this Postal Bulletin for more information.)
Q. What do we do with excess stock we receive with the automatic shipments?
A. Excess stock may be returned as long as it is in the original package. The seal must be intact. Communicate with your SDO prior to returning any stock.
