Customers want their holiday packages to arrive on time and in good condition. By informing customers about the critical shipping dates and services available, you can ensure that their holiday shipping experience is a positive one. The Postal Service™ offers many different services to ship packages at home and abroad. With the redesign of our international shipping offerings and the new Express Mail® and Priority Mail® flat-rate options available, it is important to notify customers about all the options available to them so that they can make an educated decision about how to ship their holiday packages.
Please use the following guide when advising customers about the various options and services available. By offering to our customers the right products that will ensure timely, safe delivery of their holiday gifts, you can increase revenue as well as provide a quality customer service experience for our customers and take some of the stress out of the holidays.
Customers can purchase Ready Post® packaging or use the Postal Service’s free, eco-friendly, expedited packaging to send out their holiday gifts. Proper packaging is essential for packages to withstand transit and handling. Using padding such as bubble wrap or other materials to reduce shifting will protect the contents, and using packaging tape instead of masking tape will seal the package securely. For added protection, include a separate slip of paper inside the package with the addresses so that, in case the package does get damaged, it can still reach its destination.
Express Mail service provides reliable, guaranteed, expedited mail service for overnight or second-day delivery (depending on the destination) and comes with $100 of free insurance.
Exhibit 1: Sample of Express Mail Packaging
Note: To be received in time for Christmas, customers must send Express Mail shipments by December 22, 2007.
There are no additional accessorial or fuel charges with Express Mail service and delivery.
Express Mail service also offers a flat-rate envelope — $16.25.
Extra services available with Express Mail service include the following:
Note: The maximum liability for insurance purchased at a Post Office retail counter is $5,000; when purchased online or at an Automated Postal Center® (APC®), the maximum liability is $500.
The Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com offers “Quick, Easy, Convenient™” options for shipping with Express Mail service. Customers can order free shipping supplies (such as the envelope shown in Exhibit 1), print shipping labels, pay for postage, add extra services, purchase up to $500 of insurance, and schedule to have the package picked up for free.
Note: Customers must write the telephone numbers of the sender and the recipient on Express Mail shipping labels.
Priority Mail service is a fast, economical, and reliable way to send documents and merchandise domestically.
Exhibit 2: Sample of Priority Mail Packaging
Note: To be received in time for Christmas, customers must send Priority Mail shipments by December 20, 2007.
There are no additional accessorial or fuel charges with Priority Mail service, and delivery is available to all U.S. addresses, including Post Office boxes and APO/FPO addresses.
Priority Mail service also offers flat-rate options:
Note: Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes are offered in two shapes to accommodate different items — 11" x 8.5" x 5.5" and 13.625" x 11.875" x 3.375".
Extra services available with Priority Mail service include the following:
Note: The maximum liability for insurance purchased at a Post Office retail counter is $5,000; when purchased online or at an Automated Postal Center® (APC®), the maximum liability is $500.
The Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com offers “Quick, Easy, Convenient” options for shipping with Priority Mail service. Customers can order free shipping supplies (such as the envelope shown in Exhibit 2), print shipping labels, pay for postage, add extra services, purchase up to $500 of insurance, and schedule to have the package picked up for free.
Regardless of the domestic service chosen, please remind customers that proper addressing techniques will help guarantee a worry-free delivery of their holiday items:
Customers have some new shipping options this year for their expedited international packages. Our international services are now aligned with our domestic product offerings (where applicable) and include Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG®), Express Mail International®, and Priority Mail International™ services. To help ensure that your customers have a pleasant holiday shipping experience, be sure to understand the delivery standards and forms needed for international shipping.
The fastest international service offered through the Postal Service is Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) service. Offered through an alliance with FedEx Express, GXG service provides reliable, high-speed, date-certain service with tracking and money-back delivery guarantee to more than 190 countries worldwide.
Exhibit 3: Sample of GXG Co-Branded Packaging
Note: To be received in time for Christmas, customers must send GXG shipments by December 19 or 20, 2007, depending on the destination. For more information, see the article titled “2007 International and Military Mail Christmas Mailing Dates” in Postal Bulletin 22220 (11–22–07, page 45).
Packaging includes a co-branded envelope and Tyvek pack, as shown in Exhibit 3.
Customers can prepare GXG shipments using the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com and will receive a 10-percent discount on their GXG packages paid for through the Web site. Also at www.usps.com, customers can print shipping labels and PS Form 6182, Commercial Invoice (this form serves as a customs form, but customers will need to fill it out manually and affix it to the package). Customers can also schedule a free pickup for their holiday packages.
Note: Customers must write the telephone numbers of the sender and the recipient on GXG shipping labels.
Express Mail International service is an expedited mail service that can be used to send documents and merchandise to more than 190 countries worldwide.
There is a day-certain, money-back guarantee to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Express Mail International service comes with $100 in free insurance.
Note: To be received in time for Christmas, customers must send Express Mail International shipments by December 12, 17, or 18, 2007, depending on the destination. For more information, see the article titled “2007 International and Military Mail Christmas Mailing Dates” in Postal Bulletin 22220 (11-22-07, page 45).
Express Mail International service also offers a flat-rate envelope option — flat-rate envelopes are just $22 to Canada and Mexico and $25 to all other countries.
Note: Coins, jewelry, watches, and other valuables are prohibited in Express Mail International shipments. Always check country-specific prohibitions, restrictions, and observations in the IMM Individual Country Listing pages.
Customers can prepare Express Mail International shipments using the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com and will receive an 8-percent discount on their Express Mail International packages paid for through the Web site. Also at www.usps.com, customers can order free shipping supplies (such as the envelope shown in Exhibit 2 — Express Mail International mailings use the same packaging as domestic Express Mail service), print shipping labels and the appropriate customs forms all in one document, purchase up to $500 in additional insurance (to purchase more insurance — up to $5,000 — customers must make the transaction at a Post Office retail counter), and schedule a free pickup for their holiday packages.
Note: Customers must write the telephone numbers of the sender and the recipient on Express Mail International shipping labels.
POS ONE and IMM Individual Country Listings show which customs forms are required, but here’s a rule of thumb:
Used for quick, affordable global shipping, Priority Mail International service is a reliable, cost-effective way to send documents and merchandise to international destinations.
Note: To be received in time for Christmas, customers must send Priority Mail International shipments by December 4 or 11, 2007, depending on the destination. For more information, see the article titled “2007 International and Military Mail Christmas Mailing Dates” in Postal Bulletin 22220 (11-22-07, page 45).
Customers can prepare Priority Mail International combined labels and customs forms on the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com or through authorized PC Postage® vendors and receive a 5-percent discount. Also at www.usps.com, customers can order free shipping supplies (such as the envelope shown in Exhibit 1 — Priority Mail International mailings use the same packaging as domestic Priority Mail service), print shipping labels and the appropriate customs forms all in one document, purchase up to $500 in additional insurance (to purchase more insurance — up to $5,000 — customers must make the transaction at a Post Office retail counter), and schedule a free pickup for their holiday packages.
Priority Mail International service offers several different options:
Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelopes are just $9 for Canada and Mexico and $11 to all other countries. There is a 4-pound weight limit on Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelopes.
Insurance is not available with the Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelope. Also, tracking services are not available unless the customer purchases Registered Mail service, which provides added security.
Every Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelope requires PS Form 2976 affixed to the outside of the envelope. In addition, if the item weighs 16 ounces or more or is valued at $400 or higher, the customer must also prepare PS Form 2976-A, place it inside PS Form 2976-E, and enclose the form set inside the package; in this case, the customer affixes only the upper portion of PS Form 2976 (cut on the dotted line) to the envelope and discards the lower portion. (For more information, see Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) section 123.61.)
Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Boxes and variable-weight packages provide limited indemnity coverage at no extra charge, can be insured for a fee, and offer tracking to major destinations in Asia, Canada, and Europe. (The tracking number is the 9-digit series barcode beginning with the letter “C” on PS Form 2976-A.)
Flat-rate boxes are just $23 for Canada and Mexico and $37 to all other countries. There is a 20-pound weight limit on Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Boxes. Priority Mail International variable-weight packages can weigh up to 70 pounds.
Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Boxes and variable-weight packages require PS Form 2976-A. When using this form, the customer must fully describe package contents and list their appropriate value declared in U.S. dollars in block 5, “Value (U.S. $)” (located in the middle-right portion of the form). Also, if the customer purchases additional insurance for Priority Mail International service, write a bold “V” followed by the dollar amount of the insurance in the “Insured Amount” block (in the upper-right corner of the form), and write the amount of the insurance fee in the “Insured Fees (U.S. $)” block (under the “Insured Amount” block).
Regardless of the international service chosen, please remind customers that proper addressing techniques will help guarantee a worry-free delivery of their holiday items:
Customers should check the Individual Country Listings in the IMM to ensure that package contents are not restricted or prohibited in the destination country before sealing international packages.
Although the mailer is responsible for complying with all postal and nonpostal laws and regulations regarding the mailing of goods, Postal Service retail employees must inform customers of applicable restrictions, prohibitions, or observations based on the destination country.
Pay attention to the restrictions of each product as well. For example, Express Mail International service does not allow shipments containing coins, jewelry, watches, and other valuable items.
Customs duties and taxes are assessed in accordance with the laws of the destination country and are based on the declared value of the shipment.
If duties or taxes are assessed, most countries will collect a customs fee from the recipient in addition to the duties and taxes.
Shipments bearing incomplete custom declarations may be returned to sender.
— Package Services,
Product Development, 12-6-07
