As core, even critical, products of the U.S. Postal Service®, stamps are one of the main reasons customers visit our Post Offices, call our 800 number, or access USPS.com®. Through its stamp program, the Postal Service™ provides a unique opportunity to honor and understand the best aspects of our nation, including accomplished citizens, turning points in history, and stunning natural wonders. Postmasters should ensure that customers are able to select the specific product that they came to the Post Office™ to purchase. Making stamps readily available and promoting their use for mailing and collecting are very profitable activities for the Postal Service.
Analysis of recent Customer Experience Measurement (CEM) data indicates that availability of stamps is critical. When stamps that interest customers are not in stock at the Post Offices they visit most, customer satisfaction plummets. In fact, failure to meet customers’ stamp needs can cause the overall Post Office satisfaction rating to drop by as many as 50 percentage points.
To ensure that customers can purchase most commemorative/collectible stamps on their first day of issue, Post Offices receive automatic distributions. Stamps/Philately articles published in the Postal Bulletin announce whether an automatic stamp distribution will be sent, as well as the approximate distribution percentage (standard, half, quarter, etc.). Postmasters can and should pre-order additional stamps to meet the needs of their community and to keep their CEM ratings strong. It’s vital to make every customer experience a positive one.
Postmasters should order stamps through their Stamp Distribution Office/Stamp Distribution Center (SDO/SDC) at least 30 days prior to the first day of issue. As policy, all Post Offices must acquire and maintain a supply of each new commemorative stamp for a minimum of 90 days from the first day of issue date and beyond in accordance with customer demand until inventory is depleted or the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale.
Commemorative/Collectible Stamps
All commemoratives must be on hand and available for customer sale no less than 90 days (with some exceptions as noted) from the first day of issue as long as supplies remain available within the SDCs. The stamp issuance availability by date is as follows:
n Lunar New Year — Rabbit (Forever): 1-22-11.
n Kansas Statehood (Forever): 1-27-11.
n Ronald Reagan (Forever): 2-10-11.
n Latin Music legends (Forever): 3-16-11.
n Jazz (Forever): 3-26-11.
Commemoratives/Collectible Stamps being issued in April and May are as follows:
n The Civil War (Forever): 4-12-11.
n Go Green (Forever): 4-14-11.
n Helen Hayes (Forever): 4-25-11.
n Gregory Peck (Forever): 4-28-11.
n Mercury Messenger (Forever): 5-4-11.
n Indianapolis 500 (Forever): 5-20-11.
Definitive/Mail Use Stamps
Definitive/mail use stamps should be available at all times. If supplies run low, Post Offices must request additional quantities using normal ordering procedures.
n Item 678900 — Liberty Bell (Forever) DSBK 20.
n Item 787900 — Lady Liberty/Flag (Forever) Coil of 100.
n Item 113700 — Purple Heart 44c Pane of 20.
n Item 113100 — Polar Bear 28c Pane of 20.
n Item 787200 — Polar Bear 28c Coil of 100.
n Item 101500 — Big Horn Sheep 17c Pane of 20.
n Item 785700 — Big Horn Sheep 17c Coil of 100.
n Item 575200 — Love Pansies in a Basket 44c Pane of 20.
n Item 574200 — Wedding Rings 44c Pane of 20.
n Item 574900 — Wedding Cake 61c Pane of 20.
n Item 576200 — Neon Celebrate (Forever) Pane of 20.
n Item 574600 — Grand Teton 98c International Pane of 20.
n Item 573300 — Liberty Bell (Forever) APC Pane of 18.
n Item 553000 — Breast Cancer Research 55c (Semi-Postal) Pane of 20.
n Item 787600 — Flags of Our Nation 44c Coil of 50.
— Stamp Services,
Government Relations and Public Policy, 4-7-11
