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4. Special Services
Special Services add value to mail services in three primary ways; 1) they provide safe choices on how to send money with postal money orders, 2) they provide alternative ways and places to receive mail through the Post Office Box service, and 3) they customize First-Class Mail, Expedited and Package services with a variety of accountable mail special services. Customers may confirm receipt and delivery of their mail, obtain signatures, insure mail contents, officially register mail security and have the Postal Service perform Collect on Delivery (COD) services.
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Product Development initiated electronic enhancements for Certified Mail and Return Receipts. Market research was conducted to assess customer interest in electronically enhanced Certified Mail and Return Receipt Services. Customers overwhelmingly favor electronic enhancements that will allow them to access delivery status of their Certified Mail on the Internet or receive a Return Receipt with delivery information and an image of the recipient’s signature returned to their email address. These new service enhancements were included in the R2001-1 rate case filing. Development work was initiated with a launch planned for fall of 2002.
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The first cost-based Post Office Box fee structure was implemented along with the R2000-1 rate case. The fee structure for Post Office Boxes is now based on one of six fee levels that best match the cost of the PO Box space for a given post office. Further refinements of this fee structure have been proposed for the R2001-1 rate filing. This will make it possible for PO box fees in a number of locations to cover their costs which will create more fair and reasonable box fees over time and improve the contribution to institutional costs.
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Special Services messaging in retail locations continued to improve, making it easier for customers to see menu boards with services and prices for specific special services.
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