Author: Archive

US Postal Service site lets anyone hold your mail

Posted by | Mar 21, 2008 | |

Wednesday night on Off The Hook, a radio show on WBAI in New York, Emmanuel Goldstein and the guys from 2600 discussed a feature on the Web site of the U.S. Postal Service that can only be described as ill-conceived.

If you’re going to be away from home for a while, the your local post office can hold your mail to avoid an overflowing mailbox. Fine.

In the old days (and you can still do this), you went to the office and filled out a form (PDF). Someone on the show who has done this said the Postal Service doesn’t validate the identity of the person who requests mail to be held. It validates only the identity of the person who comes to pick up the mail.

Government techies copied this manual system to the Internet.

You can go to https://holdmail.usps.com (or click on Hold Mail at the Postal Service home page, as shown below) and put a hold on mail delivery. Notice that I didn’t say put a hold on your mail delivery. You can put a hold on mail delivered to anyone. This is true with the traditional system, too, but the Internet makes it worse, adding more anonymity and making the process easier. Too easy.

The agency site claims that it needs a name, address, and phone number to stop mail delivery. When tested, however, this turns out not to be the case. Requests with wrong names and wrong phone numbers were accepted, according to a listener who wrote in to the show. All you really need to know is an address.

And with the address, you can stop all mail delivery, not just mail to one person. Quoting from the Frequently Asked Questions: “All mail, regardless of name, will be held for the address entered. Submitting an online Hold Mail request once is all that is required to hold mail delivery for everyone at the address.”

Read More

Pos Malaysia earnings to improve starting 2009

Posted by | Mar 21, 2008 | |

Pos Malaysia Bhd, whose share price continues to languish, is expected to register better earnings and growth beginning 2009 following its modernisation plans and the unfolding of Transmile Group Bhd’s turnaround.

The company’s share price has fallen by 33.06% since Jan 2, achieving a high of RM2.52 on Jan 11. On Wednesday, it closed at RM1.66, a three sen drop from Tuesday.

Analysts expected a stronger cash flow from Pos Malaysia following the completion of its RM200 million new mail processing centre in Shah Alam, part of the company’s modernisation plan. The centre is targeted to be operational by the first quarter of 2009.

“Going forward, we expect to see a strong cash flow from Pos Malaysia in 2009, which should register a free cash flow of over 10% during the year,” said Teoh Paul Keng, a senior analyst at HLG Research.

“Under the modernisation plan, the building in Shah Alam is to increase the automation level from 25% to 70%. They have about 3,000 staff in their existing processing centre, the new centre could reduce their manpower by more than 1,000 staff and this could earn them annual cost savings of about RM20 million,” he added.

Teoh expected Pos Malaysia’s cash flow to be more modest this year due to the capital expenditure incurred by the company in the new facility.

He said Pos Malaysia remained an attractive option for investors. “It is still a good time to invest in Pos Malaysia. At present, it is a domestic consumption play, it is also one of the most defensive plays.” HLG Research also has a buy on Pos Malaysia at RM2.50.

Teoh also said its earnings growth would most likely be flat due to the imbalance between the mail growth volume and postal tariff rates. “The mail growth volume goes up an average 3% to 5% every year, but there hasn’t been a hike in postal tariffs.”

Read More

FedEx Corp. reports Third Quarter Earnings

Posted by | Mar 20, 2008 | |

FedEx Corp. today reported earnings of USD 1.26 per diluted share for the third quarter ended February 29, compared to USD 1.35 per diluted share a year ago. Last year’s third quarter included an USD 0.08 per diluted share benefit from a reduction in the company’s effective tax rate.

FedEx Corp. reported the following consolidated results for the third quarter:
Revenue of USD 9.44 billion, up 10% from USD 8.59 billion the previous year. Operating income of USD 641 million, unchanged from a year ago. Operating margin of 6.8%, down from 7.5% the previous year. Net income of USD 393 million, down 6% from last year’s USD 420 million. Total combined average daily package volume in the FedEx Express and FedEx Ground segments grew 5% year over year for the quarter, due primarily to growth at FedEx Ground, FedEx International Priority® (IP) and an increase in international domestic express shipments resulting primarily from recent international acquisitions.

Third quarter operating margins declined, as higher fuel prices and a weak U.S. economy limited demand for U.S. domestic express, less-than-truckload (LTL) and copy and print services. The costs of retail service enhancement initiatives, increased marketing and technology expenses and higher expenses at FedEx Ground more than offset the benefits from lower variable compensation and favorable exchange rates.

For the third quarter, the FedEx Express segment reported: Revenue of USD 6.13 billion, up 11% from last year’s USD 5.52 billion. Operating income of USD 425 million, up 8% from USD 395 million a year ago. Operating margin of 6.9%, down from 7.2% the previous year . IP package revenue grew 18% for the quarter, as IP revenue per package grew 10%, primarily due to higher fuel surcharges and favorable exchange rates. IP average daily package volume grew 6%, led by increases in volume originating in Latin America, the United States and Asia. U.S. domestic revenue per package increased 6% due to increased fuel surcharges and higher rate per pound, while package volume declined by 2%.

Read More

Rentokil brings in ex-ICI team to turn business around as CEO departs

Posted by | Mar 20, 2008 | |

Troubled support services conglomerate Rentokil Initial PLC, which has issued two profit warnings in recent months, has hired the executive team that turned around the fortunes of chemicals giant ICI and confirmed the departures of chief executive Doug Flynn and chairman Brian McGowan. Speaking to reporters, acting chairman and senior independent director Peter Long denied the move was a precursor to the pest control to tropical plants business being broken up and sold.

He insisted the group’s new management team are “committed for the long term”.

“We’re not interested in talking to ‘bottom feeders’ who think they can come in and buy some of the Rentokil assets on the cheap. We believe that value can be created for our shareholders by improving performance,” he said. “These guys come from the old school where you create value by building underlying earnings,” Long added.

Market rumours of private equity interest in parts of the business have abounded this week. “It wouldn’t be appropriate to start commenting on people,” Long said. “Have we had formal approaches for lots of parts of our business? No, we haven’t. Have people been looking at (parts)? I’m sure they have.” John McAdam, until recently the chief executive of ICI, joins as non-executive chairman while Alan Brown, who was ICI’s chief financial officer, will be chief executive.

In addition, Andy Ransom, who was head of ICI’s mergers and acquisitions team, will become senior executive, corporate development.

Brown has been appointed with a basic salary of 775,000 stg per annum, with Ransom set to earn a basic 450,000 mln stg. McAdam will be paid a basic 350,000 stg.

To underline the long-term nature of the appointments, the three will participate in a five-year share incentive plan. Each will be be awarded 7.5 mln shares. There will be a 20 pct vesting if and when Rentokil shares hit 120 pence, with 100 pct vesting if and when they get to 180 pence. A further award of up to 50 pct of shares can then be earned on a straight-line basis up to 280 pence.

Read More

Councils could run threatened post offices in UK

Posted by | Mar 20, 2008 | |

Councils will be able to run closure-threatened post offices, the Government confirmed yesterday.

The Post Office had been told to enter into negotiations with councils wanting to take over the running of some of the branches earmarked for closure.

Business Secretary John Hutton has now written to the Post Office, encouraging the company to engage with local authorities.

He said, “If there is a way forward here which might allow more sub-post offices to remain open, while retaining a sustainable network, I am sure the Post Office will want to look very closely at how any such proposals could work in practice.”

Yesterday a Conservative motion aimed at halting the closure programme was defeated in the Commons. The Tories had hoped to persuade an estimated 90 Labour MPs who have campaigned publicly against the closures to vote with them.

Tory spokesman Alan Duncan said Labour should have “no option” but to vote with them, but last night only around 20 did so.

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd said, “There is a terrible whiff of hypocrisy in Westminster. Many Labour ministers and backbenchers are voting in favour of the closure of post offices, while at the same time running around like headless chickens in their constituencies, pretending to campaign in favour of keeping these post offices open.”

The Liberal Democrats said they wanted to de-couple the Royal Mail and Post Office, keeping the latter in the public sector but giving it freedom to develop services for all mail delivery companies.

A 49% stake in Royal Mail would be sold to the private sector, with 50% made available to provide an employee trust for staff on the John Lewis model.

Read More

DHL expands its EXPRESS4YOU service with re:charge cartridges partnership

Posted by | Mar 20, 2008 | |

DHL Express has expanded its DHL EXPRESS4YOU service nationwide, by partnering with re:charge cartridges, the largest suppliers of refilled/recharged printer cartridges in Ireland. The expansion the DHL EXPRESS4YOU service, which is part of the DHL SERVICEPOINT concept, provides customers with access to DHL’s domestic and international services through any of re:charge cartridges 33 branches nationwide.

The DHL EXPRESS4YOU service was launched last year in Ireland with DHL offering companies and members of the public a simple, secure and cost-efficient way to send their documents or parcels worldwide. This new partnership has enabled DHL to respond to the growing demand for a more local DHL EXPRESS4YOU service.

Noel Byrne, Sales & Marketing Director, DHL Express said ‘DHL has positioned itself as a forerunner in offering this convenient, easy-to-use, cost-effective express delivery solution. This partnership enables DHL to draw upon re:charge cartridges local network and nationwide footprint, to provide convenience to our customers.’

Mark Greene, Marketing Director of re:charge cartridges spoke at the launch: ‘Partnering with DHL Express is a natural extension to our commitment to both businesses and the public. Customers can now not only re:charge their ink cartridges, pick up stationery and get advice on printing but they can now have access to a reliable and cost-efficient local and international delivery service through our network of 33 branches.’

Read More

DHL Express Russia customer service recognized with industry award

Posted by | Mar 20, 2008 | |

DHL Express Russia was given the highest possible recognition by industry peers.
Customer service quality at DHL Express Russia was given the highest possible recognition by industry peers at the “Russian and CIS Call Centre Awards”, held during the “Call Centre World. Russia/CIS – 2008” International Forum at the end of March.
The forum, which entered its seventh year in 2008, is the major large-scale industry gathering for Call Centres in Russia and the CIS. It brings together specialists and business leaders from Russia, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and other countries in the region, as well as guests from Europe, the Middle East and the US.
The “Russian and CIS Call Centre Awards” serve as an industry benchmark, rewarding best in class standards and quality in call centre activity. Candidates for each award are expected to demonstrate effective customer service, which contributes to customer loyalty and retention, and good working conditions for call centre staff – the foundations of any successful call centre.

All candidates are actively tested on a “mystery caller” basis by a jury of recognized industry consultants, managers, business trainers and journalists. DHL Express participated in the awards for the first time in 2008, entering the three categories of “Best Corporate Culture”, “Best Training for Call Centre Staff” and “Team of the Year”. Despite stiff competition from other leading brands in the Russia & CIS market, DHL Express ‘swept the board’, taking home the top prize in each category.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

How ready do you feel for the de minimis changes coming in July?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!




View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest