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Postal Service to remove stamp machines across the country

Posted by | Mar 19, 2008 | |

If you’re wondering what happened to those vending machines that spit out postage stamps at the post office, they’ve been returned to sender.

The U.S. Postal Service has permanently removed the machines from post offices all across the country, including those in the Charleston area.

Customers wanting to avoid standing in line for stamps at the counter could simply feed coins or dollar bills into a machine to buy postage.

Despite their convenience, the postal service did away with them for several reasons, said David Walton, a spokesman for the West Virginia district.

“The machines are obsolete,” Walton said. “They don’t make parts for them anymore, so when they break down, it’s difficult to repair them.”

The stamp machines, which first appeared in the 1970s, broke down quite often, he said.

They also accepted only cash and coins, a problem for many folks who prefer using a debit or credit card for transactions.

Walton said it wouldn’t have been economically feasible to upgrade the machines to allow card use.

Vending machine stamp sales have also declined in recent years, as customers tend to purchase their stamps by other means, Walton added.

Some machines throughout the country averaged only two or three customers a month, he said.

“Overall, they were not generating much business,” Walton said. “There are so many other ways to buy stamps today, and more people are now paying their bills online, using e-mail, phone and fax.”

Stamps are still widely available at some ATM machines, retail stores and online at www.usps.com. Customers can even have their postal carriers drop off stamps at their doors.

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Express gifts for Easter delivery

Posted by | Mar 19, 2008 | |

The U.S. Postal Service is ready to help family and friends separated by distance this Easter season. Gifts can be sent as late as Saturday, March 22, for delivery on Easter Sunday by the Postal Service, the only shipping service that delivers on Sundays. Express Mail, the Postal Service’s premier package service, provides overnight delivery to most destinations nationwide at prices lower than other carriers provide and includes a money-back guarantee, tracking, proof of delivery, and insurance, all at no additional cost.

Unlike the expedited services offered by other companies, Express Mail has no hidden surcharges. Other commercial carriers have increased their rates for 2008 and have surcharges for residential delivery and fuel costs that are often higher than the base price of shipping. Express Mail has just one fixed price to most destinations in the United States.

Customers can even send Express Mail without leaving their homes. By visiting usps.com, customers can print shipping labels and postage for Express Mail and schedule a postal carrier to pick packages up through Carrier Pickup or Pickup on Demand services. Customers can also use usps.com to look up ZIP Codes and find nearby USPS Express Mail collection boxes or Post Offices.

USPS Express Mail includes, at no additional cost, insurance up to USD 100 against loss or damage, proof of delivery, tracking information, and free ecologically friendly packaging.

The Postal Service also offers another value, Priority Mail, with nationwide delivery in two or three days. Customers may choose any of three different flat-rate Priority Mail boxes that will hold a variety of candy and possibly a stuffed bunny.

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Medical tourists need to mind the gap

Posted by | Mar 19, 2008 | |

Post Office® reveals 36 per cent of ‘medical tourists’ fail to check their travel insurance

The ‘health tourism’ industry is increasing at a rate of around 30 per cent per year with over 70,000 people travelling overseas for cosmetic surgery or elective medical treatments last year.

However, new figures released today by Post Office® Travel Services show that over 25,000 of these people are unwittingly putting themselves at risk by failing to buy the correct level of travel insurance cover.

The research reveals that over a third (36 per cent) of those who had travelled abroad for cosmetic or elective surgery failed to check if their insurance policy covered them for claims that could arise from their treatment, including additional periods of hospitalisation resulting from the procedure and replacement flights if their trip was extended. One in five of these people admitted it simply didn’t cross their minds to check the policy while a worrying 16 per cent just assumed they would be covered.
The findings highlight the growing trend of people looking for lower cost treatments abroad. India is currently the top destination for cosmetic and medical surgery, closely followed by Hungary, Turkey, Malaysia and Spain. And with breast implants, cosmetic dentistry, heart surgery and hip replacements costing between 20 and 50 per cent less than private treatment in the UK, it is inevitable that more and more people are prepared to travel the distance for treatment.

A further one in ten people (9 per cent) checked their policy and realised they were not covered yet still chose not to buy additional cover. And women are more bothered by the fact they are not covered than men, as a quarter of female travellers checked their policies and proceeded to get extra cover compared to just 9 per cent of the males.

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EU commission criticizes Deutsche Post's VAT exemption

Posted by | Mar 19, 2008 | |

The EU commission is criticizing Deutsche Post World Net AG’s VAT exemption, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported, citing a letter the commission wrote to the German government.

EU commissioner Charlie McCreevy has advised the German government not to hamper the opening of the EU’s mail markets by unfair regulation, it said.

Unlike its German competitors, Deutsche Post is exempted from charging value added taxes on its products in return for the universal service it offers to ensure mail is delivered to remote regions.

The German cabinet is set to decide on tax regulations for the German postal market over the coming days, the report said.

While finance minister Peer Steinbruck of the Social Democrats favours maintaining Deutsche Post’s tax privilege, economy minister Michael Glos from conservative bloc CDU/CSU favours abolishing it.

In addition to the VAT exemption, the government last fall decided to make mandatory for its competitors the minimum wages paid at Deutsche Post.

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Royal Mail pension plans rejected

Posted by | Mar 19, 2008 | |

Royal Mail managers have voted to reject the company’s proposed pension changes, increasing the threat of strike action.

Unite advised staff to reject the plans and 85% of those who voted in a ballot agreed with the union.

Royal Mail plans to cut the value of its pension scheme for new and current members and raise the retirement age.

Unite said it would now consider a ballot for industrial action if the issue was not dealt with by Royal Mail.

Unite national secretary, Paul Reuter, said: “This is a massive rejection of Royal Mail’s decision to reduce the future pensions of thousands of working people.

“It would be absolute folly if the business were to ignore their loyal staff.”

But he stressed that the union did want to rush into a strike.

The main trade union at the Royal Mail, the Communication Workers Union (CWU), is holding a workplace ballot of its own members to judge their opinion. This ends on 25 March.

But a Royal Mail spokesman said the proposed changes were essential to deal with a deficit of GBP 3.4bn in the pension scheme.

“After discussions on pension change which began nearly a year ago, the unions, including Unite, signed a deal with Royal Mail fully agreeing the essential changes to the pension plan which are taking effect on 1 April.

“Royal Mail is determined to ensure that everyone in the company has the best possible pension that the company can afford but we have no alternative but to reform the pension plan,” he added.

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Swiss Post International continues success in cross-border business

Posted by | Mar 19, 2008 | |

Swiss Post achieved excellent results again in 2007. With group profit of 909 million Swiss francs (EUR 551 million), it beat the previous year’s figure by 72 million (EUR 44 million). Operating income rose by over 800 million francs (EUR 485 million) to 8,712 million (EUR 5,280 million). The international division, Swiss Post International, increased its operating income by 6 per cent to 1,145 million francs (EUR 694 million) and contributed 34 million francs (EUR 20.6 million) to the overall group profit.

Operating exclusively in the mail, parcel and express business, Swiss Post International (SPI) increased its revenue again in 2007. Having exceeded the billion mark in revenue the previous year, it achieved a further rise of 6 per cent in the last year to 1,145 million francs (EUR 694 million).

In the last year, SPI has been driving forward the expansion of its international network, which included the opening of a sales agency in Denmark at the end of March 2007. In October 2007, SPI became privileged sales partner of the German Hermes Logistics Group (HLG) for international B2C traffic in the European markets. Previously, SPI sold 30 per cent of its shareholding in Italian parcel and logistics company, Swiss Post Porta a Porta, to HLG. At the beginning of 2008, SPI also acquired the Swedish letter processor, IMS Europe AB, strengthening its position as a provider in the Swedish postal market. To strengthen its customs expertise, SPI took over FM Verzollungs AG in Basel on 1.1 2007.

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TNT progresses towards full integration of Speedage

Posted by | Mar 18, 2008 | |

TNT announces the successful integration of its Indian road express division, TNT Speedage, into TNT’s global information technology system, called Global Link. As a result, customers using TNT’s domestic road infrastructure in India can now benefit from a 24-hour real-time track and trace facility of their shipments. The IT upgrade is a major step towards the transformation of Speedage into a full-fledged express delivery services business completely integrated in TNT’s global network.

TNT now offers a common IT network for all its branches in India, including 168 Speedage offices. TNT has invested approximately euro 4 million (INR 18 Crores) in hardware and IT network to achieve a complete Internet and computer sharing during the IT integration process. All 168 Speedage locations are connected to TNT’s Bangalore data centre, using MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching Architecture), IVPN and dial up networks. This launch makes TNT India the first multinational express services company to provide a single platform to track any consignment shipped through TNT – be it international or domestic, air or road.

Global Link is backed by PC-based Customer Interface Technology (CIT) tools that enable customers to book consignments online, view consignment status and history, and access proof of delivery. TNT offers a secure online environment, which protects customers’ confidential shipping information.

In India, TNT’s IT Data center is located at ITPL Bangalore. TNT’s full-fledged global IT hub is in Atherstone, UK. It houses a 24- hour real time online Track and Trace system, which is linked worldwide and is continuously updated, second to second.

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Post Office Consultation

Posted by | Mar 18, 2008 | |

Billy Hayes, General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union has lent his support to London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who intends to begin a legal challenge over the closure of 171 post offices in the capital by Post Office Ltd.

Hayes has also been critical of the way in which competition has been introduced to the UK’s postal market and has been urging the government to carry out a full review of postal deregulation. Of the closures, Mr Hayes said:

“This is a proportionate response to scandalous behaviour by Post Office Ltd which seems determined to strip the country of Post Offices. The consultation has been completely inadequate, failing to seriously consider individual cases and the effect that so many closures will have on the network as a whole. London has been hit particularly hard by the closure programme and we fully support Ken Livingstone’s actions to defend this vital public asset.”

The Communication Workers Union is currently balloting union members over changes to the pension provision at Royal Mail which could see final retirements move from age 60 to 65. Many workers claim that the physical nature of the job plus an increasing workload, would mean that many would not be fit enough to work to the age of 65. Hayes indicated that the CWU, on advice from members, may step up their campaign.

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