Tag: North America

USPS postal clerks and mail handlers may get early retirement

Posted by | Jul 8, 2008 | |

The U.S. Postal Service is preparing to offer voluntary early retirements to up to 20,000 clerks and mail handlers as part of a nationwide reorganization of its delivery network.
But in a statement issued to Federal Times July 8, the Postal Service said it will not offer buyouts to anyone taking early retirement. The Postal Service said further details on the early retirement offer will be released later this week.

The Postal Service released a reorganization plan in June that calls for closing airport mail facilities and consolidating bulk mail centers, along with streamlining the computer software that maps postal routes. The closings are expected to lead to staff reductions and more outsourcing.

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The Postal Regulatory Commission holds hearing on universal service (U.S)

Posted by | Jul 8, 2008 | |

The Postal Regulatory Commission is holding a public hearing on the universal postal service obligation on July 10 from 10am-12pm at its hearing room in Washington, DC.

Testimony from this hearing in addition to other pubic feedback will be used in developing a formal report due to Congress by December 19, on “universal postal service and the postal monopoly in the United States, including the monopoly on mail delivery and access to mailboxes.” The report is a requirement of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006.

According to the PRC, the report will focus on geographic scope, product offerings, access to facilities and services, frequency of delivery, rates and affordability, and quality of services.

The commission has already held field hearings on this topic in Flagstaff, AZ; St. Paul, MN; and Portsmouth, NH.

So far, a number of comments have been submitted to the PRC on the universal service obligation. They can be accessed from the commission’s Web site at prc.gov.

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Photo Messaging Replacing Postcard for U.S. Vacationers

Posted by | Jul 8, 2008 | |

Among age groups, the heaviest users of photo messaging in Europe are people 55 years old and older, according to a ComScore survey.

Photo messaging has risen 60 pct in the United States over the last year, as the camera phone for many vacationers replaces the postcard once sent to friends and family, a market research firm said Tuesday.

Latecomers to sending photos by mobile phones, Americans are expected to reach even higher photo-messaging rates in July and August, given that the two months have surpassed the average rate for the last three years.

Photo-messaging growth in the U.S. is seen among all age groups, ComScore said. The fastest growing segments are teens and people older than 35. About two in three American owns a camera phone.

In Europe, where photo messaging got an earlier start than in the U.S., the rate of use is up 16 pct over the last year. Europeans send photos by phone during the summer months only slightly more than average. The spike is typically in December, when families share Christmas holiday festivities over newly acquired phones. A similar phenomenon is also seen in the United States.

Among age groups, the heaviest users of photo messaging in Europe are people 55 years old and older. More than three in four Europeans have a camera phone. “Camera phones are in the hands of the majority of mobile phone users and are increasingly a part of the fabric of peoples’ lives,” Donovan said.

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Window Book Offers New Cost-Saving Return Merchandise Labels for Shippers

Posted by | Jul 8, 2008 | |

Window Book announces new Return Merchandise system in its Postal Package Partner software making USPS return service easier to use and more cost effective.

e-Commerce Shippers can now use Postal Package Partner to print Return Merchandise labels that can be sent out with the package without prepaying for the postage. The postage is deducted from the original shipper’s permit account only when the item is returned. Now shippers do not have to pay postage on items that were not returned to them, and can have preprinted return labels included in every package to make it easy for the end customer. Consumers are more likely to buy your product when it is easy and free to return if it does not meet their needs.

“Returning items can be a tedious time consuming and costly process. By using Postal Package Partner’s USPS return labels, you are supplying your customers with convenient return system and only paying shipping costs on what gets returned. This is just one more way to improve your customer service and reduce costs,” said Jeffery Peoples, Window Book’s CEO.

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U.S. Postal Service selects NCR for hardware technology refresh

Posted by | Jul 7, 2008 | |

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has selected NCR Corporation as the exclusive provider of retail point-of-service (POS) hardware for thousands of postal counters across the United States.

Under the three-year, multimillion-dollar contract, the USPS will install NCR RealPOS 80XRT workstations at larger, high-traffic post office locations currently running the NCR POS ONE postal software solution. This comprehensive solution from NCR, designed to deliver improved operational efficiencies and streamlined customer service, is expected to be installed beginning in the second half of 2008. NCR will also provide services, including help desk, project management and maintenance.

The NCR RealPOS 80XRT is NCR’s most advanced workstation. Employing next-generation architecture, this device delivers industry-leading power, scalability and systems management capabilities to the point of service. Coupled with the NCR POS ONE software, NCR’s solution allows the USPS to focus on accommodating customers with faster service and better information during visits to local post offices.

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