Tag: USA

For the first time since 1995, the Postal Service’s familiar and trusted products for shipping domestically and internationally will have a new look.

With a focus on convenience, the Postal Service has redesigned all Priority Mail and Express Mail packages and envelopes, including the popular Flat Rate boxes and envelopes. Mailers can use the same Priority Mail and Express Mail packaging whether they are shipping within the United States or to another country, beginning May 14.

The design has a fresher, crisper look. The Postal Service logo is prominent alongside international symbols for use by foreign posts. The new design has ample space for required forms, labels and Intelligent Mail® barcodes.

The new packaging is expected to begin arriving in Post Offices across the country this week. All packaging also is available online at USPS.com.

Nick Barranca stressed that the Postal Service will continue to accept all existing international and domestic Priority Mail and Express Mail packaging. Barranca is vice president of product development for the Postal Service.

Express Mail and Priority Mail packages and envelopes remain available free of charge — as does package pickup.

Customers can take advantage of the personal convenience and service of having packages picked up at no extra charge at their home, saving a trip to the Post Office. Unlike other shipping companies, there is no fee for the service. Carrier Pickup is available for packages being sent by Express Mail or Priority Mail — domestic or international. There is no limit to the number of packages that can be picked up.

To provide Americans with greater convenience, the U.S. Postal Service has contracts nationwide with private operators who offer postal services at any hour.

The outlets are typically at drug stores, convenience stores, supermarkets and colleges, and they offer evening, weekend and holiday hours.

That convenience is worthwhile. But theres a catch.

The U.S. Postal Service also has made deals with several churches to operate contract postal units. One operated by the Full Gospel Interdenominational Church in Manchester, N.H., called Sincerely Yours Inc., is full of evangelical Christian displays, including posters, advertisements, artwork and photography.

For example, to the right of the postal counter, a large religious display informs customers about Jesus Christ and invites them to submit a prayer card if they need prayer in their lives. To the left of the postal counter, a television monitor plays church-related religious videos for customers waiting in line.

And this is the only post office in the downtown area, leaving no doubt that a reasonable person would see the displays as an endorsement of that church and its evangelical mission.

The U.S. Constitution includes postal services, which have been a traditional government function. On that basis, the Postal Service needs to ensure that churches arent using contract post offices to proselytize and entangle government in promoting religion.

The judge ordered the Postal Service to tell all contract postal units that in providing postal services for the government, they shall not act in a manner that proselytizes or advances religion and to monitor compliance. He ordered the church to remove displays in the contract postal unit.