The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.48 percent during the week ending July 29, down from the previous week. Thirty-eight districts and four areas met or exceeded the national average. Dakotas (98.28 percent) led the districts for the eighth consecutive week, while Western (97.73 percent) topped the areas for the second week in a […]
The Postal Service announced plans this week to release Patriotic Spiral stamps Aug. 19. The stamps will be issued in booklets of 10 for consumers and self-adhesive coils of 10,000 for businesses. The stamp’s festive design features 50 red and blue stars spiraling around a central gold star on a white background. The stamp booklet […]
The Postal Service has extended the deadline for the Engagement Leader of the Year Award. Nominations are now due Sunday, Aug. 7. USPS is introducing the award to honor leaders who are involved, enthusiastic and committed to improving their workplace environments. Awards will be given at the district, area and headquarters levels, culminating with a final […]
The Postal Service has released Pets, 20 stamps that showcase the nation’s favorite domestic animals. The stamps feature two dogs, two cats, two birds, two fish, four reptiles, five rodents, a crustacean, a rabbit and a horse. More than half of all homes in the United States have a pet, USPS reported in a news release. […]
After noticing mail piling up at a customer’s home, Calumet City, IL, Letter Carrier Kathyleen Sinwelski notified the apartment complex manager, who checked on the man and found him unconscious. He was hospitalized with blood sugar six times the normal level. He is recovering, and his son told the Postmaster that Sinwelski was a life-saving […]
Thank you for the photo of the skimmers on credit card readers. I never knew what they might look like. Now I’m more aware of what to look for. […]
“In everything we do, we are accountable to those who use our services.” […]
Video Encoded (VCODE) refers to mail trays containing a mix of barcoded and Optical Character Readable (OCR) flats, as well as non-barcoded OCR “no-read” flats that have been sorted using video encoding. […]
Teamwork and a focus on scanning have helped USPS improve its Priority Mail performance, district managers say. The national Priority Mail composite score improved almost three percentage points during fiscal 2016’s third quarter (April 1-June 30) compared to one year earlier. The score measures on-time deliveries and other standards. In Western Pennsylvania District, one of […]
Employees in Great Lakes Area have discovered there’s strength in numbers when it comes to recycling. For years, two of the area’s largest districts — Central Illinois and Chicago — each collected paper and plastic, but there often wasn’t enough material to make individual trips to the recycling centers cost effective. The districts joined forces […]
The Postal Service recently honored three Postmasters for their contributions to Business Connect, a program that encourages managers to promote USPS products and services to small businesses. Kimberly Fowler (Gerald, MO), Andrew Groll (Hanover, MI) and Penny Miller (Chebanse, IL) were each honored for their efforts during the current fiscal year’s first quarter (Oct. 1-Dec. […]
Henry James, the towering writer known for exploring the complex interplay between Americans and Europeans, has become the latest honoree in the USPS Literary Arts stamp series. The nondenominated 89-cent stamp, issued July 31, is good for mail up to 3 ounces. It features a portrait of James set against an illustration of the climactic […]
Have you received an unusual or suspicious email? If so, it could be a phishing scam. These messages often express urgency and contain suspicious hyperlinks or attachments. They often arrive from an unknown sender. If you receive a message like this, follow these guidelines: Evaluate. Don’t open any attachments or follow any links embedded in […]
Retail units should no longer send PS Form 6401, Money Order Inquiry, to the Scanning and Imaging Center. This form must be transmitted electronically. Any exceptions are outlined in the Accounting site’s Tips for Completing a PS Form 6401 section. […]
I love the Star Quilts stamps. […]
“We hope the new Soda Fountain Favorites stamps will spur nostalgia in everyone mailing or receiving postcards, letters or packages.” […]
When Brandon Spencer was delivering mail recently and saw legs sticking out from underneath a car in a garage, he initially thought someone was doing automotive work. But when the Clinton, IA, city carrier assistant noticed an open car door and a dog loose in the back seat, he suspected otherwise. Upon closer inspection, Spencer […]
Post Offices have sold more than 10,000 PO Boxes through a national employee competition that began this month, including 1,500 boxes during the week ending July 22. The goal of the contest is to boost box sales and reward employees for their efforts. Offices that record the most sales qualify for weekly gift-card prize drawings. […]
The Postal Service is exceeding its Standard Mail performance targets across the nation, achieving record-breaking service for business customers. Standard Mail includes catalogs, circulars, direct mailpieces and other categories. The national Standard Mail composite score during fiscal 2016’s third quarter (April 1-June 30) was 95.71 percent, up four points from a year earlier. The score measures […]
Recycling is a way of life at the Clatskanie, OR, Post Office. The office has added more recycling bins for customers, who’ve responded enthusiastically. “In small, rural towns like Clatskanie, curbside recycling isn’t always available,” Postmaster Pam Wantland told The Daily News this month. “Customers can appreciate an environmentally responsible alternative to bringing home or […]
They did it. As expected, Lansing, IL, Letter Carrier Jamie Parks and his wife Lynn recently logged their 25,000th mile on their 25th anniversary racing together. The couple celebrated the achievement with their 17-year-old daughter, Annalyn, cheering them on. “I love my wife, and I love my daughter. I couldn’t imagine a better scenario than […]
“I come to work every day in order to gain as many fond memories as I can. I love my job and I love talking to my customers every day.” […]
A plumbing problem took a potentially tragic turn for a customer recently. Fortunately, Charlotte, NC, City Carrier Assistant Alex Pachter was on hand when the incident occurred. The customer was in his yard working on the plumbing issue when he grabbed an improperly disconnected electrical cord at the same time he was handling a water […]
Some employees are required to complete “Understanding USERRA,” an online course that explains the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, a federal law that establishes the rights and responsibilities of service members and their employers. Log into the Learning Management System and select “Learning Portal.” If the course is listed as mandatory, you’re required to […]
“Just add water” made me smile. I was a letter carrier for about 9 years. I can’t describe how good it feels when customers show they care. […]
The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.57 percent during the week ending July 22, up from the previous week. Thirty-four districts and four areas met or exceeded the national average. Dakotas (98.56 percent) led the districts for the seventh consecutive week, while Western (97.73 percent) reclaimed first place among the areas after dropping out […]
The Postal Service offers employees opportunities to advance their careers, Chief Human Resources Officer Jeff Williamson says. For example, USPS has an extensive 18-month leadership training program that allows participants to spend time in various positions throughout the organization, including Human Resources and Information Technology. “Understanding and seeing what happens on a daily basis behind […]
Direct mail is making a comeback this election year, according to a new report on the Campaigns & Elections news site. The article, written by political consultant Eric Jaye, predicts the Postal Service will see the most Political Mail in its history during this election cycle. Several explanations are offered, including the low cost of […]
The Postal Service’s 2000 tribute to the megahit musical “Cats” took another bow in The New York Times last week. Known for being a nearly plot-free spectacle with a catchy pop score, including the soaring ballad “Memory,” the iconic show is in the news as performances of a new Broadway production get underway. A Times […]
Scammers sometimes use pop-up ads to entice you to click on links that could infect your computer with “ransomware” that encrypts computer files and cuts access to them until a ransom is paid. The CyberSafe at USPS Blue site has tips to identify and avoid ransomware. […]