Single Source Mailer Information
Have you ever gotten frustrated trying to find important postal information? Let’s face it, in this digital age, we all want to access key information that we need in an instant. But how do you find what you are looking for when you are dealing with something as complex as mailing? Well, the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) has a little-known area of their web site that is jam-packed with all sorts of great mailer resources. This well-hidden gem is located in the Mail Service Updates area of the RIBBS web site, and can also be accessed through the USPS About web page.
Mail Service Updates
The Mail Service Updates area of the RIBBS site is a valuable resource all on its own. It allows mailers to access information regarding post offices that are closed or have limited service due to natural disasters, weather, fire, construction, and so forth. This area is updated daily, so mailers can obtain almost real-time information. This information is extremely helpful so that mailers can make decisions about whether to send mail to the impacted areas. The data is available in either HTML or Excel format. There is also an area for mailers to access service updates for international destinations.
Mailer Information
On the Mail Service Updates landing page is a small box titled "Mailer Information-What's HOT." This is where mailers can easily access a wealth of postal resources, all in one location. By clicking on the link inside this box, mailers are brought to a "Quick Picks" list of extremely helpful web links. Bookmark this page on your web browser, and you will have a great short-cut to a treasure trove of postal information. In this list of links are resources such as Modern Service Standards and In Home Date Guidelines and Critical Entry Times; perfect for planning your mailing schedules. Mailers can access various portions of the Facility Access and Tracking System (FAST) in this list, such as the Mail Direct Search Report and the Holiday and Contingency Report. You can even monitor how the USPS is performing against the delivery standards by clicking on links for both the service targets and service results. There are links to the USPS Flats Sequencing Strategy and to the Labeling Lists.
More Mailing Information
Mailers may also access other postal resources from this landing page, such as the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC), information about Intelligent Mail, Federal Register Notices, and current pricing for both domestic and international services. One interesting link is to the Business Service Network (BSN) Investigation Tool. If you have a service issue that you plan to report to the USPS, this is a handy tool to review in advance what questions the BSN rep will be asking, so you can gather and prepare the necessary data.
Along the left side of the page are links to press releases from the USPS, fact sheets, an events calendar, and audio and broadcast downloads. Along the bottom of the page are links to the USPS home page, Postal Explorer [(home of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)], the PostalOne! Business Customer Gateway, USPS Forms & Publications and a lot more.
Further information for Mailers
It is great to have all these links to important postal resources all in one spot. However, if this postal information resource doesn't meet your needs, don't forget about Window Book's weekly e-tips and our great educational webinar series!
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