Front Cover
Front Cover
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postal bulletin 22483 (12-21-17)
Contents
COVER STORY
USPS Makes Return Season Easy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND FORMS?
UPDATES
Manuals
DMM Reminder: New Mailing Standards for Lithium?
Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
Management Instructions
New Management Instruction Training Development ?
Request Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Publications
Publication 431 Revision: Changes to Post Office Box ?
Service and Caller Service Fee Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Domestic Mail
Labeling List Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
Finance
Policy Reminder ¡ª Reporting Refunds and Credits in ?
eTravel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018 Pay Dates and Leave Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Information Security
¡®Tis the Season for Scams ¡ª Stay CyberSafe During ?
the Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Mailing and Shipping Services
Mail Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Stamp Services
Stamp Announcement 18-01: Meyer Lemons Stamp . . . . . .
Stamp Announcement 18-02: Byodo-In Temple Stamp . . . .
Stamp Announcement 18-03: Sleeping Bear ?
Dunes Stamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Correction: Pictorial Postmarks Announcement . . . . . . . . . .
Pictorial Postmarks Announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Digital Color or ?
Traditional Postmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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PULL-OUT INFORMATION
Fraud
Invalid USPS Corporate Account Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Missing, Lost, or Stolen U.S. Money Order Forms . . . . . . . .
Missing, Lost, or Stolen Canadian Money Order Forms . . . .
Verifying U.S. Postal Service Money Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Counterfeit Canadian Money Order Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Toll-Free Number Available to Verify Canadian ?
Money Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other Information
Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thrift Savings Plan Fact Sheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Freely Associated States Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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POSTAL BULLETIN INDEX
2017 Semi-Annual Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PB 22472 (7-20-17)
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Find the latest in mail and delivery information
and services offered by U.S. Postal?
in the Postal Bulletin at
about.postal-bulletin
Cover Story
postal bulletin 22483 (12-21-17)
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Cover Story
USPS Makes Return Season Easy
The Postal Service? is making improvements to its
returns infrastructure to prepare for the annual returns
flurry.
This shopping season is likely to be even more hectic
than last year with projected growth from online shopping
in the double-digits. Also, USPS? is projected to deliver
almost 850 million packages between Thanksgiving and
New Year¡¯s Day ¡ª that¡¯s up more than 10 percent from last
year! A major spike in online holiday shopping is driving this
increase.
Once the sun sets on candles and tinsel, consumers will
go about returning items that they ordered or that they
received as gifts. As the number of items ordered online and
shipped to consumers grows, so will the demand for easy,
convenient return methods that attract repeat business.
The Postal Service is ready for the challenge in the
following ways:
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Continued expansion of our returns processing
capabilities. A total of 16,692 Parcel Return Service
Return Delivery Units (RDUs) across the country are
available to pick up packages. This helps us handle
the volume and positions us as the returns shipping
provider of choice in a crowded market worth about
$6 billion.
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It¡¯s easier for businesses to insure returns with
USPS. Insurance is available for up to $5,000.
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Offering one universal shipping permit. We have
one universal shipping permit that covers Parcel
Return Service, Merchandise Return Service, Bulk
Parcel Return Service, and USPS Returns? and outbound products.
?
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Significant enhancement of Merchandise Return
Service (MRS). MRS applies to three mail classes:
First-Class Package Service?, Priority Mail?, and
Ground Return Service. This simplifies returns for the
Postal Service and its customers by offering costeffective options and streamlining the weighing and
rating process of traditional MRS parcels.
Bulk Parcel Return Service (BPRS) is a Returns
endorsement. This means that mailers receiving
these return packages pay the per-piece fee without
paying postage fees. Also, consumers are no longer
required to download and print the mailer¡¯s BPRS
label, which simplifies the consumers¡¯ returns
process.
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Increasing the volume for First-Class Package
Service? (FCPS?). Commercial customers with
negotiated service agreements (NSAs) can mail
packages weighing up to one pound for a flat rate.
This service targets merchants that ship high-value,
lightweight products such as jewelry or consumer
electronics.
Return Labels
Return labels can either be included in the original order
or requested through a merchant¡¯s call center. Consumers
then affix the return label to their package and mail it using
one of the following options:
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Take it to one of 31,000 Post Offices? nationwide,
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Drop it in one of 160,000 collection boxes (package
must meet aviation mail security guidelines), or
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Go to to schedule a Package Pickup at any
of the 132 million available domestic addresses.
The Postal Service also offers a number of options that
help businesses create and deliver return labels to customers. Businesses that use Priority Mail Returns? Service,
First-Class Package Return? Service, Ground Return Service, and Parcel Return Service can use the Print and
Deliver application to order return labels; USPS will then
create those labels and deliver them, along with return
instructions, to the following:
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One of 31,000 Post Offices nationwide;
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A domestic address; or
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One of more than 2,500 self-service kiosks, where
consumers can print them.
Merchants can also instruct the Postal Service to hold
the labels for pickup at a designated Post Office. Smalland medium-sized merchants have the following options:
?
Use the Merchant Returns Label Tool to generate
Merchandise Return Service and Scan Based Payment labels.
?
Use the Click-N-Ship? Business Pro to generate
Parcel Return Service or Merchandise Return Service
labels to include in the original shipment box or send
to the cloud platform. Self-service printing is also
available individually or in batches.
¡ª Shipping Products and Services,
Products and Innovation, 12-21-17
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Policies, Procedures, and Forms Updates
postal bulletin 22483 (12-21-17)
Policies, Procedures, and Forms Updates
Manuals
DMM Reminder: New Mailing Standards for Lithium Batteries
On August 17, 2017, the Postal Service? revised Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, to
provide new mailing standards for mailpieces containing lithium batteries. The Postal Service detailed these revisions in
Postal Bulletin 22474 (8-17-17, pages 4¨C12), and announced
a transitional period until January 1, 2018. During the transitional period, we urged mailers to comply with the new mailing standards immediately; however, mailers have until
January 1, 2018, before compliance is mandatory.
?
On February 22, 2017, the Postal Service published its
first notice of these revisions in the Federal Register,
including an invitation to comment in the notice (82 FR
11372). This was followed by a Federal Register notice
titled ¡°Revision to Mailing Standards for Lithium Batteries,¡±
published on July 26, 2017 (82 FR 34712-34715).
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Eliminating the current text marking option for mailpieces required to bear, or optionally permitted to
bear, lithium battery markings under Publication 52,
and using DOT-approved lithium battery marks
instead.
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A separate ¡°prohibited on passenger aircraft¡± text
marking, in addition to a DOT-approved lithium battery mark, for mailpieces containing UN3480 and
UN3090 batteries, which generally restricts these
batteries to surface transportation only.
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The outer packaging of mailpieces containing small
lithium batteries to be rigid and of adequate size, so
the lithium battery mark can be affixed on the
address side without the mark being folded.
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The placement of lithium battery marks on the
address side of all mailpieces bearing these marks.
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DOT-approved lithium battery markings on all mailpieces with lithium cells or batteries contained in
equipment when there are more than two mailpieces
in a single consignment in domestic mail.
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Limiting single consignments to two mailpieces
containing lithium batteries in international and APO/
FPO/DPO mail.
Relating to the August 17, 2017, mailing standards, the
Postal Service made the applicable revisions to the online
Publication 52 on December 8, 2017. The online Publication 52 now accurately reflects the new requirements for
mailing lithium batteries.
The Postal Service will require:
Effective December 31, 2017, the optional compliance
period concludes; beginning January 1, 2018, the new
mailing standards become mandatory.
The Postal Service will prohibit:
?
UN3480 lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries,
batteries shipped separately from the equipment they
are intended to operate, in USPS? air-eligible
products.
The Postal Service will permit:
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Mailers to send UN3480 batteries, meeting current
USPS capacity limitations and quantity restrictions,
via air-eligible products; provided these mailings are
both mailed from, and delivered within, the state
of Alaska.
?
The optional use of previously authorized lithium
battery marks during the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration¡¯s (PHMSA¡¯s) transitional period for these marks, which ends on
December 31, 2018.
?
The use of padded and poly bags as outer packaging
only for mailpieces containing button cell batteries
properly installed in the equipment they are intended
to operate; provided the batteries meet the USPS
classification criteria for a button cell battery in
349.11(d) of Publication 52, and the batteries are
afforded adequate protection by the equipment.
The introduction of a new lithium battery consignment
definition intended to refer to one or more mailpieces
containing lithium batteries, entered into USPS networks by one mailer or mail service provider within a
single mailing or retail transaction; or included in the
same manifest or shipping services file, and intended
for delivery to a single consignee at a single destination address.
Unless provided with a written authorization from the
manager, Product Classification, all lithium battery mailers
must meet these new standards beginning on January 1,
2018. Mailers who obtain an authorization must produce a
copy of their authorization to each acceptance location
with their first mailing after December 31, 2017. The authorization letter must detail the nature of their authorization
and provide an expiration date.
We ask employees to familiarize themselves with the
new mailing standards before the mandatory compliance
date, and ensure their local mailers are aware of the new
requirements as soon as possible.
¡ª Product Classification, Marketing, 12-21-17
Policies, Procedures, and Forms Updates
postal bulletin 22483 (12-21-17)
5
Management Instructions
New Management Instruction Training Development Request Process
Effective December 1, 2017, the Postal Service?
published Management Instruction (MI) EL-740-2017-5,
Training Development Request Process. The USPS?
Learning and Development group has established policy
and procedures for requesting training services, which
includes course development and course number requests.
Anyone who requires training must adhere to the quality
standards, request process, and standard operating procedures covered by this MI. The new MI EL-740-2017-5
describes the following:
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The purpose of the training development request
process,
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All applicable policies related to this process, and
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Instructions for the intake process.
MI EL-740-2017-5 is now available on the Postal
Service PolicyNet website:
?
Go to blue..
?
In the left-hand column under ¡°Essential Links,¡± click
PolicyNet.
?
Click MIs.
The direct URL
blue.cpim.
for
the
PolicyNet
website
is
¡ª Learning and Development,
Human Resources, 12-21-17
Publications
Publication 431 Revision: Changes to Post Office Box Service and Caller Service Fee Groups
Effective December 21, 2017, Publication 431, Post
Office Box Service and Caller Service Fee Groups, is
revised to include the following changes.
Publication 431, Post Office Box Service and
Caller Service Fee Groups
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[Delete the following entries:]
ZIP Code
32544
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*
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Go to blue..
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Click PUBs.
Offices with WebBATS Manager/Supervisor access can
view current Publication 431 information by going to the
WebBATS Edit Facility Information page, as follows:
1. Go to the WebBATS main menu, and select Utility>
Facility>Edit Facility option.
*
The online version of Publication 431 is dated July 2013.
Publication 431 is currently available on the Postal Service? PolicyNet website (blue.cpim):
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In the left-hand column under ¡°Essential Links,¡± click
PolicyNet.
2. View the Fee Group field on the Edit Facility Information page.
Fee Group
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¡ª Retail Operations,
Retail and Customer Service Operations, 12-21-17
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