Mail Box Directory

Packaging Tape Crafts for Back to School

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:54:47 +0000

These duct tape bookmarks are a great "back to school" craft!

It’s time to go back to school! And whether you’re a student who would like a creative way to hold your supplies, or a teacher looking for a fun craft for your students, we have some ideas for you! Here are some fun back to school crafts using America’s favorite packaging tape, duct tape.

Duct Tape Bookmark: This is a great way to make some unique and colorful bookmarks, and is an easy craft to do. All you need is duct tape in the color(s) of your choosing, scissors, a ruler, a single hole punch, and a piece of ribbon or string. Cut two 5-inch long strips of tape, and lay one on your work surface sticky side up. Lay the other strip directly on top, sticky side down, to create a double-sided strip. Trim off sticky edges and if you like, round the corners of one side of the bookmark.

If you want additional decorations, use the hole punch to make a hole at the top, and loop string or ribbon through. Then you can embellish the bookmark with stickers, strips of a different color tape, or whatever else you can think of!

School Supplies Holder: Using a piece of duct tape fabric, you can make a holder for your calculator, pens and pencils, and ID card. Make a piece of duct tape fabric large enough to fit around your calculator with about 1/4 inch extra space. If you want a slot for your ID card, wrap another piece of fabric around the front, just big enough to fit the card in. On the front of the pouch, make 3 loops and one on the side to fit your pens and pencils.

If you want to be able to attach the holder to your belt, add a loop of duct tape fabric to the back that your belt can fit through.

For more ideas check out these “Ductivities.” What are your favorite duct tape crafts?

Simplify Mass Mailings using Microsoft Word’s Mail Merge

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:51:33 +0000

The Power of Personalization… and How a Mail Merge Can Help
Every New Year’s Eve, my family gathered together to enact one of our favorite traditions: ranking all of the Christmas cards we’d received that season. The three winning cards were displayed on the mantle.
Most of the losing cards usually weren’t actually cards at all; they [...]

Don’t Allow the USPS to Continue Costly Business Practices

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:10:09 +0000

“The Post Office needs to reevaluate their approach,” said Jerry Cerasale, Affordable Mail Alliance Spokesperson and Senior Vice President of the Direct Marketing Association. “Instead of trying to keep things afloat with a giant tax on consumers, the USPS should focus on improving management and controlling costs to get out of this mess. To do otherwise is just bad business.”

Affordable Mail Alliance: Don’t Allow the USPS to Continue Costly Business Practices – postalnews blog.

Looking at things through Postal Union Colored Glasses

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:10:09 +0000

Tha National Association of Letter Carriers, in comments filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission, agrees with the Mailhandlers Union in suggesting that Maine Senator Susan Collins is misinterpreting the postal reform law she helped to write.

NALC agrees with Mail Handlers: Collins is misinterpreting PAEA – postalnews blog.

I don’t think Senator Collins is the one that is misinterpeting.

APWU contract negotiations begin today

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:05:24 +0000

APWU contract negotiations begin today – postalnews blog.

USPS Webinars: Migrating to IMb

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:05:23 +0000

Webinar.pdf

The USPS will be hosting informational webinars on migrating to the Intelligent Mail barcode. The time to do so is now, with the POSTNET barcode retiring in May 2011. Take advantage of this educational offering, ask questions, and learn as much as you can about Intelligent Mail.

Mailing Retailers in Phoenix Abound

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:07:33 +0000

According to a recent article in The Phoenix Business Journal ” the U.S. Postal Service is looking for local retailers to provide services on its behalf.” Actually, there is no lack of local retailers that provide services on the behalf of the Postal Service in the Phoenix area.

Specifically USPS products can be purchased from Associated Mail & Parcel Centers (AMPC) Members in the following ZIP Codes: 85016, 85026, 85201, 85224, 85255, 85257, 85258, 85260, 85308 and 85374. Those cover portions of Phoenix, Chandler, Glendale, Mesa, Scottsdale, Sun City and Surprise.

According to the article, the U.S. Postal Service has dealt with huge declines in both the amount of mail it delivers and revenue in recent years. Scores of post offices have been closed nationwide, and the USPS has partnered with many local businesses to help provide services through the USPS Approved Shipper Program.

The Approved Shipper Program creates a partnership between a mail and parcel center that provides packing, shipping, mailbox rental and other services through a number of carriers including UPS, FedEx, and the USPS.

Many customers who come into USPS Approved Shippers to purchase stamps and mail packages often purchase other items offered in their stores.

To find a mail and parcel store near you go to www.findashippingstore.com.

Associated Mail & Parcel Centers (AMPC) members pay dues to support the organization’s efforts to support their businesses. The money pays for a staff to develop benefits, programs, discounts, research, education, and advocacy for the members. Joining AMPC is easy. To help us support your industry and business, go to www.ampc.org and sign up.

Checking that site for the ZIP Codes above, we found the following 34 conveniently located AMPC mailing centers:

Mail Box Shop
7620 E McKellips Road #4
Scottsdale, AZ 85257
480-941-4227

Post Box eXpress
2990 E. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
602-685-0123

PBX
2 North 30th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
602-685-0123

Postal Plus More
1810 W. Northern Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85021
602-870-3287

Postal Connections
2473 S Higley Road, Ste 104
Gilbert, AZ 85295
480-840-3511

Textbook & Mailbox Plus
3107 S. Gilbert Road #8-9
Gilbert, AZ 85295
480-782-1248

Box-N-Mail LLC
1155 S. Power Road Ste 114
Mesa, AZ 85206
480-396-2884

AZ Going Postal
5235 E. Southern Ave. D-106
Mesa, AZ 85206
480-985-9332

Mail & More
1106 N Gilbert Rd #2
Mesa, AZ 85203

Gilbert Mail Inc
745 N. Gilbert Rd. #124
Gilbert, AZ 85234

Mail Boxes Express
4406 E. Main Street
Mesa, AZ 85205
480-830-7199

Box-n-Mail
1235 S Gilbert Rd #3
Mesa, AZ 85204
480-892-3482

bp MAIL CENTER
1496 N Higley Rd.
Gilbert, AZ 85234

Postal Connections of America
1050 E. Ray Road Ste A-5
Chandler, AZ 85225
4808999488

Mail & More – Tempe
9920 South Rural Road #108
Tempe, AZ 85284
480-961-7382

Wrap Pack ‘N’ Ship
23623 N Scottsdale Road #d-3
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-585-0015

Art of Mail
14700 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd Ste 157
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480-614-5599

The Mail Room
9393 N 90th St., Ste 902
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480-860-2304

Safe Fax
605 E. McKellips Road
Mesa, AZ 85203
480-464-1707

PV Postal
4848 E. Cactus Rd #505
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
602-953-1717

Pack Ship and Print Center
4022 E Greenway Road Ste 11
Phoenix, AZ 85032
602-493-5542

POSTALMAX
15560 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd #B-4
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

PostalMax of Pinnacle Peak
23233 N Pima Rd Ste 113
Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Pack Ship and Print Center
4022 E Greenway Road Ste 11
Phoenix, AZ 85032
602-493-5542

Bell Road Business Center
1610 E. Bell Road Ste 103
Phoenix, AZ 85022
602-867-4814

Moon Valley Postal Center
13235 N 7th St., Ste 4
Phoenix, AZ 85022
602-942-0122

Express-Pak
3310 W Bell Road
Phoenix, AZ 85053
602-866-7759

The UPS Store
5350 West Bell Road
Glendale, AZ 85308
623-298-5411

Pack, Mail & More LLC
8987 W Olice Ave., Ste 117
Peoria, AZ 85345
623-878-0993

A-Z Print Ship
6630 W. Cactus Road Ste B107
Glendale, AZ 85304
623-878-7444

Michael’s Mailboxez
18402 N 19th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85023
602-862-8888

Postal Connections – Glendale
5830 W Thunderbird Rd Ste B8
Glendale, AZ 85306

Westside Mail Center
13794 W Waddell Road, Ste 203
Surprise, AZ 85379
623-825-6016

Shipper’s World
9839 W. Bell Rd.
Sun City, AZ 85351

Controlled Shipping: HB 1352 Will Make Some Changes to New Hampshire’s Direct Shipping Laws

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:16:08 +0000

HB 1352, a bill that includes changes to volume limits, permit fees, reporting requirements, and common carrier requirements, was signed by Governor John Lynch on July 15, 2010. Direct shipping is already available for wineries and retailers in New Hampshire, but the changes that will take effect on January 1, 2011 will have an impact on wineries, retailers and also on common carriers.

Consumer volume limits will increase from the current 60 individual “containers” (none of which can exceed 1 Liter in size) per household per year, to 12 nine-Liter cases per consumer per year. Additionally, the Commission may provide allowances for more wine to be shipped to an individual consumer if the product is not otherwise available within the state. Direct shipping permits, previously free for both wineries and retailers, will now cost $100 for wineries and $500 for retailers, annually. Monthly “markup” (8 percent of the retail price for shipments of liquor, wine, beer, or beverage) tax reports will need only be filed if there are shipments to report, whereas previously, monthly reports were due even if shipments were not made.

Also included in the bill is a clarification on the volume shipped before a product must be offered for sale to the state; if a licensee ships more than 600 Liters (previously set to 1,200 individual containers) of any particular liquor or wine, the licensee must offer to sell a matching amount to the state at the lowest price delivered into New Hampshire, if they want to ship more than the 600 Liter limit.

Effective January 1, 2011, common carriers (FedEX, UPS, etc.) will be required to cease shipments from wine shippers that do not hold valid shipping permits in the state of New Hampshire. An “unauthorized shipper” list will be provided by the Commission to the carriers on a monthly basis. This is a unique requirement for the common carriers to be responsible for maintaining a “do not ship from” list, blocking shipments into New Hampshire from unauthorized shippers.

Back to School Time is Here: Learn How to Make a Paper Bag Book Cover

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:53:05 +0000

Kids starting school again? Is your child attending school for the first time, first year? Learn how to make a standard brown paper bag book cover simply by watching this video on YouTube.com.

Making a Book Cover

New FAST Help Desk

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:02:42 +0000

The USPS continues to strive to improve customer service and support. One of the latest efforts is the FAST Help Desk -

New FAST Help Desk (August 30, 2010): As announced in the Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®) 14.3.0 Release Notes (August 15, 2010), the Postal Service^TM will launch the new FAST Help Desk effective Monday, August 30. The FAST Help Desk will be available to assist with application and operation-related issues by:

• Email at FAST@usps.gov.
• Telephone at 877-569-6614. The FAST Help Desk telephone number efficiently directs calls through a new IVR network to ensure prompt routing of customer inquiries.

The FAST Help Desk hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT. Telephone support will be available outside of these hours including weekends and holidays.

If the Help Desk is unable to provide an immediate resolution, a Remedy Ticket will be activated and escalated to the appropriate postal functional entity. All FAST Remedy Tickets will follow the established Issue Resolution Process.

The FAST Welcome pages have been updated to reflect the new FAST Help Desk contact information.