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Adam H. Kerman
Oct 31, 2011, 11:05:00โฏAM10/31/11
to
I volunteer for a nonprofit book publisher which publishes a new book
annually. It has to fulfill copies to members, and individual sales.
We had to mail a small number of books to members in foreign countries.
However, given how heavy books are, and the elimination of the "ground"
price option for international mail, I looked into alternatives to single
piece rates.
For those who don't know, international mail is governed by treaties from
1874. Letter and flats and parcels up to four pounds are covered under
General Postal Union. Tip: mark parcels up to four pounds "LETTER-POST" so
that the foreign postal administration knows they are covered under that
treaty and aren't short paid.
We had well over 50 pounds to ship, so that meant we could consider
International Surface Air Lift, sent to the foreign country by air on
a space-available basis, then entered into that country's lower priority
mail stream.
I started checking into this three weeks before the mail had to be
entered. I started with my Business Mail Entry Unit. At first, the
manager told me that had to pay a one-time fee to set up accounting,
which wasn't true. I never really got satisfactory information.
I found the regulations in the International Mail Manual confusing. At
one point, it talks about drop shipments, and at another point, drop
shipment rates. A drop shipment authorization to enter mail at a post
office that isn't local to the mailer. A drop shipment rate, on the
other hand, is a preferred rate that applies to mail entered at the
International Service Center, one of a handful of plants that serve as
foreign exchange offices around the country. There's one in Chicago, so
I wanted to use it.
I ended up calling postal service headquarters to get an eventual callback
from someone who explained that even though the terms are the same, I don't
need drop shipment authorization to mail through the ISC, which isn't
treated as an independent post office for these purposes.
I wanted to use Postal Wizard, the postage statement creation part of
the newfanglesd PostalOne! national business mail entry system used by
both mailers and postal clerks for accounting, presort, and tracking
purposes. I couldn't use it because I didn't have a permit. I thought I
didn't need a permit as the mail was prepaid with meter tapes.
Here's yet another case in which the post office uses the same term for
two unrelated functions. A permit imprint is a method of paying postage
via an advance deposit account. There is a one-time permit imprint
authorization fee. A mailing permit, on the other hand, must be applied
for at each post office a mailer would enter bulk mail at. A mailing
permit is required even if one is not paying postage with permit imprint,
but using meter tape or precancelled stamps. There is no fee to use meter
tape or precancelled stamps.
Given the number of people I spoke to, not one person told me in advance
that I needed a mailing permit or that I had to apply on PS Form 3615.
Neither the Domestic nor International Mailing Manual explain the
procedure for applying for a mailing permit.
I prepared the mailing last Tuesday. Last Thursday, I entered it at the
ISC. I went in the morning, deliberately, to avoid the critical entry
time (4 pm in this case) when I knew the dock would be horribly busy.
The friendly bulk mail clerk (they always are) was kind to me and took
the mail even though I lacked a mailing permit. He didn't want to send me
away and have me return another time as he saw I'd completed the postage
statement and had sacked and separated the mail. He told me later that
his boss yelled at him severely for assisting me, rather than trying to
assist in solving the problem of the missing application.
After a flury of phone calls Thursday and Friday, the BME manager finally
told me that I needed to apply for the permit on PS Form 3615. She agreed
to accept it by fax. Following up on the fax, no one told me who picked
it up. Late in the afternoon, I spoke to a mailing requirements technician
who assigned the number. By then, the bulk mail clerk at the ISC wasn't
answering his phone and I didn't what became of the mail. I spoke again
to the BME manager who told me that she'd approved my mail.
Just to be sure, I called the ISC Saturday morning. The mail was released
that morning, so it didn't go out Friday. Oh well.
The postage statement as entered into PostalOne! still hasn't appeared
on line. Saturday, I'd asked the PostalOne! help desk, which seemed to find
statements from other mailers associated with by mailing permit. I've
left email messages with BME requesting the postage statement number, but
no one has gotten back to me yet.
The BME manager told me I made an error and was short a minor amount of
postage but I don't know what it was or how much postage they want. I
think it's a rounding error from my attempt to average the single-piece
rate in pounds to four places using a mechanical floor scale which is
adequate for full pounds but horribly inaccurate for more precise weights.
The weight calculations in PostalOne! for each rate category are not performed
the same way as IMM instructs for filling out the postage statement.
This has all been annoying. Next time I suppose it will be easier.
annually. It has to fulfill copies to members, and individual sales.
We had to mail a small number of books to members in foreign countries.
However, given how heavy books are, and the elimination of the "ground"
price option for international mail, I looked into alternatives to single
piece rates.
For those who don't know, international mail is governed by treaties from
1874. Letter and flats and parcels up to four pounds are covered under
General Postal Union. Tip: mark parcels up to four pounds "LETTER-POST" so
that the foreign postal administration knows they are covered under that
treaty and aren't short paid.
We had well over 50 pounds to ship, so that meant we could consider
International Surface Air Lift, sent to the foreign country by air on
a space-available basis, then entered into that country's lower priority
mail stream.
I started checking into this three weeks before the mail had to be
entered. I started with my Business Mail Entry Unit. At first, the
manager told me that had to pay a one-time fee to set up accounting,
which wasn't true. I never really got satisfactory information.
I found the regulations in the International Mail Manual confusing. At
one point, it talks about drop shipments, and at another point, drop
shipment rates. A drop shipment authorization to enter mail at a post
office that isn't local to the mailer. A drop shipment rate, on the
other hand, is a preferred rate that applies to mail entered at the
International Service Center, one of a handful of plants that serve as
foreign exchange offices around the country. There's one in Chicago, so
I wanted to use it.
I ended up calling postal service headquarters to get an eventual callback
from someone who explained that even though the terms are the same, I don't
need drop shipment authorization to mail through the ISC, which isn't
treated as an independent post office for these purposes.
I wanted to use Postal Wizard, the postage statement creation part of
the newfanglesd PostalOne! national business mail entry system used by
both mailers and postal clerks for accounting, presort, and tracking
purposes. I couldn't use it because I didn't have a permit. I thought I
didn't need a permit as the mail was prepaid with meter tapes.
Here's yet another case in which the post office uses the same term for
two unrelated functions. A permit imprint is a method of paying postage
via an advance deposit account. There is a one-time permit imprint
authorization fee. A mailing permit, on the other hand, must be applied
for at each post office a mailer would enter bulk mail at. A mailing
permit is required even if one is not paying postage with permit imprint,
but using meter tape or precancelled stamps. There is no fee to use meter
tape or precancelled stamps.
Given the number of people I spoke to, not one person told me in advance
that I needed a mailing permit or that I had to apply on PS Form 3615.
Neither the Domestic nor International Mailing Manual explain the
procedure for applying for a mailing permit.
I prepared the mailing last Tuesday. Last Thursday, I entered it at the
ISC. I went in the morning, deliberately, to avoid the critical entry
time (4 pm in this case) when I knew the dock would be horribly busy.
The friendly bulk mail clerk (they always are) was kind to me and took
the mail even though I lacked a mailing permit. He didn't want to send me
away and have me return another time as he saw I'd completed the postage
statement and had sacked and separated the mail. He told me later that
his boss yelled at him severely for assisting me, rather than trying to
assist in solving the problem of the missing application.
After a flury of phone calls Thursday and Friday, the BME manager finally
told me that I needed to apply for the permit on PS Form 3615. She agreed
to accept it by fax. Following up on the fax, no one told me who picked
it up. Late in the afternoon, I spoke to a mailing requirements technician
who assigned the number. By then, the bulk mail clerk at the ISC wasn't
answering his phone and I didn't what became of the mail. I spoke again
to the BME manager who told me that she'd approved my mail.
Just to be sure, I called the ISC Saturday morning. The mail was released
that morning, so it didn't go out Friday. Oh well.
The postage statement as entered into PostalOne! still hasn't appeared
on line. Saturday, I'd asked the PostalOne! help desk, which seemed to find
statements from other mailers associated with by mailing permit. I've
left email messages with BME requesting the postage statement number, but
no one has gotten back to me yet.
The BME manager told me I made an error and was short a minor amount of
postage but I don't know what it was or how much postage they want. I
think it's a rounding error from my attempt to average the single-piece
rate in pounds to four places using a mechanical floor scale which is
adequate for full pounds but horribly inaccurate for more precise weights.
The weight calculations in PostalOne! for each rate category are not performed
the same way as IMM instructs for filling out the postage statement.
This has all been annoying. Next time I suppose it will be easier.
dbriggs
Nov 2, 2011, 12:00:39โฏAM11/2/11
to
Adam H. Kerman wrote:
> This has all been annoying. Next time I suppose it will be easier.
I wouldn't bet on it
> This has all been annoying. Next time I suppose it will be easier.
Adam H. Kerman
Nov 2, 2011, 9:55:45โฏAM11/2/11
to
Adam H. Kerman <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>The postage statement as entered into PostalOne! still hasn't appeared
>on line. Saturday, I'd asked the PostalOne! help desk, which seemed to find
>statements from other mailers associated with by mailing permit. I've
>left email messages with BME requesting the postage statement number, but
>no one has gotten back to me yet.
>The BME manager told me I made an error and was short a minor amount of
>postage but I don't know what it was or how much postage they want. I
>think it's a rounding error from my attempt to average the single-piece
>rate in pounds to four places using a mechanical floor scale which is
>adequate for full pounds but horribly inaccurate for more precise weights.
I got an email message from the BME manager yesterday that she hadn't
>The postage statement as entered into PostalOne! still hasn't appeared
>on line. Saturday, I'd asked the PostalOne! help desk, which seemed to find
>statements from other mailers associated with by mailing permit. I've
>left email messages with BME requesting the postage statement number, but
>no one has gotten back to me yet.
>The BME manager told me I made an error and was short a minor amount of
>postage but I don't know what it was or how much postage they want. I
>think it's a rounding error from my attempt to average the single-piece
>rate in pounds to four places using a mechanical floor scale which is
>adequate for full pounds but horribly inaccurate for more precise weights.
entered the postage statement into PostalOne! but was going to do so
yesterday. If she did, I cannot bring it up in PostalOne! and still
hasn't told me the Postage Statement ID.
Jon M
Nov 3, 2011, 11:36:52โฏPM11/3/11
to
On Wed, 2 Nov 2011 13:55:45 +0000 (UTC), "Adam H. Kerman"
In my neck of the woods, as soon as the mail is presented, it should
be entered into Postalone(!). If mail is in the BMEU and not on the
dashboard, that is a Very Bad Thing and God help us if the auditors
find out. If, on the other hand, mail is being kept overnight without
a good reason, it is DELAYED MAIL, which is a Very Bad Thing. I sure
hope the auditors don't find out. On the third hand, international
postage statements can't really be left on the dashboard. They have
to be entered and finalized in one fell swoop. It's just one of the
many quirks of Postalone(!).
And as you've found out, the IMM is very complicated. I'm sure the
clerks and techs have been spending hours during the last couple days
studying the IMM. I feel the utmost sympathy for them. And you, the
customer. But mostly the clerks who are going to get reamed if they
screw anything up. I don't know if your unit responds better to
emails or phone calls, but I would advise asking for updates,
deadlines, and following through as soon as each deadline passes. And
be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
decide you owe.
--
Jon M
"History proves again and again how Nature points up the folly of men." -- Godzilla
be entered into Postalone(!). If mail is in the BMEU and not on the
dashboard, that is a Very Bad Thing and God help us if the auditors
find out. If, on the other hand, mail is being kept overnight without
a good reason, it is DELAYED MAIL, which is a Very Bad Thing. I sure
hope the auditors don't find out. On the third hand, international
postage statements can't really be left on the dashboard. They have
to be entered and finalized in one fell swoop. It's just one of the
many quirks of Postalone(!).
And as you've found out, the IMM is very complicated. I'm sure the
clerks and techs have been spending hours during the last couple days
studying the IMM. I feel the utmost sympathy for them. And you, the
customer. But mostly the clerks who are going to get reamed if they
screw anything up. I don't know if your unit responds better to
emails or phone calls, but I would advise asking for updates,
deadlines, and following through as soon as each deadline passes. And
be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
decide you owe.
--
Jon M
"History proves again and again how Nature points up the folly of men." -- Godzilla
Adam H. Kerman
Nov 4, 2011, 8:23:42โฏAM11/4/11
to
on PostalOne dashboard, or just finalized statements? My mail was delayed
two days. The first day's delay was my fault, because I didn't check
my telephone messages (and no one sent me an email message); the clerk
asked me not to check back with him around the critical entry time as he
wouldn't have time to speak to me. The second day, they didn't assign the
mailing permit number until a few minutes after the that day's critical
entry time, so the mail wasn't released till the following morning.
I spoke to the PostalOne! help desk in Memphis. They tell me if I had
been able to use the Postal Wizard in PostalOne! (data entry in lieu
of a paper postage statement) that I wouldn't bring a postage statement
with the mail, just the receipt with the Mailing Group ID and Postage
Statement ID. Do you know what the Mailing Group ID is used for? Both
numbers are associated with one unique mailing, so why on earth are
two numbers being assigned?
I've been trying to follow up on this just to learn the system; I may
not have to do this again for a year.
I did a test postage statement on PostalOne! as if I'd had privileges
before the mailing was entered. Technically, the weight calculations are
not performed the same way as stated in IMM. I thought I entered the
weights correctly, even though I'm using an old fashioned floor scale
and not a pressure plate scale with digital readout. I cannot measure
pounds to four decimal places. I weighed all pieces together, rounded up
to the next whole pound (the scale is adequate for that purpose), then
entered the average weight per piece calculated to four decimal places.
How the hell did would I know that PostalOne! uses that figure to
recalculate the weight back to combined weights by rate category and
total for the whole mailing? IMM says to do it the way I did it. That
created a rounding error in the total weight (now recalculated to be slightly
over the total weight of the mailing and into the next higher pound) and
in my worldwide mixed country weight. I spent quite a lot of time checking
and rechecking PS 3700 Part B (the part for ISAL), even creating my own
hash totals in the piece and pound subtotal columns to make sure my
manually entered figured added up both horizontally and vertically. But
no one at the post office even bothered to use my figures from Part B,
as that's not the way PostalOne! performs calculations.
In my PostalOne! test mailing statement, if I lowered the average per
piece weight by a mere 1/10000th of a pound, the total weight came in
just under the whole pound, not over it; it was that close. When I
weighed all pieces, before rounding up, the total weight was just under
a half pound below the next whole pound.
Something is very wrong here. You're not supposed to use a calculated
weight figure as the base figure for other calculations because every
calculation introduces rounding errors!
>And as you've found out, the IMM is very complicated.
two major restructings, whereas IMM is mostly the same. Both manuals are
needlessly complicated, not for what's in them but for what's missing, and
both lack cross references to find missing standards in other manuals. Just
try to find the reference to the thing that tripped me up in either manual,
the lack of application for a mailing permit on PS 3615. I've filled that
application out exactly once, to be authorized to use a permit imprint for
another mailer. But as this mailer was presenting fully prepaid metered
mail, I had no idea a mailing permit was required. Gawd forbid I could
just use the unique postage meter serial number. DMM's index confuses
"permit imprint" with "mailing permit"; the former is a subcategory
of the latter.
>I'm sure the clerks and techs have been spending hours during the last
>couple days studying the IMM. I feel the utmost sympathy for them.
>And you, the customer. But mostly the clerks who are going to get reamed
>if they screw anything up.
international mail; I entered my mail at one of them. That clerk was an
expert in accepting international mail. His problem was a lack of support
from his immediate supervisor, who just knew to yell at his underling
and wasn't interested in solving the problem of the missing application.
btw, I checked with three different associated offices to the ISAL sack tag,
and not one of them had any. Apparently, ISAL entered at a local post office
is so unusual that they don't bother to keep tags in stock, but the price
is the same if entered at a local post office or BMEU at the plant. The
only price breaks are for entering ISAL at one of the three plants that
specializes in international mail.
>I don't know if your unit responds better to emails or phone calls, but
>I would advise asking for updates, deadlines, and following through as
>soon as each deadline passes.
postage statement as entered by the BME. The BME manager still hasn't
gotten back to me with the postage statement ID number.
>And be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
>decide you owe.
yes, she did demand that I bring a meter tape to her office.
Jon M
Nov 8, 2011, 1:41:17โฏAM11/8/11
to
On Fri, 4 Nov 2011 12:23:42 +0000 (UTC), "Adam H. Kerman"
Actually, I don't think so. But I'm not allowed to see what the
mailer sees.
I've learned the hard way to be very careful to differentiate the two.
"Mailing permit" is what you need to mail most kinds of business mail;
"Permit imprint" is one of three acceptable methods of paying.
management and has no one to take it out on but the people below them.
My supervisor will at least point out whether the reaming is coming
from her or from those above her.
overpay. If you overpay by more than a dollar or two, we will
probably point it out to you. Since we don't extend credit, you
should bring a meter strip or stamps down to the office as soon as
possible. They won't send the mail on without payment in full.
Jon M
mailer sees.
"Mailing permit" is what you need to mail most kinds of business mail;
"Permit imprint" is one of three acceptable methods of paying.
>
>>I'm sure the clerks and techs have been spending hours during the last
>>couple days studying the IMM. I feel the utmost sympathy for them.
>>And you, the customer. But mostly the clerks who are going to get reamed
>>if they screw anything up.
>
>There are merely three plants around the country that specialize in bulk
>international mail; I entered my mail at one of them. That clerk was an
>expert in accepting international mail. His problem was a lack of support
>from his immediate supervisor, who just knew to yell at his underling
>and wasn't interested in solving the problem of the missing application.
That's the Postal Way, isn't it. Management gets reamed by upper
>>I'm sure the clerks and techs have been spending hours during the last
>>couple days studying the IMM. I feel the utmost sympathy for them.
>>And you, the customer. But mostly the clerks who are going to get reamed
>>if they screw anything up.
>
>There are merely three plants around the country that specialize in bulk
>international mail; I entered my mail at one of them. That clerk was an
>expert in accepting international mail. His problem was a lack of support
>from his immediate supervisor, who just knew to yell at his underling
>and wasn't interested in solving the problem of the missing application.
management and has no one to take it out on but the people below them.
My supervisor will at least point out whether the reaming is coming
from her or from those above her.
>
>btw, I checked with three different associated offices to the ISAL sack tag,
>and not one of them had any. Apparently, ISAL entered at a local post office
>is so unusual that they don't bother to keep tags in stock, but the price
>is the same if entered at a local post office or BMEU at the plant. The
>only price breaks are for entering ISAL at one of the three plants that
>specializes in international mail.
>
>>I don't know if your unit responds better to emails or phone calls, but
>>I would advise asking for updates, deadlines, and following through as
>>soon as each deadline passes.
>
>It's now been a week. I checked PostalOne! and I still don't see the
>postage statement as entered by the BME. The BME manager still hasn't
>gotten back to me with the postage statement ID number.
>
>>And be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
>>decide you owe.
>
>She told me it'll be under $2, but never gave me the exact amount, and
>yes, she did demand that I bring a meter tape to her office.
In my office, and probably in the whole Postal Service, it's OK to
>btw, I checked with three different associated offices to the ISAL sack tag,
>and not one of them had any. Apparently, ISAL entered at a local post office
>is so unusual that they don't bother to keep tags in stock, but the price
>is the same if entered at a local post office or BMEU at the plant. The
>only price breaks are for entering ISAL at one of the three plants that
>specializes in international mail.
>
>>I don't know if your unit responds better to emails or phone calls, but
>>I would advise asking for updates, deadlines, and following through as
>>soon as each deadline passes.
>
>It's now been a week. I checked PostalOne! and I still don't see the
>postage statement as entered by the BME. The BME manager still hasn't
>gotten back to me with the postage statement ID number.
>
>>And be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
>>decide you owe.
>
>She told me it'll be under $2, but never gave me the exact amount, and
>yes, she did demand that I bring a meter tape to her office.
overpay. If you overpay by more than a dollar or two, we will
probably point it out to you. Since we don't extend credit, you
should bring a meter strip or stamps down to the office as soon as
possible. They won't send the mail on without payment in full.
Jon M
Adam H. Kerman
Nov 8, 2011, 8:42:39โฏAM11/8/11
to
>>Jon M <faceo...@omnicast.net> wrote:
>>>And be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
>>>decide you owe.
>>She told me it'll be under $2, but never gave me the exact amount, and
>>yes, she did demand that I bring a meter tape to her office.
>In my office, and probably in the whole Postal Service, it's OK to
>overpay. If you overpay by more than a dollar or two, we will
>probably point it out to you. Since we don't extend credit, you
>should bring a meter strip or stamps down to the office as soon as
>possible. They won't send the mail on without payment in full.
I appreciate the information. Very few who post to this newsgroup work
>>>And be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
>>>decide you owe.
>>She told me it'll be under $2, but never gave me the exact amount, and
>>yes, she did demand that I bring a meter tape to her office.
>In my office, and probably in the whole Postal Service, it's OK to
>overpay. If you overpay by more than a dollar or two, we will
>probably point it out to you. Since we don't extend credit, you
>should bring a meter strip or stamps down to the office as soon as
>possible. They won't send the mail on without payment in full.
with bulk mail.
They told me they released my mail a week ago Saturday despite the piddly
revenue underpayment. I checked PostalOne! just now; the postage statement
still isn't up. I cannot bring the BME manager a meter strip with to make
up for the underpayment till she tells me what it is, and I'd sure like
to see the postage statement.
I really want to move this issue off my plate so I don't have to keep
dealing with it.
One other thing I'm confused about, as it's really not explained in
the DMM: If I wanted an advance deposit account, is that automatically
created with the mailing permit number assigned to my postage meter,
or do I need yet another account number for that? With ISAL, I paid the
piece rate with individual meter tapes on each piece, and the pound rate
with tapes on the back of the postage statement. My postage meter wouldn't
let me print one tape for the entire amount, so I had to use multiple tapes.
Next time, it might not be a bad idea to have a small amount of money in
an advance deposit account to prevent the mail from getting held up for a
meaningless postage underpayment, but I hope paying the one-time permit
authorization fee is unnecessary.
Jon M
Nov 8, 2011, 11:44:24โฏAM11/8/11
to
On Tue, 8 Nov 2011 13:42:39 +0000 (UTC), "Adam H. Kerman"
won't tell you what it is, bring in a meter strip for a dollar,
several 10ยข strips, and enough penny strips to make up any amount. You
can also use stamps. I really think they'll let you overpay by a few
cents or dollars, though.
number that postalone assigns; it will be very rare that the permit
number and the meter account number will be the same. Most clerks in
my office believe that it's impossible to request a specific number.
The clerk actually can request a number. However, you're out of luck
if someone else already has it. It can't hurt to ask, though. You
might also try to get a precancelled stamp account with the same
number. You might think you'll never use it, but you might change
your mind down the road and today would be the best time to nail down
that number that you want.
> With ISAL, I paid the
>piece rate with individual meter tapes on each piece, and the pound rate
>with tapes on the back of the postage statement. My postage meter wouldn't
>let me print one tape for the entire amount, so I had to use multiple tapes.
>Next time, it might not be a bad idea to have a small amount of money in
>an advance deposit account to prevent the mail from getting held up for a
>meaningless postage underpayment, but I hope paying the one-time permit
>authorization fee is unnecessary.
I think everyone who mails in the BMEU should have a permit trust
account, if they can afford the setup fee. But if you can get the
permit without paying the fee, let me know how you did it.
Jon M
<a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>Jon M <faceo...@omnicast.net> wrote:
>>"Adam H. Kerman" <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>>>Jon M <faceo...@omnicast.net> wrote:
>
>>>>And be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
>>>>decide you owe.
>
>>>She told me it'll be under $2, but never gave me the exact amount, and
>>>yes, she did demand that I bring a meter tape to her office.
>
>>In my office, and probably in the whole Postal Service, it's OK to
>>overpay. If you overpay by more than a dollar or two, we will
>>probably point it out to you. Since we don't extend credit, you
>>should bring a meter strip or stamps down to the office as soon as
>>possible. They won't send the mail on without payment in full.
>
>I appreciate the information. Very few who post to this newsgroup work
>with bulk mail.
>
>They told me they released my mail a week ago Saturday despite the piddly
>revenue underpayment. I checked PostalOne! just now; the postage statement
>still isn't up. I cannot bring the BME manager a meter strip with to make
>up for the underpayment till she tells me what it is, and I'd sure like
>to see the postage statement.
If they're actually claiming that it has to be the exact amount, but
>Jon M <faceo...@omnicast.net> wrote:
>>"Adam H. Kerman" <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>>>Jon M <faceo...@omnicast.net> wrote:
>
>>>>And be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
>>>>decide you owe.
>
>>>She told me it'll be under $2, but never gave me the exact amount, and
>>>yes, she did demand that I bring a meter tape to her office.
>
>>In my office, and probably in the whole Postal Service, it's OK to
>>overpay. If you overpay by more than a dollar or two, we will
>>probably point it out to you. Since we don't extend credit, you
>>should bring a meter strip or stamps down to the office as soon as
>>possible. They won't send the mail on without payment in full.
>
>I appreciate the information. Very few who post to this newsgroup work
>with bulk mail.
>
>They told me they released my mail a week ago Saturday despite the piddly
>revenue underpayment. I checked PostalOne! just now; the postage statement
>still isn't up. I cannot bring the BME manager a meter strip with to make
>up for the underpayment till she tells me what it is, and I'd sure like
>to see the postage statement.
won't tell you what it is, bring in a meter strip for a dollar,
several 10ยข strips, and enough penny strips to make up any amount. You
can also use stamps. I really think they'll let you overpay by a few
cents or dollars, though.
>
>I really want to move this issue off my plate so I don't have to keep
>dealing with it.
>
>One other thing I'm confused about, as it's really not explained in
>the DMM: If I wanted an advance deposit account, is that automatically
>created with the mailing permit number assigned to my postage meter,
>or do I need yet another account number for that?
In my office, the feeling is that the customer will take the permit
>I really want to move this issue off my plate so I don't have to keep
>dealing with it.
>
>One other thing I'm confused about, as it's really not explained in
>the DMM: If I wanted an advance deposit account, is that automatically
>created with the mailing permit number assigned to my postage meter,
>or do I need yet another account number for that?
number that postalone assigns; it will be very rare that the permit
number and the meter account number will be the same. Most clerks in
my office believe that it's impossible to request a specific number.
The clerk actually can request a number. However, you're out of luck
if someone else already has it. It can't hurt to ask, though. You
might also try to get a precancelled stamp account with the same
number. You might think you'll never use it, but you might change
your mind down the road and today would be the best time to nail down
that number that you want.
> With ISAL, I paid the
>piece rate with individual meter tapes on each piece, and the pound rate
>with tapes on the back of the postage statement. My postage meter wouldn't
>let me print one tape for the entire amount, so I had to use multiple tapes.
>Next time, it might not be a bad idea to have a small amount of money in
>an advance deposit account to prevent the mail from getting held up for a
>meaningless postage underpayment, but I hope paying the one-time permit
>authorization fee is unnecessary.
account, if they can afford the setup fee. But if you can get the
permit without paying the fee, let me know how you did it.
Jon M
Adam H. Kerman
Nov 8, 2011, 1:01:22โฏPM11/8/11
to
Jon M <faceo...@omnicast.net> wrote:
>"Adam H. Kerman" <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>>Jon M <faceo...@omnicast.net> wrote:
>>>"Adam H. Kerman" <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>>>>Jon M <faceo...@omnicast.net> wrote:
>>>>>And be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
>>>>>decide you owe.
>>>>She told me it'll be under $2, but never gave me the exact amount, and
>>>>yes, she did demand that I bring a meter tape to her office.
>>>In my office, and probably in the whole Postal Service, it's OK to
>>>overpay. If you overpay by more than a dollar or two, we will
>>>probably point it out to you. Since we don't extend credit, you
>>>should bring a meter strip or stamps down to the office as soon as
>>>possible. They won't send the mail on without payment in full.
>>I appreciate the information. Very few who post to this newsgroup work
>>with bulk mail.
>>They told me they released my mail a week ago Saturday despite the piddly
>>revenue underpayment. I checked PostalOne! just now; the postage statement
>>still isn't up. I cannot bring the BME manager a meter strip with to make
>>up for the underpayment till she tells me what it is, and I'd sure like
>>to see the postage statement.
>If they're actually claiming that it has to be the exact amount, but
>won't tell you what it is, bring in a meter strip for a dollar,
>several 10 cent strips, and enough penny strips to make up any amount. You
>"Adam H. Kerman" <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>>Jon M <faceo...@omnicast.net> wrote:
>>>"Adam H. Kerman" <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>>>>Jon M <faceo...@omnicast.net> wrote:
>>>>>And be prepared to go down there to pay whatever piddling amount they
>>>>>decide you owe.
>>>>She told me it'll be under $2, but never gave me the exact amount, and
>>>>yes, she did demand that I bring a meter tape to her office.
>>>In my office, and probably in the whole Postal Service, it's OK to
>>>overpay. If you overpay by more than a dollar or two, we will
>>>probably point it out to you. Since we don't extend credit, you
>>>should bring a meter strip or stamps down to the office as soon as
>>>possible. They won't send the mail on without payment in full.
>>I appreciate the information. Very few who post to this newsgroup work
>>with bulk mail.
>>They told me they released my mail a week ago Saturday despite the piddly
>>revenue underpayment. I checked PostalOne! just now; the postage statement
>>still isn't up. I cannot bring the BME manager a meter strip with to make
>>up for the underpayment till she tells me what it is, and I'd sure like
>>to see the postage statement.
>If they're actually claiming that it has to be the exact amount, but
>won't tell you what it is, bring in a meter strip for a dollar,
>can also use stamps. I really think they'll let you overpay by a few
>cents or dollars, though.
I don't care about the potential for overpayment. I'd like to know what
>cents or dollars, though.
error she claims I made on the postage statement. I think I can guess,
but I'd like to see it to avoid it in future. That's the main issue.
>>One other thing I'm confused about, as it's really not explained in
>>the DMM: If I wanted an advance deposit account, is that automatically
>>created with the mailing permit number assigned to my postage meter,
>>or do I need yet another account number for that?
>In my office, the feeling is that the customer will take the permit
>number that postalone assigns; it will be very rare that the permit
>number and the meter account number will be the same.
a fee for permit imprint authorization, only.
>Most clerks in my office believe that it's impossible to request a
>specific number. The clerk actually can request a number.
post office in another community. They'd lobbied for a separate ZIP Code,
which they got, and then for their own post office as it had a decent
sized population.
I asked the old postmaster what happens to permit imprint authorization
numbers, if they get transferred to the new office; he said "no".
If I'd wanted to, I could have had Permit No. 1! That would have been fun.
It's practically unheard of to open a new post office in response to
population growth, versus a branch of an existing office. I couldn't think
of a business reason to enter bulk mail there, alas.
The rumor today is that the older office from the neighboring community
will be consolidated into the newer office, given declining mail volume,
but that adds a lot of driving to the routes.
>You might also try to get a precancelled stamp account with the same
>number.
>You might think you'll never use it, but you might change your mind down
>the road and today would be the best time to nail down that number that
>you want.
be turned into bulk mail, short of sitting on orders for a long time.
We just don't need a permit imprint account. I'd also need to do manifesting
with Bound Printed Matter, as the weights wouldn't be identical. I don't
think I'll apply for a permit imprint authorization.
>I think everyone who mails in the BMEU should have a permit trust
>account, if they can afford the setup fee. But if you can get the
>permit without paying the fee, let me know how you did it.
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