The U.S. Postal Service last week launched a limited test of a program for mailers that combines its Delivery Confirmation and merchandise return services. Under the program, mailers can receive confirmations of merchandise returns.
The Delivery Confirmation Service provides mailers with information about the actual delivery of a Standard B, Parcel Post or Priority Mail package while under the merchandise return service unwanted or undeliverable packages are returned to the mailer for a 30-cent fee plus postage.
Mailers participating in the initial phase of the test are to directedmerchandise returns – with a Delivery Confirmation Service barcode on the label — to the USPS Postage Due Unit in Fort Worth, TX. Delivery Confirmation Service.
Next month, when the second phase beings, Mailers could also direct their returns to the USPS Boynton Beach, FL, facility. By mid-July, the USPS said it expects to increase the number of destinations for merchandise returns, but did not indicate where they might be.
Postal officials did say, however, that after evaluating the results of the test after three months they’ll determine if it should be national in scope.
