December 2010
Issue 54
Do You Know What
To Do
Central Mail Services mail carriers are not the only people on campus who put mail in KSU
Campus Mail boxes. While others may not be able to open your box, they can drop mail
through the slot. The same can happen at your personal mail box at home.
KSU Central Mail Services and KSU Environmental Health and
Safety want to arm the Campus Community with some cognitive
information to identify suspicious letters or packages in order to
continue to deliver a safe learning environment. So please take all
threats and/or suspicious letters or packages seriously.
This is a brief listing of identifiers of a suspicious package:
- Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
- Title, but no name
- Incorrect titles
- Excessive postage
- Misspellings of common words
- No return address
- Oily stains, discolorations or odor
- Protruding aluminum foil or wires
- Excessive weight
- Lopsided or uneven envelope
- Visual distractions
- Ticking sounds
- Marked with restrictive endorsements, “Personal” or “Confidential”
- Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the
return address
In the case of a suspicious letter or package:
- Do not shake or remove the contents of a suspicious package or envelope.
- Isolate the area, leave the room and close the door or section off to prevent
others from being exposed. Be sure to stay in the vicinity so Emergency
personnel can locate the area.
- Evacuate the area immediately if a bomb is suspected
- Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent the spreading of hazardous
contents. Be sure to remove any affected clothing. Place this clothing in a bag
and give to Emergency Personnel.
- If you are at Work, contact KSU Police Department at
532-6412 or dial “911” as well as the Environmental
Health and Safety at 532-5856.
- If you are at Home, contact your local law enforcement.
Don’t let your package be a victim!!!
Keep these suspicious letter and package identifiers in mind when you are mailing packages and
letters for a KSU Department or for yourself. Don’t let your package become a suspicious
package and make Kansas State University’s image be a victim. Reusing boxes for
shipping is ok. Be sure to not use boxes that have stains from oils or chemicals,
even if your morning coffee is the only chemical that was spilled on the box. This
box cannot be used. Remove all excess tape and old labels. Make sure your
recipient’s address is correct and complete. Use correct USPS format for addresses and always
include a return address that is correct and complete. Pack all items tightly in a box, filling void
space with newspaper, bubble wrap or packing peanuts to prevent shifting during delivery.
Boxes that are not filled to full capacity are more likely to be smashed and broken in transit. If
you think for any reason a box should not be reshipped, be smart and don’t use it. All
inappropriate packages that are to be shipped through Central Mail Services will be returned to
you for repacking.
For Packaging and Addressing Tips click here or go to Central Mail
Services website from www.k-state.edu/facilities/cms
2010 Holiday Shipping Dates
for APOs/FPOs/DPOs
The holiday season is right around the corner and we want to remind
friends and families to mail early to ensure delivery of holiday cards and
packages by December 25 to APO/FPO/DPO destination addresses.
As a reminder, all mail addressed to overseas military/diplomatic Post Offices is subject to certain conditions or
restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling.
Restrictions by individual APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Code can be found in each Postal Bulletin in the Pull-Out
Information section. Go to pe.usps.com and click Postal Bulletins in the blue navigation bar.
Express
Mail
Military
Service
(EMMS) 1
First-Class
Mail®
Letters and
Cards
Priority
Parcel
Mail Addressed To
Mail®
Post®
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs
090-092
Dec-18
Dec-10
Dec-10 Nov-12
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP
N/A
Dec-4
Dec-4 Nov-12
093
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs
Dec-18
Dec-10
Dec-10 Nov-12
094-098
APO/FPO/DPO AA ZIP
340
Dec-18
Dec-10
Dec-10 Nov-12
APO/FPO/DPO AP ZIPs
962-966
Dec-18
Dec-10
Dec-10 Nov-12
1
EMMS is available to selected military and diplomatic Post Offices. Check with your local Post Office to
determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.
Shipping International Mail?
Get a Head Start on the Holidays.
Recommended Dates for International Holiday Mail
WASHINGTON — Shipping packages to friends and family around the world in time for the
holiday season can be as simple as taking a short trip to your computer with the tools, tips
and transactions available at usps.com. Whether ordering shipping supplies, printing
postage, getting information about mailing guidelines, filling out required customs forms or
requesting free package pickup, the U.S. Postal Service is ready to help international
shippers get a head start on the holidays.
“Shipping packages around the world can often be done without leaving your home,” said Pranab Shah,
managing director and vice president, Global Business. “Customers have a virtual Post Office available 24
hours a day to get their shipments prepared, paid and picked up.”
Shah said customers going online can save on postage and order free Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. Priority
Mail Flat Rate boxes are available in four sizes, with shipping prices starting as low as $11.45 to Mexico and
Canada, or $13.45 to most other countries. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are also available free at any Post
Office. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online anytime using Click-N-Ship.
The Postal Service recommends the following deadlines for international
delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25.
Global
Express
Guaranteed
(GXG)1
Express
Mail®
International
(EMS)2
Priority
Mail®
International
(PMI)4
FirstClass
Mail
Africa
Asia/Pacific Rim
Dec. 17
Dec. 11
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Dec. 17
Dec. 16
Dec. 10
Dec. 10
Australia/New Zealand
Dec. 17
Dec. 16
Dec. 10
Dec. 10
Canada
Caribbean
Central & South America
Mexico
Europe
Middle East
Dec. 21
Dec. 17
Dec. 13
Dec. 10
Dec. 20
Dec. 16
Dec. 13
Dec. 10
Dec. 20
Dec. 11
Dec. 3
Dec. 3
Dec. 21
Dec. 16
Dec. 10
Dec. 10
Dec. 20
Dec. 16
Dec. 13
Dec. 10
Dec. 17
Dec. 16
Dec. 13
Dec. 10
International Mail
Addressed To
1. GXG is available to more than 190 countries via an alliance with Federal Express. See a retail associate at participating locations for a complete list of
countries and money-back guarantee details, or go to http://pe.usps.com, and click International Rates and Fees, then Country Listing. Some restrictions
apply. Free shipping supplies are available. Purchase postage online and receive 10% discount.
2. EMS is available to more than 190 countries with delivery in 3 to 5 average business days. Guaranteed, money-back service is available to Australia,
China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea (Republic of South). Flat-rate shipping options and free packaging are available. Purchase postage online and
receive an 8% discount.
3. PMI is available to more than 190 countries with delivery in 6 to 10 average business days. Flat-rate shipping options and free packaging are
available. Purchase postage online and receive a 5% discount.
The KSU Post Office is Unable to Ship
Global Express.
Attention:
There will be No increase to First Class, Parcel Post,
Media Mail and special services in January.
Priority, Express, International Priority and International
Express WILL be adjusted in January because those Products compete
directly against UPS and FedEx.
USPS ANNOUNCES 2011 SHIPPING PRICES
NEW FLAT-RATE SHIPPING INNOVATIONS DEBUT IN JANUARY
A host of new flat-rate product innovations will be ushered in with the new year when prices for
Priority Mail, Express Mail and other Shipping Services change Jan. 2, 2011.
Extending the popularity of its Priority Mail Flat Rate products, the Postal Service next year will
introduce a legal-size flat-rate envelope measuring 15-by-9.5 inches and a padded flat-rate envelope
measuring 12.5-by-9.5 inches, both priced at $4.95. All six types of Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes
will be priced the same as the regular Priority Mail Envelope (12.5-by-9.5 inches) at $4.95, including
the Gift Card Flat Rate Envelope, Window Flat Rate Envelope, and the Small Flat Rate Envelope.
Pricing for the Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope will remain unchanged at $18.30, but will be joined by
a new Express Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope (15-by-9.5 inches) offered at that same price.
The popular Hold For Pickup service option — currently available for Express Mail only — will be
extended to Priority Mail and First-Class Mail commercial parcels in the new year. Packages with the
Hold For Pickup endorsement are shipped directly to a Post Office, instead of being left at a
recipient’s address. Packages are then held at the Post Office until picked up anytime during office
hours, at a time convenient for the recipient.
And, for Commercial Base customers mailing regionally, a new Priority Mail Regional Rate Box will be
available in two sizes — offers zone-based pricing with the “If it Fits it Ships” concept. Volume
thresholds for Commercial Plus customers have also been reduced.
All Prices listed below are Retail Rates. KSU
Departments will receive a discounted Commercial Base
Rate from Central Mail Services. These rates will be
published in a later Listserv.
Priority Mail - The cost starts at $5.10 then increases by weight and distance. The farther the
distance away the package has to travel and the heavier the package, the more expensive the
postage is.
Express Mail – The cost starts at $13.25 then increases by weight and distance. The farther the
distance away the package has to travel and the heavier the package, the more expensive the
postage is.
Priority Flat Rate Packaging
Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope
Priority Mail Legal Flat Rate
Envelope
12-1/2" x 9-1/2"
$4.95
Canada &
Mexico
$11.95
15 x 9-1/2
$4.95
$11.95
$13.95
Priority Mail Padded Mailer
12-1/2 x 9-1/2
$4.95
$11.95
$13.95
Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box
8-5/8" x 5-3/8" x 1-5/8"
$5.20
$11.95
$13.95
Priority Mail Large Video
N/A
N/A
$11.95
$13.95
Priority Mail DVD
Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate
Box (FRB1)
Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate
Box (FRB2)
N/A
N/A
$11.95
$13.95
11" x 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"
$10.95
$27.95
$45.50
13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8"
$10.95
$27.95
$45.50
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box
12-1/4" x 12-1/4" x 6"
$14.95
$35.50
$58.50
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box
(APO/FPO Destinations)
12-1/4" x 12-1/4" x 6"
$12.95
N/A
N/A
Other
Countries
$29.95
$29.95
Express Flat Rate Packaging
Domestic
Express Flat Rate Envelope
12-1/2" x 9-1/2"
$18.30
Canada
only
$26.95
Express Legal Flat Rate Envelope
15 x 9-1/2
$18.30
$26.95
Domestic
Other
Countries
$13.95
Please Update Your Mailing Lists
The following departments have changed locations or changed
department names therefore changing their addresses. Please change
your mailing list to reflect the new addresses.
The new address for the IDEA Center is NOT a campus mail address. All IDEA Center mail requires postage
and needs to be in an appropriate envelope. (Campus Mail Envelops are not allowed)
Old Address
New Address
THE IDEA CENTER
DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
13 COLLEGE COURT BLDG
MANHATTAN KS 66506-6006
THE IDEA CENTER
211 S SETH CHILDS RD
MANHATTAN KS 66502-3089
VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
108 ANDERSON HALL
VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
105 ANDERSON HALL
ENROLLMENT SERVICES
210 WILLARD HALL
ENROLLMENT SERVICES
118 ANDERSON HALL
All mail for Olathe Campus REQUIRES postage. There is not a courier for the
Olathe Campus. (Campus Mail Envelopes are not allowed.)
Barb’s Eco Corner
Keeping Kansas State University more eco-friendly
When you receive a new consumer product this holiday season, do not send in
product warranty cards unless it is absolutely necessary. Many times these cards are
not required; you can simply take the product back to the merchant if defected. Many warranty
cards ask for your information and personal interests, as well as other product preferences.
These warranty cards are often sent to third party companies to manage them. This information
can be sold by the company for profit. Always check product information to opt out of future
mailings.
Be cautious about signing up for a “contest” such as the car give-away at the local mall. Such
contests are almost always phishing schemes, looking for names and addresses to use to send
out product information or to sell to mailing lists.
When moving into a new residence, you may receive the former resident’s mail. If this
happens, it is likely that the former resident did not submit a change of address to the United
States Postal Service. You can stop receiving this mail by completing a USPS Change of
Address card. Write in the old address information and as their new address, write “Moved,
Left No Forwarding Address.” Sign your name and write “Form filled out by current resident,
for the former resident.” Turn the card in to your local post office or give it to your mail carrier.
A note from the KSU Contract Post Office
The USPS released a new Forever Stamp last month. As shown
here it is a Book of 20 stamps featuring Evergreen trees. This stamp
will not require additional postage in the event of a postal rate
change. It will automatically become the new rate.
Holiday Shipping Advice – Remember to ship
early. Do not cover packages in wrapping paper. Wrapping paper is
not made for shipping and can easily be torn from your package,
thus leaving your package lost in the mail without proper postage
and/or shipping addresses. These packages cannot be recovered. Be
sure to fill all voids in a box to keep items from shifting in transport.
Boxes that are not filled tightly are more likely to be crushed and broken during shipping. If
you are mailing fragile items it is YOUR responsibility to pack them appropriately. The Post
Office is not responsible for improper packaging of your items. Remember that the KSU
Contract Post Office has Priority Mail boxes and all Flat Rate Boxes available.
To find our web site from www.ksu.edu search the directory
by office for Central Mail Services. The directory is found in
the top right hand corner of the K-State main page