Postal service promotes its Web site in Nevada

By Ben Holman

Nevada Herald

"Just about anything you can do at the post office you can do at usps.com." That's the message Julie Mader, the postmaster for Jasper, Mo., wants to send out to local businesses.

Friday, in one of the classrooms at the Bowman Building in Nevada, the Nevada Post Office hosted an informational presentation on what the U.S. Post Office has to offer on their Web site, www.usps.com.

"There's a lot more that you can do online than just buying stamps and shipping packages," said Mader, who made the bulk of the presentation. The post office hosted three sessions throughout the day to get their message out to area businesses.

According to Mader, in addition to buying stamps, usps.com offers customers a wide variety of convenient services that can make running a business more efficient. "Why leave the office to go to the post office if you don't have to?" asked Mader.

She said that one major feature of the web site is the "Click-N-Ship" program, where anyone wishing to send a package can obtain shipping labels, pay for postage, and schedule a pick up without ever visiting the post office.

"Since there is a mail carrier who delivers to your location on a daily basis anyway," there is no fee for the pick-up. However, if an urgent shipment if required, a special pick-up can be scheduled and a carried will pick up the package within two hours, for an additional fee. Delivery confirmation is complimentary with the Click-N-Ship program.

The Web site also offers NetPost mailing, which is a service where a business can design, print and send out various types of mailings, without leaving the office.

A person can even send personalized greeting cards to anyone in the world without ever touching the envelope, and the program even allows the user to choose the design of the stamp used.

In addition to these time-saving services, usps.com offers zip-code look-up, direct mailing services, business mailing tutorials, shipping assistance, shipping supplies and much more, all within reach of the computer.

"It's not that we don't want to see you at the post office, but think of the time saved by employees not having to leave the office."

"We haven't done a very good job of advertising what we actually can do for our customers and that's what we're trying to do (with these sessions)," said Heather Mitchem, Moundville postmaster.