USPS To Close 65 Stamp Distribution Offices
And five Accountable Paper Depositories
The Postal Service notified NAPUS President Dale Goff that they will be consolidating its supply chain configuration in order to reduce the total cost of distribution and fulfillment for the Accountable Paper Network. The USPS plans to consolidate and close 65 Stamp Distribution Offices (SDO’s) and the five Accountable Paper Depositories (APD’s). The Postal Service will now consolidate the network into six Stamp Distribution Centers (SDC’s). President Dale Goff voiced NAPUS concerns in a letter to the Postal Service on October 15th which included: “What about emergency orders; time frame for receipt orders; scheduling for ordering; and response to customers when we can’t get the special orders or just normal inventory.” These same issues have been brought forward in previous consultative sessions.
Additional information from PostalReporter:
As reported earlier this year, “The Postal Service purchases and distributes accountable paper1 to its network of over 39,000 retail units across the U.S. for re-sale to the general public. It accomplishes this fulfillment effort through its network of 79 SDOs, two stamp services centers (SSCs), four Accountable Paper Depositories (APDs), and one Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS) site.”
“The Postal Service has identified opportunities to re-engineer its accountable paper fulfillment network and save between $2 million and $14 million annually by consolidating operations.”
“The SDO is a Postal Service unit other than the parent sectional center facility (SCF) that is, for security reasons, designated to supply postage stamp stock to post offices, stations, branches, and contract stations within its service area.”
Other descriptions:
accountable paper depository — A stamp distribution office (SDO) designated to provide to other SDOs items such as emergency orders, reserve supplies of stamps that cannot be ordered through bulk requisitioning, and philatelic products produced by Postal Service contractors.
stamp distribution network — A system that encompasses an area formerly serviced by multiple stamp distribution offices. It provides all accountable paper stock and defines ordering cycles for each unit (post office, station, branch, or contract station) within its service area regardless of size.
stamp distribution office — A section of a major post office that receives and disburses stamps, stationery, philatelic products, and nonpostal items. It provides stamps and stamp products for all post offices, stations, branches, and contract stations within its service area that are not authorized to order in bulk quantities.