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The full eagle logo, used in various versions from 1970 to 1993. The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the United States, its insular areas and associated states.
A possible Intelligent Mail Barcode for the Wikimedia Foundation address. The Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) is a 65-bar barcode for use on mail in the United States. [1] The term "Intelligent Mail" refers to services offered by the United States Postal Service for domestic mail delivery.
It is a unique ID number or code assigned to a package or parcel. The tracking number is typically printed on the shipping label as a bar code that can be scanned by anyone with a bar code reader or smartphone. In the United States, some of the carriers using tracking numbers include UPS, [1] FedEx, [2] and the United States Postal Service. [3]
The service became quickly popular: for UPS the number of packages tracked on the web increased from 600 a day in 1995 [9] to 3.3 million a day in 1999. [10] On-line package tracking became available for all major carrier companies, and was improved by the emergence of websites that offered consolidated tracking for different mail carriers. [11]
The tracking number may come from the USPS, UPS, or another carrier; how scammers access the numbers is unclear, but that's a problem for the carriers to address.
[citation needed] The service also allows the receiver to track their package/envelope through the online system at usps.com using the unique tracking number provided by the mailer. [15] Certified mail can be combined with (for an additional fee) or without "return receipt requested" service, often called "RRR."
The Postal Service takes measures to ensure the security and privacy of consumers’ mail. Because Informed Delivery offers increased visibility into both mail and packages being delivered to an individual’s address, USPS verifies identities of individuals, including the use of a mail-based verification letter.
On September 25, 2013, the USPS announced a 3-cent increase in the First Class postal rate, effective January 26, 2014, increasing the price of a stamp to 49 cents. Bulk mail, periodicals, and package service rates were also increased by 6 percent. A loss of US$5 billion during the 2013 fiscal year was the reason given for the increase. [30]