SCL Prepaid Labels Align with Security Enhancements

In an effort to “increase safety and security of its collection box procedures,” the USPS recently announced packages more than ½ inch thick weighing more than 10 ounces can no longer be dropped in mail collection boxes bearing only stamps.

This means customers who opt to send oil samples in using stamps as postage will now need to present those packages to a postal employee at a retail counter.

The new regulations, which went into effect on Oct. 1, 2019, are a modification of the long-standing Aviation Security Rule enacted in 1996. The rule prohibited packages bearing only stamps that weighed more than 16 ounces from being dropped into collection boxes or USPS mail slots. Since then, the weight regulation for packages bearing only stamps has decreased from 16 ounces to 13 ounces, to now 10 ounces and the prescribed ½-inch thickness.

SCL Prepaid Labels as a Solution

For SCL customers, an add-on option for prepaid mailers is available with any fluid analysis kit at minimal cost. With the mailers, customer can avoid the hassle accompanies with going into a post office or securing postage another way every time an oil analysis sample needs to be submitted.

“We started our prepaid mailers add-on service in 2018 because our customers were having issues with samples being held up by the postal service,” said SCL Industrial Development Manager Troy Hudson, OMA-1, CLS. “Samples were sitting in post offices for a number of reasons instead of going to the lab. It was important for us to find an easy and trackable solution to that issue.”

SCL prepaid mailers are offered in two options: those allowing the mailing of individual samples in 10 individual USPS First Class mailers preaddressed to the lab and another option for customers mailing 10 samples at a time. In those cases, prepaid UPS or Fedex return labels are included in the sample pack.

Both options have reduced labor costs for customers and promoted better turnaround times at the lab, Hudson said.

In addition to the mailer add feature, SCL also began offering an app-based mobile submission platform to further promoting accurate data reporting with the quickest possible turnaround on oil samples to the lab.

“Prepaid mailers, the option to submit information via an app, these are all considerations we’ve put in place to help our customers get the most accurate information for their businesses in the most convenient way,” Hudson said. “To take advantage of these features, our customers can contact their local SCL regional rep.”

Mailing Your Sample Yourself

According to ALS Tribology, if customers choose to continue mailing their samples themselves using stamps they can certainly do so while staying in compliance with USPS regulations.

There are a few things, however, they’ll need to keep in mind:

• If you use stamps to mail packages weighing more than 10 ounces and/or measuring more than ½” thick, transactions must be conducted at a USPS retail counter.

• USPS self-service kiosks can be used to purchase postage labels for packages, which can then be dropped into package slots (but not mail slots) at a USPS location.

• Customers can purchase postage online at home or work through USPS “Click-N-Ship.”

• Customers can purchase pre-paid First-Class return mailing pouches from ALS Tribology or through their SCL representative.

• Customers may use alternate couriers such as FedEx or UPS to ship their samples.

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In a wide range of industrial sectors, SCL is committed to being the number one logistics and solutions provider for the products that protect and optimize the machines that keep our country moving. We pride ourselves on remaining at the forefront of industry trends and technological innovations, and as the market continues to evolve, we are committed to providing extensive product and industry knowledge and total performance satisfaction for our customers. For information on how we can assist your fleet in choosing the optimal products at a competitive price, contact an SCL consultant today.