USPS Confidential Reporter Panel

I just received a letter from the USPS asking me to participate in a confidential reporter panel. I am supposed to report the delivery of the specific types of mail I receive each day. As a thank you, I receive reward points redeemable for gift certificates. The odd part is that I am to make this report via the web and IBM will conduct the study. The letter is marked "Confidential Material Not For Reproduction or General Disclosure". Hmmmm. Secrets in the USPS?

Has anyone seen this request in their mail? Its seems legit but it also raises some alarms.

Art

I would be highly suspicious of such a requerst. In today's NSA-inspired environment, I would refuse to disclose any further information about myself to any entity even remotely connected to the gov't.

I received a bogus 'census' request in the mail once a long time ago that even went so far as to demand my participation or there would be legal consequences. So I called the bluff, contacted the census people and reported the fraud up the chain. So there's always that possibility as well.

Best course of action IMO, don't participate.

You could always ask the postal service if they are doing this sort of thing.

Call your local postal inspector.

I participated in this study, or one like it, several years ago (but I don't remember receiving anything for doing so). Essentially, they mail you test pieces and you report when they are received, as well as providing a count of the other mail received. It got old after awhile so I ended my participation.

Two things, I decided its legit - no specific reason. 2nd I just trashed the letter. I don't think any response will make a difference in the long run. I don't think secret request are the way to get good results. If they wanted a good survey then ask everyone.

Art

Sounds fishy to me. The request plus a follow up phone call would have put my mind at ease. Trashing it Art was the right thing to do.
Tom

You didn't add the cover and contents to the collection???

I get the idea that Art has already moved on.
Tom

Art: The USPS had a program (maybe still does) that tracked specific types of mail which they 'salted' into the delivery system. It was known as the 'zero bundle' program by insiders, and tested the collection of mail for pick up in local corner 'blue boxes'. It was to see if mail was being picked up too early by carriers,(thus leaving mails dropped prior to scheduled pick-up in the box - to be picked up the next day). If the last pick-up was scheduled at 4:00PM they would drop a 'bundle' (loose not tied)of mail for several destinations. Participants would record when they received the mail, (mail, electronic, telephone), and they could tell how well the system was working. A 'zero bundle' meant that nothing was delivered and the mail at that specific drop box was picked up prior to the scheduled last pick-up. The sample was usually dropped within 15 minutes prior to the last scheduled pick-up, sometimes within the last 5 if possible. I never heard of a program where mail types were sought other than internal samplings, by route. The USPS would not need to survey individual delivery stops as that information can be gathered in-house at the carrier route (RPW Sample, [rates, pieces & weights]). I know that the 'zero bundle' program was done by Waterhouse and they enlisted households to drop mail into the system and they were admonished to keep it close to the vest for the integrity of the test. USPS can get all the information it needs from in-house mail sample programs.