June 2008


Zonal Improvement Plan (ZIP) code system, introduced to improve sorting and delivery of mail, has been around for more than 65 years. A ZIP code identifies a specific geographic mail delivery area, which makes it convenient to deliver the mail on the correct address.

In 1943, the US Post Office Department adopted the postal zones for large cities, which were simply 1 or 2 digits representing the specific zone in the individual city. E.g., Minneapolis 16. The ZIP codes, as we know today, came into being in 1963 and owe their origin to an employee of the post office, Robert Moon. Resultantly, the existing codes for postal zones were preceded by 3 digits describing the Sectional Center Facility (SCF). An SCF that is assigned the first 3 digits sorts the mail for the postal zone described by the last 2 digits. E.g., Minnesota 23716 (237 depicts SCF Number and 16 depicts the Postal Zone).

To further pinpoint the accuracy of the address on the mail, Zip + 4 system was adopted in 1983, which uses the ZIP code plus 4 additional digits to identify a geographic segment within the ZIP code delivery area (like apartments, city blocks etc.). E.g. CA 95823-5429.

With over 43,000 ZIP codes in US and more than 25,000 monthly changes to
ZIP code data, it makes sense to have a
ZIP code database always at your disposal for quick reference. You can easily
download ZIP codes program in a multiple format with the option of regularly updated Zipcode database.

It happens to all of us. Our old car is ready to retire and we need to find a new car. It can be very exciting to buy a new car and there are many ways to go about doing it. Buying online is a great way to buy a new car and even research new cars, as there are no sales tactics and no dealers or salesmen pressuring you into something that you may not want. Buying a new car online certainly puts you in charge of the whole transaction but there are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a new car online.

Most people have an idea of the kind of new car they are looking for, whether it is large family car – such as a 4×4 or an estate, a small economical diesel car, or a weekend sports car. You may want a car that was just like your old one. Whatever kind of car you think you have in mind, make sure you do some research on it. Determine what you will need from the car, how many people will be driven around in it, what kind of space is required, and running costs. Running costs is an important factor to consider when looking at new cars.

Once you have done some research and know what kind of new car you would like, step into the online showroom and look at the model’s details. Become familiar with the model’s specifications and price. You can do this by reading reviews online, in car magazines, newspapers, online, anywhere you can find different reviews and information about the new car you are looking for the better. Being armed with information will help you make a good choice when it comes time to take the big step with the final purchase!

Once you have finalized your decision about the new car that you want, it’s important to get different quotes. Shopping around is the only way to get the best deal and make sure that you are paying the least amount of money for the car you really want. There are some companies and websites that are highly overpriced and paying these big price tags can be avoided by simply obtaining a few different quotes for your new car or even new car.

Once you have received a few different quotes for the new car, find out as much as you can about the dealer. The best way to do this is just by asking a few simple questions. Find out what their policies and procedures are. Some important questions to ask are about warranty, delivery costs, whether the new car will be delivered with a full tank, are there opportunities for further discounts and are there any free accessories available. Knowing these answers will take a lot of the risk out of buying a new car online.

Lastly, before you purchase a new car be sure to read the entire agreement. If there are parts of the agreement that confuse you, ask about them and make sure that they are fully explained and that you completely understand them before signing any deal. This will help protect you from unforeseen problems in the future.