Abstract: A method manipulating a delivery system using expiring indicia. An expiring indicia (1) with a manifested time (3) is placed on a delivery piece (9). The method dictates that when a delivery piece (9) is placed in a delivery stream before the manifested time (3) the delivery system will be manipulated to allow the delivery piece (9) to continue. However, if the delivery piece (9) is placed in a delivery stream after the manifested time (3) the delivery system will be manipulated to reject the delivery piece (9) from the delivery stream.