September 3, 2008

Bound Printed Matter

In March we filed a notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission for a classification change requiring all Bound Printed Matter (BPM) mailings to be paid by permit imprint only. The Commission agreed, and we are moving forward with the change.

Effective September 11, postage payment for all BPM mailings — carrier route, presorted, and nonpresorted (single-piece) flats and parcels, regardless of volume — will be limited to permit imprint. Mailers cannot pay postage with adhesive stamps, customer-generated postage meter, or PC Postage. In addition, nonpresorted BPM will not be accepted at retail counters, in collection boxes, or by carriers. All BPM must be deposited and accepted at the Post Office facility that issued the permit.  

Merchandise return service permit holders may continue to pay nonpresorted BPM prices on eligible items returned with a merchandise return service label.

We posted an advance copy of the Federal Register notice on Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com. These changes also will be published in the Domestic Mail Manual and the Postal Bulletin on September 11.