ARCHIVED QSG - MAY 14, 2007
USPS Homepage Skip navigation     USPS Home | Postal Explorer Home
Section divider line


Quick Service Guide 230b

Discount Letters and Cards

First-Class Mail Nonmachinable Letters

May 2007
Printer-Friendly PDF

Physical Standards (201)

Section divider line

Maximum weight: 3.5 ounces.

For an overview of the physical standards for discount letters and cards, see Quick Service Guide 201.

Rates and Fees (233.1.0)

Section divider line

Weight Not Over (ounces)1
Presorted
1
$0.373
2
0.543
3
0.713
3.5
0.883
1Letters are subject to a $0.17 nonmachinable surcharge if they meet any of the characteristics in 201.2.1. The nonmachinable characteristics do not apply to pieces mailed at card rates.

Annual $175.00 presort mailing fee.

Content (233.2.0)

Section divider line

First-Class Mail is required for personal correspondence, handwritten or typewritten material, and bills or statements of account. First-Class Mail may also be used for most mailable items, including advertisements and lightweight merchandise.

Eligibility Standards (233.4.0)

Section divider line

Mailings of 500 or more addressed pieces, sorted and marked as described below. All pieces must be letter-size and meet one of the nonmachinable criteria in 201.2.0. Pieces mailed at card rates and pieces mailed at letter rates must meet separate 500-piece minimums.

Each piece must include a complete delivery address with correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code.

Addresses on all pieces must be updated within 185 days before mailing through a USPS-approved address update method (e.g., ACS, NCOALink, FASTforward, or the appropriate ancillary service endorsement under 507.1.0). For an overview of the First-Class Mail Move Update standards, see Quick Service Guide 230a.

A certified process (233.3.6.2) must be used within 12 months before mailing to ensure accuracy of 5-digit ZIP Codes.

Mailers can apply Repositionable Notes for an additional charge of $0.005. See 709.5.0.

Postage Payment and Documentation (234)

Section divider line

Precanceled stamp (604.3.0), meter (604.4.0), or permit imprint (604.5.0); applicable conditions and restrictions.

Additional standards apply to mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces.

Documentation:

  • Postage statement: Form 3600-R, 3600-EZ, or approved facsimile.
  • Supporting documentation: required unless correct rate is affixed to each piece or unless each piece is of identical weight and separated by rate when presented for acceptance; documentation generated by PAVE-certified software (or printed in standardized format).

Mail Preparation (235.5.3)

Section divider line

Mark each piece "Presorted" or "PRSRT" and "First-Class" in the postage area. For optional marking location, see 202.3.0.

When preparing full trays, mailers must fill all possible 2-foot trays first; if there is mail remaining for the presort destination, mailers must use a combination of 1-foot and 2-foot trays that result in the fewest total number of trays for that presort level.

See reverse for preparation and labeling.

Use 2-inch tray labels (245.4.0).

Trays sleeved and strapped (235.3.4). See 235.3.5 for exceptions to strapping for mixed ADC trays and mailings that originate and destinate in delivery area of same SCF.

Enter and Deposit (236)

Section divider line

Mailing entered at an acceptance point designated by USPS.

For the specific DMM standards applicable to this category of mail, consult the DMM sections referenced above and the general sections within each DMM module.

Bundling and Traying Sequence (235.5.3)
5-Digit
Bundles: Required, pieces must be bundled if 10 or more pieces to same 5-digit ZIP Code; fewer than 10 pieces in a bundle not permitted. Bundling not required if sufficient quantity to fill a 5-digit tray.
Labels: Red Label 5 or optional endorsement line (OEL) (708.7.0).
3-Digit
Bundles: Required, pieces must be bundled if 10 or more pieces to same 3-digit ZIP Code prefix; fewer than 10 pieces in a bundle not permitted.1
Labels: Green Label 3 or OEL.
ADC
Bundles: Required, pieces must be bundled if 10 or more pieces to same ADC (see L004); fewer than 10 pieces in a bundle not permitted.1
Labels: Pink Label A or OEL.
Mixed ADC
Bundles: Required, any remaining pieces must be bundled in mixed ADC bundles.
Labels: Tan Label X or OEL.

This graphic describes the packaging, labeling and sortation standards for nonmachinable First-Class Mail Letters and Cards as described in the text.

Trays: Required, full trays only for pieces to same 5-digit ZIP Code; bundling not required; less-than-full trays not permitted.
Labels: For Line 1, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail.
Rate: Presorted
Trays: Required, full trays only for bundles to same 3-digit ZIP Code prefix; less-than-full trays not permitted.
Exception: One less-than-full tray must be prepared for any remaining bundles for each origin 3-digit ZIP Code prefix.
Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column A, for destination facility.
Rate: Presorted
Trays: Required, full trays only for bundles to same ADC (see L004); less-than-full trays not permitted.
Labels: For Line 1, use L004, Column B, for destination facility.
Rate: Presorted
Trays: Required for any remaining bundles placed in mixed ADC trays; only one less-than-full tray permitted.
Labels: For Line 1, use L201. For mail originating in 3-digit ZIP Codes in Column A, use "MXD" followed by city/state/3-digit ZIP Code in Column C.
Rate: Presorted
Bundling required in mailings consisting entirely of postcard-size pieces and for other pieces in less-than-full trays.
The maximum bundle thickness is 6 inches (235.2.3).
1Bundling not required if sufficient quantity to fill a tray and none of the mail in the tray would have been more finely sorted if bundled (235.2.4).

 

Back to Top


ARCHIVED QSG - MAY 14, 2007
ARCHIVED QSG - MAY 14, 2007