101 Physical Standards

101
Physical Standards

1.0 Physical Standards for Letters

1.1 Dimensional Standards for Letters

1.2 Nonmachinable Criteria

2.0 Physical Standards for Flats

2.1 General Definition of Flat-Size Mail

2.2 Length and Height of Flats

2.3 Minimum Flexibility Criteria for Flat-Size Pieces

2.4 Uniform Thickness

2.5 Flat-Size Pieces Not Eligible for Flat-Size Pricing

3.0 Physical Standards for Parcels

3.1 Maximum Weight and Size

3.2 Two or More Packages

3.3 Machinable Parcels

3.4 Soft Goods and Enveloped Printed Matter

3.5 Irregular Parcels

3.6 Outside Parcel

4.0 Additional Physical Standards for Express Mail

4.1 Physical Standards of Mailpieces

4.2 Two or More Packages

5.0 Additional Physical Standards for Priority Mail

5.1 Physical Standards of Mailpieces

5.2 Two or More Packages

5.3 Balloon Price

5.4 Dimensional Weight Price

6.0 Additional Physical Standards for First-Class Mail

6.1 Maximum Weight and Size

6.2 Minimum Standards

6.3 Cards Claimed at Card Prices

6.4 Nonmachinable Pieces

6.5 Parcels

6.6 Two or More Packages

7.0 Additional Physical Standards for Parcel Post

7.1 Dimension and Weight Standards

8.0 Additional Physical Standards for Media Mail

8.1 Dimension and Weight Standards

9.0 Additional Physical Standards for Library Mail

9.1 Dimension and Weight Standards

102
Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece

1.0 All Mailpieces

1.1 Clear Space

1.2 Delivery and Return Address

1.3 Postage Payment

2.0 Address Placement for Letters

2.1 Delivery Address Placement

2.2 Address Placement Causing Mail to be Nonmailable or Nonmachinable

3.0 Placement and Content of Mail Markings

3.1 Placement of Priority Mail Marking

3.2 Placement of First-Class Mail Markings

3.3 Mail Markings

4.0 Endorsement Placement

4.1 Endorsements for Delivery Instructions and Ancillary Services

4.2 Return Address

4.3 Placement of Endorsement

4.4 Physical Standards for Endorsements

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113
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Express Mail Prices and Fees

1.1 Prices Charged Per Piece

1.2 Price Application

1.3 Prices

1.4 Flat Rate Envelopes

1.5 Sunday and Holiday Premium

1.6 Pickup on Demand

1.7 Computing Postage

2.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Express Mail

2.1 Definition

2.2 Matter Closed Against Postal Inspection

3.0 Content Standards for Express Mail

3.1 Eligibility

3.2 Matter Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

4.0 Service Features of Express Mail

4.1 General

4.2 Express Mail Next Day Delivery

4.3 Express Mail Second Day Delivery

4.4 Express Mail Military Service (EMMS)

4.5 Custom Designed

4.6 Express Mail Open and Distribute

114
Postage Payment Methods

1.0 Postage Payment Methods

1.1 Payment Method

1.2 Affixing Postage—Single-Piece Mailings

1.3 Prepaid Reply Postage

2.0 Postage Refunds

115
Mail Preparation

1.0 Express Mail Supplies

1.1 Packaging Provided by USPS

1.2 Labels

2.0 Express Mail Next Day and Second Day

2.1 Mailing Label

2.2 Waiver of Signature

2.3 ZIP Code Determination

3.0 Firm Mailing Book

3.1 Completing a Firm Mailing Book

116
Deposit

1.0 Express Mail Next Day and Second Day Delivery

1.1 Deposit of Next Day and Second Day Delivery

2.0 Express Mail Military Service

2.1 Deposit

3.0 Pickup on Demand Service

3.1 Availability

3.2 Pickup on Demand Fee

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123
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Priority Mail Prices and Fees

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Prices

1.3 Balloon Price

1.4 Dimensional Weight Price for Low-Density Parcels to Zones 5-8

1.5 Flat Rate Envelopes and Boxes

1.6 Prices for Keys and Identification Devices

1.7 Keys and Identification Devices

1.8 Pickup on Demand Fee

1.9 Determining Single-Piece Weight

1.10 Computing Postage

2.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Priority Mail

2.1 Definition

2.2 Service Objectives

2.3 Matter Closed Against Postal Inspection

3.0 Content Standards for Priority Mail

3.1 Eligibility

3.2 Matter Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

124
Postage Payment Methods

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Payment Method

1.2 Affixing Postage—Single-Piece Mailings

125
Mail Preparation

1.0 Preparation

1.1 Priority Mail Packaging Provided by the USPS

1.2 Required Use

2.0 Marking for Priority Mail

126
Deposit

1.0 Deposit

1.1 Pieces Weighing 13 Ounces or Less

1.2 Pieces Weighing More than 13 Ounces

2.0 Pickup on Demand Service

2.1 Availability

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133
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 First-Class Mail Prices and Fees

1.1 First-Class Mail Single-Piece Price Application

1.2 Price Computation for First-Class Mail

1.3 Determining Single-Piece Weight

1.4 Keys and Identification Devices

1.5 Nonmachinable Surcharge

1.6 Computing Postage—First-Class Mail

2.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for First-Class Mail

2.1 Description of Service

2.2 Defining Characteristics

3.0 Content Standards

3.1 General Eligibility

3.2 Bills and Statements of Account

3.3 Personal Information

3.4 Handwritten and Typewritten Material

3.5 Matter Marked Postcard or Double Postcard

3.6 Matter Not Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

3.7 Prohibited Air Transportation

134
Postage Payment Methods

1.0 Postage Payment Methods for First-Class Mail

1.1 Payment Method

1.2 Affixing Postage—Single-Piece Price Mailings

1.3 More Than One Mailer

1.4 More Than One Letter

1.5 Agent

2.0 Postage Paid With Permit Imprint

2.1 Advance Deposit Account

2.2 Minimum Quantity

2.3 Postage Statement

135
Mail Preparation

1.0 Preparation for First-Class Mail

1.1 Preparation of First-Class Mail

136
Deposit

1.0 Deposit for First-Class Mail

1.1 Single-Piece and Card Mailings

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153
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Parcel Post Prices and Fees

1.1 Price Eligibility

1.2 Determining Single-Piece Weight

1.3 Parcel Post Price Application

1.4 Computing Postage—Parcel Post With Permit Imprint

1.5 Computing Postage—Parcel Post With Postage Affixed

1.6 Pickup on Demand Fees

1.7 Prices

2.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Parcel Post

2.1 Definition of Parcel Post

2.2 Service Objectives

2.3 Postal Inspection

2.4 Delivery and Return Addresses

3.0 Content Standards

3.1 General Content Standards

3.2 Attachments or Enclosures of Periodicals Sample Copies

4.0 Attachments and Enclosures

4.1 Enclosures

4.2 Written Additions

4.3 Invoice

4.4 Incidental First-Class Mail Attachments and Enclosures

154
Postage Payment Methods

1.0 Postage Payment Methods for Parcel Post

1.1 Payment Method

1.2 Affixing Postage—Single-Piece Mailings

2.0 Postage Paid With Permit Imprint

2.1 Advance Deposit Account

2.2 Minimum Quantity

2.3 Postage Statement

155
Mail Preparation

1.0 Preparation for Parcel Post

1.1 Basic Preparation

1.2 Delivery and Return Addresses

1.3 Basic Markings

1.4 Required Use

156
Deposit

1.0 Deposit for Parcel Post

1.1 Single-Piece Mailings

1.2 Designated Mailing Office

1.3 Redirected Mailings

1.4 NDC Acceptance of Zoned Parcel Post

1.5 Pickup on Demand Fees

1.6 Stamped Pieces over 13 Ounces

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173
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Media Mail Prices and Fees

1.1 Prices

1.2 Determining Single-Piece Weight

1.3 Media Mail Price Application

1.4 Barcode Discount—Machinable Parcels

1.5 Media Mail Prices

1.6 Computing Postage—Media Mail With Permit Imprint

1.7 Computing Postage—Media Mail With Postage Affixed

2.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Media Mail

2.1 Service Objectives

2.2 Postal Inspection

2.3 Delivery and Return Addresses

3.0 Content Standards

3.1 General

3.2 Qualified Items

4.0 Attachments and Enclosures

4.1 Loose Enclosures

4.2 Enclosures in Books

4.3 Written Additions

4.4 Invoice

4.5 Incidental First-Class Mail Attachments and Enclosures

174
Postage Payment Methods

1.0 Postage Payment Methods for Media Mail

1.1 Payment Method

1.2 Affixing Postage—Single-Piece Price Mailings

2.0 Postage Paid With Permit Imprint

2.1 Advance Deposit Account

2.2 Minimum Quantity

2.3 Postage Statement

175
Mail Preparation

1.0 Preparation for Media Mail

1.1 Basic Preparation

1.2 Delivery and Return Addresses

1.3 Basic Markings

176
Deposit

1.0 Deposit for Media Mail

1.1 Single-Piece Mailings

1.2 Stamped Pieces over 13 Ounces

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183
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Library Mail Prices and Fees

1.1 Prices

1.2 Determining Single-Piece Weight

1.3 Library Mail Price Application

1.4 Barcode Discount—Machinable Parcels

1.5 Library Mail Prices

1.6 Computing Postage—Library Mail With Permit Imprint

1.7 Computing Postage—Library Mail With Postage Affixed

2.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Library Mail

2.1 Service Objectives

2.2 Postal Inspection

2.3 Delivery and Return Addresses

3.0 Sender, Recipient, and Content Standards

3.1 General

3.2 Sender, Recipient, and Contents

3.3 Qualified Mailings Between Entities

3.4 Qualified Mailings "To" or "From"

4.0 Attachments and Enclosures

4.1 Enclosures in Books and Sound Recordings

4.2 Other Material

4.3 Written Additions

4.4 Invoice

4.5 Incidental First-Class Mail Attachments and Enclosures

184
Postage Payment Methods

1.0 Postage Payment Methods for Library Mail

1.1 Payment Method

1.2 Affixing Postage—Single-Piece Price Mailings

2.0 Postage Paid With Permit Imprint

2.1 Advance Deposit Account

2.2 Minimum Quantity

2.3 Postage Statement

185
Mail Preparation

1.0 Preparation for Library Mail

1.1 Basic Preparation

1.2 Basic Markings

186
Deposit

1.0 Deposit for Library Mail

1.1 Single-Piece Price Mailings

1.2 Stamped Pieces over 13 Ounces

201
Physical Standards

1.0 Physical Standards for Machinable Letters and Cards

1.1 Physical Standards for Machinable Letters

1.2 Physical Standards for Cards Claimed at Card Prices

2.0 Physical Standards for Nonmachinable Letters

2.1 Criteria for Nonmachinable Letters

2.2 Additional Criteria for First-Class Mail Nonmachinable Letters

2.3 Additional Criteria for Standard Mail Nonmachinable Letters

2.4 Additional Criteria for Periodicals Nonmachinable Letters

2.5 Express Mail, Priority Mail, and Critical Mail Letters

3.0 Physical Standards for Machinable and Automation Letters and Cards

3.1 Basic Standards for Automation Letters and Cards

3.2 Paper Weight

3.3 Dimensions and Shape

3.4 Standards for Letter-Size Pieces Containing Discs (CDs or DVDs)

3.5 Maximum Weight, Machinable and Automation Letters and Cards

3.6 Heavy Letter Mail (over 3 ounces)

3.7 Aspect Ratio

3.8 Wraps and Closures

3.9 Staples and Saddle Stitching

3.10 Rigid and Odd-Shaped Items

3.11 Tabs, Tape, and Glue

3.12 Flexibility Standards for Automation Letters

3.13 Labels, Stickers, Release Cards, and Perforated Pockets Affixed to the Outside of Letter-Size Mailpieces

3.14 Folded Self-Mailers

3.15 Booklets

3.16 Postcard

3.17 Enclosed Reply Cards and Envelopes

202
Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece

1.0 All Mailpieces

1.1 Clear Space

1.2 Delivery and Return Address

1.3 Postage Payment

2.0 Address Placement

2.1 Address Placement Causing Mail to be Nonmailable and Nonmachinable

3.0 Placement and Content of Mail Markings

3.1 Enclosures

3.2 Printing and Designs

3.3 Express Mail, Priority Mail, and Critical Mail Markings

3.4 Placement of First-Class Mail and Standard Mail Markings

3.5 Exceptions to Markings

3.6 Marking Hazardous Materials

4.0 Placement and Physical Standards for Endorsements

4.1 Endorsements for Delivery Instructions and Ancillary Services

4.2 Return Address

4.3 Placement of Endorsement

4.4 Physical Standards for Endorsements

5.0 Barcode Placement

5.1 Barcode Clear Zone

5.2 General Barcode Placement for Letters

5.3 Barcode on a Mailpiece

5.4 5-Digit and ZIP+4 Barcode Permissibility

5.5 5-Digit Barcode Placement in Clear Zone

5.6 DPBC Numeric Equivalent

5.7 Barcode in Address Block

5.8 Barcode on Insert

5.9 Edges of Barcode Window

5.10 Window Construction

5.11 Window Cover

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213
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees

1.1 Prices Charged Per Piece

1.2 Price Application

1.3 Commercial Base Prices

1.4 Commercial Plus Prices

1.5 Flat Rate Envelopes

1.6 Sunday and Holiday Premium

1.7 Pickup on Demand

1.8 Delivery Stop

1.9 Determining Single-Piece Weight

2.0 Content Standards for Express Mail

2.1 General

2.2 Matter Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

3.0 Basic Standards for Express Mail

3.1 Definition

3.2 Matter Closed Against Postal Inspection

4.0 Service Features of Express Mail

4.1 General

4.2 Express Mail Next Day Delivery

4.3 Express Mail Second Day Delivery

4.4 Express Mail Custom Designed

4.5 Express Mail Military Service (EMMS)

4.6 Drop Shipment

214
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment Options

1.1 Commercial Base Pricing

1.2 Commercial Plus Pricing

2.0 Corporate Accounts

2.1 Availability

2.2 Account

2.3 Postage Liability

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Express Mail Packaging Provided by the USPS

1.2 Price Marking

2.0 Express Mail Next Day and Second Day

2.1 Mailing Label

2.2 Waiver of Signature

2.3 ZIP Code Determination

3.0 Express Mail Custom Designed

3.1 Forms

3.2 Waiver of Signature

3.3 Pouches

4.0 Firm Mailing Book

216
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Express Mail Next Day and Second Day Delivery

2.0 Express Mail Custom Designed

3.0 Express Mail Military Service

4.0 Pickup on Demand Service

4.1 Availability

4.2 Pickup on Demand Fee

220

223
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Commercial Base Prices

1.3 Commercial Plus Prices

1.4 Critical Mail Prices

1.5 Flat Rate Envelopes

1.6 Hold For Pickup

1.7 Pickup on Demand Fee

1.8 Determining Single-Piece Weight

1.9 Computing Postage

2.0 Content Standards for Priority Mail

2.1 General

2.2 Matter Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

3.0 Basic Standards for Priority Mail

3.1 Definition

3.2 Additional Standards for Critical Mail Letters

3.3 Service Objectives

3.4 Matter Closed Against Postal Inspection

224
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

1.2 Affixing Postage—Single-Piece Mailings

2.0 Postage Paid with Permit Imprint

2.1 Advance Deposit Account

2.2 Minimum Quantity

2.3 Postage Statement

225
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Priority Mail Packaging Provided by the USPS

1.2 Required Use of Return Address

2.0 Markings

3.0 Preparation of Permit Imprint Mailings

3.1 Identical Weight Pieces

3.2 Nonidentical Weight Pieces

4.0 Additional Standards for Preparing Critical Mail Letters

4.1 Preparing Critical Mail Letters in Trays

4.2 Postage for Critical Mail and Priority Mail

226
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Deposit

1.1 General

1.2 Stamped Pieces

2.0 Pickup on Demand Service

230

233
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees for First-Class Mail

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Price Computation for First-Class Mail Letters

1.3 Presorted and Automation Prices for Cards and Letters

1.4 Nonmachinable Surcharge

1.5 Presort Mailing Fee

1.6 Computing Postage for First-Class Mail

1.7 Determining Single-Piece Weight

2.0 Content Standards for First-Class Mail Letters

2.1 General

2.2 Bills and Statements of Account

2.3 Personal Information

2.4 Handwritten and Typewritten Material

2.5 Matter Marked Postcard or Double Postcard

2.6 Matter Not Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

2.7 Prohibited Air Transportation

3.0 Basic Standards for First-Class Mail Letters

3.1 3.1 Description of Service

3.2 Defining Characteristics

3.3 Additional Basic Standards for First-Class Mail

3.4 Presort Mailing Fee

3.5 Move Update Standard

3.6 ZIP Code Accuracy

4.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Nonautomation First-Class Mail Letters

4.1 Additional Standards for Machinable First-Class Mail

4.2 Barcodes

4.3 Nonmachinable Surcharge for Letter-Size Pieces

5.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Automation First-Class Mail Letters

5.1 Basic Standards for Automation First-Class Mail Letters

5.2 Additional Eligibility Standards for Full-Service Automation First-Class Mail Letters

5.3 Maximum Weight for Automation Letters

5.4 Price Application—Automation Cards and Letters

5.5 Address Standards for Barcoded Pieces

5.6 Reply Cards and Envelopes Enclosed in Automation Price First-Class Mail

6.0 Eligibility Standards for Card Price First-Class Mail

6.1 Card Price

6.2 Cards and Letters

7.0 First-Class Mail Incentive Programs

7.1 General Description

7.2 Reply Rides Free Program

234
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted Letters

2.1 Payment Methods for Presorted Prices

2.2 Affixed Postage for Presorted First-Class Mail

2.3 Additional Postage

3.0 Postage Payment for Automation Letters

3.1 Payment Methods for Automation Prices

3.2 Affixing Postage for Automation Price First-Class Mail

3.3 Nondenominated Precanceled Stamps

3.4 Lower Denomination Precanceled Stamps

3.5 Postage Affixed at Lowest Price to All Pieces

4.0 Mailing Documentation

4.1 Completing Postage Statements

4.2 Basic Documentation Standards

4.3 Documentation Standards for Automation Mailings

4.4 Documentation Submission—Full-Service Automation Option

4.5 Preparing Documentation

4.6 Multiple Standards

4.7 Standard Format for Documentation

4.8 Providing Additional Information

4.9 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

4.10 Facsimile Postage Statements

235
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Definition of Terms

1.1 Definition of Presort Process

1.2 Definition of Mailings

1.3 Terms for Presort Levels

1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

1.5 Optional Containerization

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.3 Preparing Bundles

2.4 Securing Bundles

2.5 Exception to Bundle Preparation—Full Single-Sort-Level Trays

2.6 Pieces With Simplified Address

2.7 Bundles With Fewer Than the Minimum Number of Pieces Required

2.8 Labeling Bundles

3.0 Letter Trays

3.1 Standard Containers

3.2 Letter Tray Sizes

3.3 Letter Tray Preparation

3.4 Tray Sleeving and Strapping

3.5 Strapping Exception

3.6 Origin/Entry 3-Digit/Scheme Trays

4.0 Tray Labels

4.1 Basic Standards

4.2 Physical Characteristics of a Tray Label

4.3 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.4 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.5 Line 3 (Office of Mailing or Mailer Information Line)

4.6 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.7 Placement of Extraneous Information

4.8 Placement of Tray Label

4.9 Barcoded Tray Labels

5.0 Preparing Nonautomation Letters

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Machinable Preparation

5.3 Nonmachinable Preparation

6.0 Preparing Automation Letters

6.1 Basic Standards

6.2 Mailings

6.3 Marking

6.4 General Preparation

236
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Deposit

1.1 Service Objectives

1.2 Time and Location of Deposit

1.3 Approved Collections

1.4 Permit Imprint Collection

2.0 Verification

2.1 USPS Verification and Mailer Correction

2.2 Timeframe for Corrective Action

2.3 Payment at Single-Piece Price Rather Than Correcting Errors

240

243
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees for Standard Mail

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Standard Mail Price Application

1.3 Regular Standard Mail—ECR, Automation, and Nonautomation Prices

1.4 Nonprofit Standard Mail—ECR, Automation, and Nonautomation Prices

1.5 Fees

1.6 Computing Postage for Standard Mail

2.0 Content Standards for Standard Mail Letters

2.1 Definition and Weight

2.2 Personal Information

2.3 Bills and Statements of Account

2.4 Handwritten and Typewritten Matter

2.5 Attachments and Enclosures

2.6 Written Additions

3.0 Basic Standards for Standard Mail Letters

3.1 Description of Service

3.2 Defining Characteristics

3.3 Additional Basic Standards for Standard Mail

3.4 Presort Mailing Fees

3.5 Merging Similar Standard Mailings

3.6 Residual Volume Requirement

3.7 Residual Mail Subject to First-Class Mail or Priority Mail Prices

3.8 ZIP Code Accuracy

3.9 Move Update Standard

4.0 Price Eligibility for Standard Mail

4.1 General Information

4.2 Minimum Per Piece Prices

4.3 Piece/Pound Prices

5.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Nonautomation Standard Mail Letters

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Weight Standards for Machinable Pieces

5.3 Price Application

5.4 Machinable Price Application

5.5 Nonmachinable Price Application

6.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail Letters

6.1 General Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

6.2 Carrier Route Accuracy

6.3 Basic Price Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

6.4 High Density Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

6.5 Saturation ECR Standards

7.0 Eligibility Standards for Automation Standard Mail

7.1 Basic Eligibility Standards for Automation Standard Mail

7.2 Additional Eligibility Standards for Full-Service Automation Standard Mail Letters

7.3 Maximum Weight for Automation Letters

7.4 Price Application for Automation Letters

7.5 Address Standards for Barcoded Pieces

7.6 Enclosed Reply Cards and Envelopes

7.7 Discount for Heavy Automation Letters

8.0 Incentive Programs for Standard Mail Letters

8.1 General Description

8.2 Saturation and High Density Incentive Program

244
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted and Enhanced Carrier Route Letters

2.1 Identical-Weight Pieces

2.2 Nonidentical-Weight Pieces

2.3 Combined Price

3.0 Postage Payment for Automation Letters

3.1 All Pieces

3.2 Adding Additional Postage

3.3 Nondenominated Precanceled Stamps

3.4 Precanceled Stamps in Lower Price Denominations

3.5 Mixed Price Mailing Documentation

4.0 Mailing Documentation

4.1 Completing Postage Statements

4.2 Basic Documentation Standards

4.3 Documentation Standards for Automation Mailings

4.4 Documentation Submission—Full-Service Intelligent Mail Automation Option

4.5 Preparing Documentation

4.6 Multiple Standards

4.7 Standard Format for Documentation

4.8 Providing Additional Information

4.9 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

4.10 Facsimile Postage Statements

5.0 Residual Pieces

5.1 Residual Standard Mail Subject to First-Class Mail Prices

5.2 Residual Standard Mail Subject to Priority Mail Prices

245
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Definition of Presort Process

1.2 Definition of Mailings

1.3 Terms for Presort Levels

1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.3 Preparing Bundles

2.4 Securing Bundles

2.5 Exception to Bundle Preparation—Full Single-Sort-Level Trays

2.6 Pieces With Simplified Address

2.7 Bundles With Fewer Than the Minimum Number of Pieces Required

2.8 Labeling Bundles

2.9 Use of Carrier Route Information Lines

2.10 Facing Slips—All Carrier Route Mail

3.0 Letter Trays

3.1 Standard Containers

3.2 Tray Sizes

3.3 Letter Tray Preparation

3.4 Tray Sleeving and Strapping

3.5 Strapping Exception

3.6 Origin/Entry 3-Digit/Scheme Trays

4.0 Tray Labels

4.1 Basic Standards

4.2 Physical Characteristics of Tray Labels

4.3 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.4 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.5 Line 3 (Office of Mailing or Mailer Information Line)

4.6 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.7 Placement of Extraneous Information

4.8 Placement of Tray Label

4.9 Barcoded Tray Labels

5.0 Preparing Nonautomation Letters

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Marking

5.3 Machinable Preparation

5.4 Nonmachinable Preparation

6.0 Preparing Enhanced Carrier Route Letters

6.1 Basic Standards

6.2 Marking

6.3 Residual Pieces

6.4 Carrier Route Bundle Preparation

6.5 Bundles and Trays With Fewer Than the Minimum Number of Pieces Required

6.6 General Traying and Labeling

6.7 Traying and Labeling for Automation-Compatible ECR Letters

6.8 Delivery Sequence Standards

6.9 Delivery Sequence Documentation

7.0 Preparing Automation Letters

7.1 Basic Standards

7.2 Mailings

7.3 Marking

7.4 General Preparation

7.5 Tray Preparation

7.6 Tray Line 2

7.7 Presentation

246
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Presenting a Mailing

1.1 Basic Standards for Standard Mail Deposit

1.2 Separation of Mailings

2.0 Destination Entry

2.1 General

2.2 Minimum Volume

2.3 Postage Payment and Documentation

2.4 Plant Loads

2.5 Verification

2.6 Deposit

3.0 Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Entry

3.1 Definition

3.2 Eligibility

3.3 Eligibility for ADC or AADC Mailpieces

3.4 Eligibility for Mixed ADC Bundles, Trays, or Mixed AADC Trays

3.5 Vehicles

3.6 Form 4410

4.0 Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) Entry

4.1 Definition

4.2 Eligibility

4.3 Vehicles

5.0 Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Entry

5.1 Definition

5.2 Eligibility

301
Physical Standards

1.0 Physical Standards for Flats

1.1 General Definition of Flat Size Mail

1.2 Length and Height of Flats

1.3 Minimum Flexibility for Flat-Size Pieces

1.4 Uniform Thickness

1.5 Polywrap Coverings

1.6 Maximum Deflection for Flat-Size Mailpieces

1.7 Flat-Size Pieces Not Eligible for Flat-Size Prices

1.8 Labels, Stickers, and Release Cards

1.9 Catalogs

2.0 Physical Standards for Nonautomation Flats

2.1 First-Class Mail

2.2 Standard Mail

2.3 Bound Printed Matter

2.4 Media Mail

2.5 Library Mail

2.6 Express Mail, Priority Mail, and Critical Mail Flats

3.0 Physical Standards for Automation Flats

3.1 Basic Standards for Automation Flats

3.2 Additional Criteria for Automation Flats

3.3 Prohibitions

3.4 Tabs, Wafer Seals, Tape, and Glue

3.5 Uniformity and Exterior Format

302
Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece

1.0 All Mailpieces

1.1 Clear Space

1.2 Delivery and Return Address

1.3 Postage Payment

2.0 Address Placement

2.1 Basic Standards

2.2 Address Placement on Enveloped or Polywrapped Pieces

2.3 Address Placement on Bound or Folded Pieces

2.4 Type Size and Line Spacing

3.0 Placement and Content of Mail Markings

3.1 Express Mail, Priority Mail, and Critical Mail Markings

3.2 First-Class Mail and Standard Mail Markings

3.3 Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail Markings

3.4 Enclosures

3.5 Printing and Designs

3.6 Marking Hazardous Materials

4.0 Placement and Physical Standards for Endorsements

4.1 Endorsements for Delivery Instructions and Ancillary Services

4.2 Return Address

4.3 Placement of Endorsements

4.4 Physical Standards for Endorsements

5.0 Barcode Placement

5.1 General Barcode Placement for Flats

5.2 Applying One Barcode

5.3 Applying Second Barcode

5.4 5-Digit and ZIP+4 Barcodes

5.5 DPBC Numeric Equivalent

5.6 Barcode in Address Block

5.7 Window Cover

310

313
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees

1.1 Prices Charged Per Piece

1.2 Price Application

1.3 Commercial Base Prices

1.4 Commercial Plus Prices

1.5 Flat Rate Envelopes

1.6 Sunday and Holiday Premium

1.7 Pickup on Demand

1.8 Delivery Stop

1.9 Determining Single-Piece Weight

2.0 Content Standards for Express Mail

2.1 General

2.2 Matter Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

3.0 Basic Standards for Express Mail

3.1 Definition

3.2 Matter Closed Against Postal Inspection

4.0 Service Features of Express Mail

4.1 General

4.2 Express Mail Next Day Delivery

4.3 Express Mail Second Day Delivery

4.4 Express Mail Custom Designed

4.5 Express Mail Military Service (EMMS)

4.6 Drop Shipment

314
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment Options

1.1 Commercial Base Pricing

1.2 Commercial Plus Pricing

2.0 Corporate Accounts

2.1 Availability

2.2 Account

2.3 Postage Liability

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Express Mail Packaging Provided by the USPS

1.2 Price Marking

2.0 Express Mail Next Day and Second Day

2.1 Mailing Label

2.2 Waiver of Signature

2.3 ZIP Code Determination

3.0 Express Mail Custom Designed

3.1 Forms

3.2 Waiver of Signature

3.3 Pouches

4.0 Firm Mailing Book

316
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Express Mail Next Day and Second Day Delivery

2.0 Express Mail Custom Designed

3.0 Express Mail Military Service

4.0 Pickup on Demand Service

4.1 Availability

4.2 Pickup on Demand Fee

320

323
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Commercial Base Prices

1.3 Commercial Plus Prices

1.4 Critical Mail Prices

1.5 Flat Rate Envelopes-Basic Standards

1.6 Hold For Pickup

1.7 Pickup on Demand Fee

1.8 Determining Single-Piece Weight

1.9 Computing Postage

2.0 Content Standards for Priority Mail

2.1 General

2.2 Matter Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

3.0 Basic Standards for Priority Mail

3.1 Definition

3.2 Additional Standards for Critical Mail Flats

3.3 Service Objectives

3.4 Matter Closed Against Postal Inspection

324
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

1.2 Affixing Postage—Single-Piece Mailings

2.0 Postage Paid With Permit Imprint

2.1 Advance Deposit Account

2.2 Minimum Quantity

2.3 Postage Statement

325
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Priority Mail Packaging Provided by the USPS

1.2 Required Use of Return Address

2.0 Markings

3.0 Preparation of Permit Imprint Mailings

3.1 Identical Weight Pieces

3.2 Nonidentical Weight Pieces

4.0 Additional Standards for Preparing Critical Mail Flats

4.1 Preparing Critical Mail Flats in Trays

4.2 Postage for Critical Mail and Priority Mail

326
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Deposit

1.1 General

1.2 Stamped Pieces

2.0 Pickup on Demand Service

330

333
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees for First-Class Mail

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Price Computation for First-Class Mail Flats

1.3 Presorted and Automation Prices for Flats

1.4 Presort Mailing Fee

1.5 Computing Postage for First-Class Mail

1.6 Determining Single-Piece Weight

2.0 Content Standards for First-Class Mail Flats

2.1 General

2.2 Bills and Statements of Account

2.3 Personal Information

2.4 Handwritten and Typewritten Material

2.5 Matter Not Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

2.6 Prohibited Air Transportation

3.0 Eligibility Standards for First-Class Mail Flats

3.1 Description of Service

3.2 Defining Characteristics

3.3 Additional Basic Standards for First-Class Mail

3.4 Presort Mailing Fee

3.5 Move Update Standards

3.6 ZIP Code Accuracy

4.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Nonautomation First-Class Mail Flats

4.1 Basic Standards for Nonautomation First-Class Mail

4.2 Barcodes on Nonautomation First-Class Mail

4.3 Nonmachinable Flat-Size Pieces

5.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Automation First-Class Mail Flats

5.1 Basic Standards for Automation First-Class Mail

5.2 Eligibility Standards for Full-Service Automation First-Class Mail Flats

5.3 Price Application—Bundle-Based Flats

5.4 Price Application—Tray-Based Flats

5.5 Address Standards for Barcoded Pieces

5.6 Reply Cards and Envelopes Enclosed in Automation Price First-Class Mail

334
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted Flats

2.1 Payment Methods for Presorted Prices

2.2 Affixed Postage for Presorted First-Class Mail

2.3 Additional Postage

3.0 Postage Payment for Automation Flats

3.1 Payment Methods

3.2 Affixing Postage for Automation Price First-Class Mail

3.3 Nondenominated Precanceled Stamps

3.4 Lower Denomination Precanceled Stamps

3.5 Postage Affixed at Lowest Price to All Pieces

4.0 Mailing Documentation

4.1 Completing Postage Statements

4.2 Basic Documentation Standards

4.3 Documentation Standards for Automation Mailings

4.4 Documentation Submission—Full-Service Automation Option

4.5 Preparing Documentation

4.6 Multiple Standards

4.7 Standard Format for Documentation

4.8 Providing Additional Information

4.9 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

4.10 Facsimile Postage Statements

335
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Definition of Terms

1.1 Definition of Presort Process

1.2 Definition of Mailings

1.3 Terms for Presort Levels

1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.3 Preparing Bundles of Pieces of Nonuniform Thickness ("Counterstacking")

2.4 Securing Bundles

2.5 Exception to Bundle Preparation—Full Single-Sort-Level Trays

2.6 Pieces With Simplified Address

2.7 Bundles With Fewer Than the Minimum Number of Pieces Required

2.8 Labeling Bundles

3.0 Flat Trays

3.1 Presort

3.2 Standard Containers

3.3 Flat Tray and Letter Tray Sizes

3.4 Preparation for Flats in Flat Trays

3.5 Preparation for Flats in EMM Letter Trays

3.6 Origin/Entry 3-Digit/Scheme Trays

4.0 Tray Labels

4.1 Basic Standards

4.2 Physical Characteristics of a Tray Label

4.3 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.4 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.5 Line 3 (Office of Mailing or Mailer Information Line)

4.6 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.7 Placement of Extraneous Information

4.8 Placement of a Tray Label

4.9 Barcoded Tray Labels

5.0 Preparation of Nonautomation Flats

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Single-Piece Price Pieces Presented With Presort Mailings

5.3 Nonautomation Pieces

5.4 Bundling and Labeling

5.5 Traying and Labeling

5.6 Cotraying and Cobundling With Automation Price Mail

6.0 Preparation of Automation Flats

6.1 Basic Standards

6.2 Mailings

6.3 Marking

6.4 General Preparation

6.5 First-Class Mail Required Bundle-Based Preparation

6.6 First-Class Mail Optional Tray-Based Preparation

6.7 5-Digit Scheme Bundle Preparation

6.8 Cotraying and Cobundling With Presorted Price Mail

336
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Deposit

1.1 Service Objectives

1.2 Time and Location of Deposit

1.3 Approved Collections

1.4 Permit Imprint Collection

2.0 Verification

2.1 USPS Verification and Mailer Correction

2.2 Timeframe for Corrective Action

2.3 Payment at Single-Piece Price Rather than Correcting Errors

340

343
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees for Standard Mail

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Standard Mail Price Application

1.3 Regular and Nonprofit Standard Mail—Presorted, Enhanced Carrier Route, and Automation Prices

1.4 Fees

1.5 Computing Postage — Standard Mail

2.0 Content Standards for Standard Mail Flats

2.1 Definition and Weight

2.2 Personal Information

2.3 Bills and Statements of Account

2.4 Handwritten and Typewritten Matter

2.5 Attachments and Enclosures

2.6 Written Additions

3.0 Basic Standards for Standard Mail Flats

3.1 Description of Service

3.2 Defining Characteristics

3.3 Additional Basic Standards for Standard Mail

3.4 Presort Mailing Fees

3.5 Merging Similar Standard Mailings

3.6 Residual Volume Requirement

3.7 Residual Mail Subject to First-Class Mail or Priority Mail Prices

3.8 ZIP Code Accuracy

3.9 Move Update Standard

4.0 Price Eligibility for Standard Mail

4.1 General Information

4.2 Minimum Per Piece Prices

4.3 Piece/Pound Prices

4.4 Shape, Flexibility, and Uniform Thickness

5.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Nonautomation Standard Mail Flats

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Price Application

5.3 5-Digit Prices for Flats

5.4 3-Digit Prices for Flats

5.5 ADC Prices for Flats

5.6 Mixed ADC Prices for Flats

6.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail Flats

6.1 General Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

6.2 Carrier Route Code Accuracy

6.3 Basic Price Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

6.4 High Density Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

6.5 Saturation Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

7.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Automation Standard Mail Flats

7.1 Basic Eligibility Standards for Automation Standard Mail

7.2 Eligibility Standards for Full-Service Automation Standard Mail Flats

7.3 Price Application

7.4 Address Standards for Barcoded Pieces

7.5 Enclosed Reply Cards and Envelopes

8.0 Incentive Programs for Standard Mail Flats

8.1 General Description

8.2 Saturation and High Density Incentive Program

344
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted and Enhanced Carrier Route Flats

2.1 Identical-Weight Pieces

2.2 Nonidentical-Weight Pieces

2.3 Combined Price

3.0 Postage Payment for Automation Flats

3.1 All Pieces

3.2 Adding Additional Postage

3.3 Nondenominated Precanceled Stamps

3.4 Precanceled Stamps at Lower Denominations

3.5 Mixed Price Mailing Documentation

4.0 Mailing Documentation

4.1 Completing Postage Statements

4.2 Basic Documentation Standards

4.3 Documentation Standards for Automation Mailings

4.4 Documentation Submission—Full-Service Automation Option

4.5 Preparing Documentation

4.6 Multiple Standards

4.7 Standard Format for Documentation

4.8 Providing Additional Information

4.9 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

4.10 Facsimile Postage Statements

5.0 Residual Pieces

5.1 Residual Standard Mail Subject to First-Class Mail Prices

5.2 Residual Standard Mail Subject to Priority Mail Prices

345
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Definition of Presort Process

1.2 Definition of Mailings

1.3 Terms for Presort Levels

1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

1.5 Optional Containerization

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Address Visibility

2.3 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.4 Preparing Bundles of Pieces of Nonuniform Thickness ("Counterstacking")

2.5 Securing Bundles

2.6 Preparing Bundles in Sacks

2.7 Additional Standards for Unsacked Bundles Entered at DDU Facilities

2.8 Exception to Bundle Preparation—Full Single-Sort-Level Trays

2.9 Pieces With Simplified Address

2.10 Bundles With Fewer Than the Minimum Number of Pieces Required

2.11 Labeling Bundles

2.12 Use of Carrier Route Information Lines

2.13 Facing Slips—All Carrier Route Mail

3.0 Sacks and Trays

3.1 Standard Containers

3.2 Sack Preparation

3.3 Tray Sizes

3.4 Preparing Flats in Letter Trays

3.5 Tray Sleeving and Strapping

3.6 Strapping Exception

3.7 Origin/Entry 3-Digit Sacks

4.0 Sack and Tray Labels

4.1 Basic Standards

4.2 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.3 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.4 Line 3 (Office of Mailing or Mailer Information Line)

4.5 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.6 Placement of Extraneous Information

4.7 Sack Label

4.8 Tray Labels

4.9 Use of Barcoded Sack and Tray Labels

5.0 Preparing Nonautomation Flats

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Required Bundling

5.3 Bundling and Labeling

5.4 Loose Packing

5.5 Required Sacking or Traying

5.6 Drop Shipment

5.7 Sacking and Labeling

5.8 Cotraying and Cobundling Flats With Automation Mail

5.9 Merged Containerization of Carrier Route, Automation, and Nonautomation Flats

6.0 Preparing Enhanced Carrier Route Flats

6.1 Basic Standards

6.2 Residual Pieces

6.3 Carrier Route Bundle Preparation

6.4 Bundles, Trays, and Sacks With Fewer Than the Minimum Number of Pieces Required

6.5 Multi Carrier Routes Bundle

6.6 Required Sack Minimums

6.7 Sack Preparation

6.8 Merged Containerization of Carrier Route, Automation, and Presorted Price Flats

6.9 Delivery Sequence Standards

6.10 Delivery Sequence Documentation

7.0 Preparing Automation Flats

7.1 Basic Standards

7.2 Mailings

7.3 Marking

7.4 Standard Mail Bundle Preparation

7.5 Scheme Bundle Preparation

7.6 Merged Containerization With Presorted and Carrier Route Flats

7.7 Exception—Automation and Nonautomation Pieces on Pallets

346
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Presenting a Mailing

1.1 Basic Standards for Standard Mail Deposit

1.2 Separation of Mailing

2.0 Destination Entry

2.1 General

2.2 Minimum Volume

2.3 Postage Payment and Documentation

2.4 Plant Loads

2.5 Verification

2.6 Deposit

3.0 Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Entry

3.1 Definition

3.2 Eligibility

3.3 Eligibility for ADC Mailpieces

3.4 Eligibility for Mixed ADC Bundles, Sacks or Trays

3.5 Vehicles

3.6 Form 4410

4.0 Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) Entry

4.1 Definition

4.2 Eligibility

4.3 Vehicles

5.0 Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Entry

5.1 Definition

5.2 Eligibility

360

363
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees for Bound Printed Matter

1.1 Nonpresorted Bound Printed Matter

1.2 Commercial Bound Printed Matter

2.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Bound Printed Matter

2.1 Service Objectives

2.2 Postal Inspection

2.3 Delivery and Return Addresses

3.0 Content Standards for Bound Printed Matter Flats

3.1 Basic Content Standards

3.2 Attachments or Enclosures of Periodicals Sample Copies

3.3 Attachments and Enclosures

3.4 Written Additions

4.0 Price Eligibility for Bound Printed Matter Flats

4.1 Price Eligibility

4.2 Nonidentical Weight Pieces

4.3 ZIP Code Accuracy

5.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Presorted and Carrier Route Bound Printed Matter Flats

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Additional Standards for Carrier Route Bound Printed Matter

5.3 Full-Service Intelligent Mail Eligibility Standards for Carrier Route Flats

5.4 Carrier Route Accuracy

6.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Barcoded Bound Printed Matter Flats

6.1 Basic Eligibility Standards for Barcoded Bound Printed Matter

6.2 Eligibility Standards for Full-Service Automation Bound Printed Matter Flats

6.3 Weight Standard

6.4 Address Standards for Barcode Discount

364
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

1.2 Minimum Volume Requirements

2.0 Mailing Documentation

2.1 Completing Postage Statements

2.2 Basic Documentation Standards

2.3 Documentation for Nonpresorted, Nonidentical-Weight Mailpieces

2.4 Documentation Submission—Full-Service Automation Option

2.5 Preparing Documentation

2.6 Multiple Standards

2.7 Standard Format for Documentation

2.8 Providing Additional Information

2.9 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

2.10 Facsimile Postage Statements

365
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Basic Preparation—Nonpresorted

1.2 Definition of Presort Process

1.3 Definition of Mailings

1.4 Terms for Presort Levels

1.5 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Address Visibility

2.3 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.4 Preparing Bundles of Pieces of Nonuniform Thickness ("Counterstacking")

2.5 Securing Bundles

2.6 Preparing Bundles

2.7 Additional Standards for Unsacked Bundles Entered at DDU Facilities

2.8 Bundle Sizes

2.9 Pieces With Simplified Addresses

2.10 Labeling Bundles

2.11 Use of Carrier Route Information Lines

2.12 Facing Slips—All Carrier Route Mail

4.2 Physical Characteristics of a Sack Label

4.3 Additional Standards for Barcoded Sack Labels

4.4 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.5 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.6 Line 3 (Office of Mailing or Mailer Information Line)

4.7 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.8 Placement of Extraneous Information

4.9 Basic Standards for Barcoded Sack Labels

5.0 Preparing Presorted Flats

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Bundling

5.3 Sacking

6.0 Preparing Carrier Route Flats

6.1 Basic Standards

6.2 Required Bundling

6.3 Sacking

7.0 Preparing Barcoded Flats

7.5 Mixed Price Preparation

366
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Deposit of Nonpresorted Bound Printed Matter

1.1 Nonpresorted Mailings

2.0 Presenting a Mailing

2.1 Verification and Entry—Presorted, Carrier Route, Destination Entry, and Barcoded Mailings

2.2 Verification and Entry—Nonpresorted Mailings

2.3 Office of Mailing

2.4 Redirected Mailings

2.5 NDC Acceptance

2.6 Drop Shipment Information

3.0 Destination Entry

3.7 Mailings of Unsacked Bundles

3.8 Verification

3.9 Deposit

4.0 Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Entry

4.1 Eligibility

4.2 Presorted Flats

4.3 Carrier Route Flats

5.0 Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) Entry

5.1 Eligibility

5.2 Presorted Flats

5.3 Carrier Route Flats

6.0 Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Entry

6.1 Eligibility

6.2 Presorted Flats

6.3 Carrier Route Flats

370

373
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees for Media Mail

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Media Mail Price Application

1.3 Shape, Flexibility, and Thickness

1.4 Media Mail Presorted Prices

1.5 Mailing Fee

1.6 Computing Postage for Media Mail

2.0 Content Standards for Media Mail Flats

2.1 General

2.2 Content Standards

2.3 Postal Inspection

2.4 Attachments and Enclosures

2.5 Written Additions

3.0 Price Eligibility for Media Mail Flats

3.1 Basic Weight Standards

3.2 Price Eligibility Standards

3.3 Delivery and Return Addresses

3.4 Price Categories for Media Mail

374
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

2.0 Mailing Documentation

2.1 Completing Postage Statements

2.2 Basic Documentation Standards

2.3 Preparing Documentation

2.4 Multiple Standards

2.5 Providing Additional Information

2.6 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

2.7 Facsimile Postage Statements

375
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Definition of Presort Process

1.2 Definition of Mailings

1.3 Terms for Presort Levels

1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Address Visibility

2.3 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.4 Preparing Bundles of Pieces of Nonuniform Thickness ("Counterstacking")

2.5 Securing Bundles

2.6 Preparing Bundles

2.7 Bundle Sizes

2.8 Other Bundle Sizes

4.2 Physical Characteristics of a Sack Label

4.3 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.4 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.5 Line 3 (Office of Mailing or Mailer Information Line)

4.6 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.7 Placement of Extraneous Information

5.0 Preparing Presorted Flats

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Bundling

5.3 Sacking

376
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Verification and Deposit

1.1 Verification and Entry

380

383
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees for Library Mail

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Library Mail Price Application

1.3 Shape, Flexibility, and Thickness

1.4 Library Mail Presorted Prices

1.5 Mailing Fee

1.6 Computing Postage for Library Mail

2.0 Content Standards for Library Mail Flats

2.1 General

2.2 Sender and Recipient Qualifications

2.3 Content Standards for Mailings Between Entities

2.4 Qualified Mailings "To" or "From"

2.5 Postal Inspection

2.6 Attachments and Enclosures

2.7 Written Additions

3.0 Price Eligibility for Library Mail Flats

3.1 Basic Weight Standards

3.2 Price Eligibility Standards

3.3 Delivery and Return Addresses

3.4 Price Categories for Library Mail

384
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

2.0 Mailing Documentation

2.1 Completing Postage Statements

2.2 Basic Documentation Standards

2.3 Preparing Documentation

2.4 Multiple Standards

2.5 Providing Additional Information

2.6 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

2.7 Facsimile Postage Statements

385
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Definition of Presort Process

1.2 Definition of Mailings

1.3 Terms for Presort Levels

1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Address Visibility

2.3 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.4 Preparing Bundles of Pieces of Nonuniform Thickness ("Counterstacking")

2.5 Securing Bundles

2.6 Preparing Bundles

2.7 Bundle Sizes

2.8 Other Bundle Sizes

4.2 Physical Characteristics of a Sack Label

4.3 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.4 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.5 Line 3 (Office of mailing or Mailer Information Line)

4.6 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.7 Placement of Extraneous Information

5.0 Preparing Presorted Flats

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Bundling

5.3 Sacking

386
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Verification and Deposit

1.1 Verification and Entry

401
Physical Standards

1.0 Physical Standards for Parcels

1.1 Processing Categories

1.2 Minimum Size

1.3 Maximum Weight and Size

1.4 Two or More Packages

1.5 Machinable Parcels

1.6 Irregular Parcel

1.7 Outside Parcel

2.0 Additional Physical Standards by Class of Mail

2.1 Express Mail

2.2 Priority Mail

2.3 First-Class Mail Parcels

2.4 Standard Mail Parcels and Not Flat-Machinable Pieces

2.5 Parcel Select

2.6 Bound Printed Matter Parcels

402
Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece

1.0 All Mailpieces

1.1 Clear Space

1.2 Delivery and Return Address

1.3 Postage Payment

2.0 Placement and Content of Markings

2.1 Express Mail and Priority Mail Markings

2.2 Priority Mail Commercial Plus Cubic Markings—PC Postage Indicia

2.3 Priority Mail Commercial Plus Cubic Markings—Permit Imprint

2.4 First-Class Mail and Standard Mail Markings

2.5 Parcel Select, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail Markings

2.6 Enclosures

2.7 Printing and Designs

2.8 Marking Hazardous Materials

3.0 Placement and Physical Standards for Endorsements

3.1 Endorsements for Delivery Instructions and Ancillary Services

3.2 Return Address

3.3 Placement of Endorsements

3.4 Physical Standards for Endorsements

4.0 General Barcode Placement for Parcels

4.1 GS1-128 Routing Barcode or Intelligent Mail Package Barcode Location

4.2 Clear Zone for GS1-128 Routing Barcode or Intelligent Mail Package Barcode

4.3 POSTNET Barcodes, GS1-128 Routing Barcodes and Intelligent Mail Package Barcodes

410

413
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees

1.1 Prices Charged Per Piece

1.2 Price Application

1.3 Commercial Base Prices

1.4 Commercial Plus Prices

1.5 Flat Rate Envelopes

1.6 Sunday and Holiday Premium

1.7 Pickup on Demand

1.8 Delivery Stop

1.9 Determining Single-Piece Weight

2.0 Content Standards for Express Mail

2.1 General

2.2 Matter Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

3.0 Basic Standards for Express Mail

3.1 Definition

3.2 Matter Closed Against Postal Inspection

4.0 Service Features of Express Mail

4.1 General

4.2 Express Mail Next Day Delivery

4.3 Express Mail Second Day Delivery

4.4 Express Mail Custom Designed

4.5 Express Mail Military Service (EMMS)

4.6 Drop Shipment

414
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment Options

1.1 Commercial Base Pricing

1.2 Commercial Plus Pricing

2.0 Corporate Accounts

2.1 Availability

2.2 Account

2.3 Postage Liability

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Express Mail Packaging Provided by the USPS

1.2 Price Marking

2.0 Express Mail Next Day and Second Day

2.1 Mailing Label

2.2 Waiver of Signature

2.3 ZIP Code Determination

3.0 Express Mail Custom Designed

3.1 Forms

3.2 Waiver of Signature

3.3 Pouches

4.0 Firm Mailing Book

416
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Express Mail Next Day and Second Day Delivery

2.0 Express Mail Custom Designed

3.0 Express Mail Military Service

4.0 Pickup on Demand Service

4.1 Availability

4.2 Pickup on Demand Fee

420

423
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Commercial Base Prices

1.3 Commercial Plus Prices

1.4 Commercial Plus Cubic

1.5 Balloon Price

1.6 Dimensional Weight Price for Low-Density Parcels to Zones 5-8

1.7 Flat Rate Envelopes and Boxes

1.8 Pickup on Demand Fee

1.9 Hold For Pickup

1.10 Determining Single-Piece Weight

1.11 Computing Postage

2.0 Content Standards for Priority Mail

2.1 General

2.2 Matter Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

3.0 Basic Standards for Priority Mail

3.1 Definition

3.2 Service Objectives

3.3 Matter Closed Against Postal Inspection

424
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

1.2 Affixing Postage—Single-Piece Mailings

2.0 Postage Paid With Permit Imprint

2.1 Advance Deposit Account

2.2 Minimum Quantity

2.3 Postage Statement

425
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Priority Mail Packaging Provided by the USPS

2.3 Price Marking for Commercial Plus Cubic Prices - PC Postage

2.4 Price Marking for Commercial Plus Cubic Prices - Permit Imprint Indicia

3.0 Preparation

3.1 Preparing a Commercial Plus Cubic Mailing

3.2 Preparing a Permit Imprint Mailing

3.3 Payment Method

426
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Time and Location of Deposit

2.0 Pickup on Demand Service

430

433
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees for First-Class Mail

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Price Computation for First-Class Mail Parcels

1.3 Parcel Prices

1.4 Surcharge

1.5 Presort Mailing Fee

1.6 Computing Postage for First-Class Mail

1.7 Determining Single-Piece Weight

2.0 Content Standards for First-Class Mail Parcels

2.1 General

2.2 Bills and Statements of Account

2.3 Personal Information

2.4 Handwritten and Typewritten Material

2.5 Matter Not Required to be Mailed as First-Class Mail

2.6 Prohibited Air Transportation

3.0 Basic Standards for First-Class Mail Parcels

3.1 Description of Service

3.2 Defining Characteristics

3.3 Additional Basic Standards for First-Class Mail

3.4 Presort Mailing Fee

3.5 Move Update Standard

3.6 ZIP Code Accuracy

4.0 Price Eligibility for Presorted First-Class Mail Parcels

4.1 5-Digit Price

4.2 3-Digit Price

4.3 ADC Price

4.4 Single-Piece Price

434
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted Parcels

2.1 Payment Methods for Presorted Prices

2.2 Affixed Postage for Presorted First-Class Mail

2.3 Additional Postage

3.0 Mailing Documentation

3.1 Completing Postage Statements

3.2 Basic Documentation Standards

3.3 Preparing Documentation

3.4 Multiple Standards

3.5 Standard Format for Documentation

3.6 Providing Additional Information

3.7 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

3.8 Facsimile Postage Statements

435
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Definition of Presort Process

1.2 Definition of Mailings

1.3 Terms for Presort Levels

1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

2.0 Sacks

2.1 Presort

2.2 Standard Containers

2.3 Sack Preparation

3.0 Sack Labels

3.1 Basic Standards

3.2 Line 1 (Destination Line)

3.3 Line 2 (Content Line)

3.4 Line 3 (Origin Line)

3.5 Electronic Verification System

3.6 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

3.7 Placement of Extraneous Information

4.0 Preparing Presorted Parcels

4.1 Basic Standards

4.2 Single-Piece Mail Presented With Presorted Mailings

4.3 Bundling

4.4 Sacking and Labeling

436
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Deposit

1.1 Service Objective

1.2 Time and Location of Deposit

1.3 Approved Collections

1.4 Permit Imprint Collection

2.0 Verification

2.1 USPS Verification and Mailer Correction

2.2 Timeframe for Corrective Action

2.3 Payment at Single-Piece Price Rather than Correcting Errors

440

443
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees for Standard Mail

1.1 Standard Mail Price Application

1.2 Regular and Nonprofit Standard Mail—Presorted and Enhanced Carrier Route Prices

1.3 Regular and Nonprofit Standard Mail—Not Flat-Machinable Prices

1.4 Presort MailingFee

1.5 Computing Postage for Standard Mail

2.0 Content Standards for Standard Mail Parcels

2.1 Definition and Weight

2.2 Personal Information

2.3 Bills and Statements of Account

2.4 Handwritten and Typewritten Matter

2.5 Attachments and Enclosures

2.6 Written Additions

3.0 Basic Standards for Standard Mail Parcels

3.1 Description of Service

3.2 Defining Characteristics

3.3 Additional Basic Standards for Standard Mail

3.4 Presort Mailing Fees

3.5 Merging Similar Standard Mailings

3.6 Residual Volume Requirement

3.7 Residual Mail Subject to First-Class Mail or Priority Mail Prices

3.8 ZIP Code Accuracy

3.9 Move Update Standard

4.0 Price Eligibility for Standard Mail

4.1 General Information

4.2 Minimum Per Piece Prices

4.3 Piece/Pound Prices

4.4 Surcharge

4.5 Extra Services for Standard Mail

5.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Presorted Standard Mail Pieces

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Price Application

5.3 Prices for Machinable Parcels

5.4 Prices for Irregular Parcels and Not Flat-Machinable (NFM) Pieces

6.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail Parcels

6.1 General Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

6.2 Carrier Route Accuracy

6.3 Basic Price Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

6.4 High Density Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

6.5 Saturation Enhanced Carrier Route Standards

444
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted and Enhanced Carrier Route Parcels

2.1 Identical-Weight Pieces

2.2 Nonidentical-Weight Pieces

2.3 Combined Price

3.0 Mailing Documentation

3.1 Completing Postage Statements

3.2 Basic Documentation Standards

3.3 Preparing Documentation

3.4 Multiple Standards

3.5 Standard Format for Documentation

3.6 Providing Additional Information

3.7 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

3.8 Facsimile Postage Statements

4.0 Residual Pieces

4.1 Postage Payment for Ineligible Standard Mail

4.2 Postage Payment for Barcoded Machinable Parcels

445
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Definition of Presort Process

1.2 Definition of Mailings

1.3 Terms for Presort Levels

1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Address Visibility

2.3 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.4 Preparing Bundles of Pieces of Nonuniform Thickness ("Counterstacking")

2.5 Securing Bundles

2.6 Preparing Bundles in Sacks

2.7 Pieces With Simplified Address

2.8 Bundles With Fewer Than the Minimum Number of Pieces Required

2.9 Labeling Bundles

2.10 Use of Carrier Route Information Lines

2.11 Facing Slips—All Carrier Route Mail

3.0 Sacks

3.1 Standard Containers

3.2 Sack Preparation

4.0 Sack Labels

4.1 Basic Standards

4.2 Physical Characteristics of a Sack Label

4.3 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.4 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.5 Line 3 (Origin Line)

4.6 Electronic Verification System

4.7 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.8 Placement of Extraneous Information

5.0 Preparing Presorted Parcels

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Markings

5.3 Preparing Machinable Parcels

5.4 Preparing Irregular Parcels

6.0 Preparing Not Flat-Machinable Pieces

6.1 Basic Standards

6.2 Bundling

6.3 Sacking and Labeling

7.0 Preparing Enhanced Carrier Route Parcels

7.5 Preparing Irregular Parcels

7.6 Delivery Sequence Standards

7.7 Delivery Sequence Documentation

446
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Presenting a Mailing

1.1 Basic Standards for Standard Mail Deposit

1.2 Separation of Mailings

2.0 Destination Entry

2.1 General

2.2 Minimum Volume

2.3 Postage Payment and Documentation

2.4 Plant Loads

2.5 Verification

2.6 Deposit

3.0 Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Entry

3.1 Definition

3.2 Eligibility

3.3 Additional Standards for Machinable Parcels

3.4 Vehicles

3.5 Form 4410

4.0 Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) Entry

4.1 Definition

4.2 Eligibility

4.3 Vehicles

5.0 Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Entry

5.1 Definition

5.2 Eligibility

450

453
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Parcel Select Prices

1.3 Annual Mailing Fee

1.4 Computing Postage

2.0 Content Standards

2.1 Definition of Parcel Select

2.2 Basic Content Standards

2.3 Attachments or Enclosures of Periodicals Sample Copies

2.4 Postal Inspection

2.5 Attachments and Enclosures

2.6 Written Additions

3.0 Price Eligibility for Parcel Select

3.1 Destination Entry Price Eligibility

3.2 Parcel Select NDC and ONDC Presort Price Eligibility

3.3 Parcel Select Barcoded Nonpresort Price Eligibility

3.4 Oversized Price

3.5 Balloon Price

3.6 Delivery and Return Addresses

3.7 Hold For Pickup

454
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

1.2 NDC as Agent

1.3 Completing Postage Statements

1.4 Documentation

1.5 Basic Documentation Standards

1.6 Preparing Documentation

1.7 Multiple Standards

1.8 Providing Additional Information

1.9 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

1.10 Facsimile Postage Statements

455
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Basic Standards

1.2 Definition of Presort Process

1.3 Definition of Mailings

1.4 Terms for Presort Level

1.5 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

1.6 Separation

1.7 Commingled Zones

1.8 Parcel Select Markings

3.2 Physical Characteristics of a Sack Label

3.3 Line 1 (Destination Line)

3.4 Line 2 (Content Line)

3.5 Line 3 (Origin Line)

3.6 Electronic Verification System

3.7 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

3.8 Placement of Extraneous Information

4.0 Preparing Destination Entry Parcel Select

4.1 Preparing Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Parcel Select

4.2 Preparing Destination SCF (DSCF) Parcel Select

4.3 Preparing Destination NDC (DNDC) Parcel Select

5.0 Preparing NDC Presort and ONDC Presort Parcel Select

5.1 Definitions

5.2 Basic Standards

6.0 Preparing Barcoded Machinable Parcels

6.1 Definition

6.2 Basic Standards

6.3 Sacking and Labeling

456
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Verification

1.1 Verification and Entry

1.2 Office of Mailing

1.3 Redirected Mailings

1.4 NDC Acceptance

1.5 Drop Shipment Information

2.0 Deposit

2.1 Bedloaded Parcels

2.2 Mailer Transport

2.3 Freight

2.4 Mail Separation and Presentation

2.5 NDC as Agent

2.6 Appointments

2.7 Exception to Scheduling Standard

2.8 Redirection by USPS

2.9 Advance Scheduling

2.10 Deposit Conditions

2.11 Recurring Appointments

2.12 Vehicle Unloading

2.13 Demurrage

2.14 Appeals

2.15 Documentation

2.16 Acceptance at Designated SCF-USPS Benefit

2.17 Acceptance at Designated SCF

460

463
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees for Bound Printed Matter

1.1 Nonpresorted Bound Printed Matter

1.2 Commercial Bound Printed Matter

2.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Bound Printed Matter

2.1 Service Objectives

2.2 Postal Inspection

2.3 Delivery and Return Addresses

3.0 Content Standards for Bound Printed Matter Parcels

3.1 Basic Content Standards

3.2 Attachments or Enclosures of Periodicals Sample Copies

3.3 Attachments and Enclosures

3.4 Written Additions

4.0 Price Eligibility for Bound Printed Matter Parcels

4.1 Price Eligibility

4.2 Nonidentical Weight Pieces

4.3 ZIP Code Accuracy

5.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Presorted and Carrier Route Bound Printed Matter Parcels

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Carrier Route Accuracy

464
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

1.2 Minimum Volume Requirements

2.0 Mailing Documentation

2.1 Completing Postage Statements

2.2 Basic Documentation Standards

2.3 Documentation for Nonpresorted, Nonidentical-Weight Mailpieces

2.4 Preparing Documentation

2.5 Multiple Standards

2.6 Providing Additional Information

2.7 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

2.8 Facsimile Postage Statements

465
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Basic Preparation—Nonpresorted

1.2 Definition of Presort Process

1.3 Definition of Mailings

1.4 Terms for Presort Levels

1.5 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Address Visibility

2.3 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.4 Preparing Bundles of Pieces of Nonuniform Thickness ("Counterstacking")

2.5 Securing Bundles

2.6 Bundle Sizes

2.7 Additional Standards for Unsacked Bundles Entered at DDU Facilities

2.8 Pieces With Simplified Addresses

2.9 Labeling Bundles

2.10 Use of Carrier Route Information Lines

2.11 Facing Slips-All Carrier Route Mail

4.2 Physical Characteristics of a Sack Label

4.3 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.4 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.5 Line 3 (Origin Line)

4.6 Electronic Verification System

4.7 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.8 Placement of Extraneous Information

5.0 Preparing Presorted Parcels

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Preparing Irregular Parcels Weighing Less Than 10 Pounds

5.3 Preparing Irregular Parcels Weighing 10 Pounds or More

5.4 Preparing Machinable Parcels Not Claiming DNDC Prices

5.5 Preparing Machinable Parcels Claiming DNDC Prices

6.0 Preparing Carrier Route Parcels

6.1 Basic Standards

6.2 Preparing Irregular Parcels Weighing Less Than 10 Pounds

6.3 Preparing Irregular Parcels Weighing 10 Pounds or More

6.4 Preparing Machinable Parcels

7.0 Standards for Barcode Discounts

7.1 Standards for Barcoded Mail

466
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Deposit of Nonpresorted Bound Printed Matter

1.1 Nonpresorted Mailings

2.0 Presenting a Mailing

2.1 Verification and Entry—Presorted, Carrier Route, Destination Entry, and Barcoded Mailings

2.2 Verification and Entry—Nonpresorted Mailings

2.3 Office of Mailing

2.4 Redirected Mailings

2.5 NDC Acceptance

2.6 Drop Shipment Information

3.0 Destination Entry

3.7 Mailings of Unsacked Bundles

3.8 Verification

3.9 Deposit

4.0 Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Entry

4.1 Eligibility

4.2 Acceptance at Designated SCF—Mailer Benefit

4.3 Presorted Machinable Parcels

4.4 Presorted Irregular Parcels

4.5 Carrier Route Machinable Parcels

4.6 Carrier Route Irregular Parcels

5.0 Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) Entry

5.1 Eligibility

5.2 Presorted Machinable Parcels

5.3 Presorted Irregular Parcels

5.4 Carrier Route Machinable Parcels

5.5 Carrier Route Irregular Parcels

6.0 Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Entry

6.1 Eligibility

6.2 Presorted Machinable Parcels

6.3 Presorted Irregular Parcels

6.4 Carrier Route Machinable Parcels

6.5 Carrier Route Irregular Parcels

470

473
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Media Mail Prices and Fees

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Media Mail Price Application

1.3 Media Mail Presorted Prices

1.4 Mailing Fee

1.5 Computing Postage for Media Mail

2.0 Content Standards for Media Mail Parcels

2.1 General

2.2 Content Standards

2.3 Postal Inspection

2.4 Attachments and Enclosures

2.5 Written Additions

3.0 Price Eligibility for Media Mail Parcels

3.1 Basic Weight Standards

3.2 Price Eligibility Standards

3.3 Delivery and Return Addresses

3.4 Price Categories for Media Mail

474
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

2.0 Mailing Documentation

2.1 Completing Postage Statements

2.2 Basic Documentation Standards

2.3 Preparing Documentation

2.4 Multiple Standards

2.5 Providing Additional Information

2.6 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

2.7 Facsimile Postage Statements

475
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Definition of Presort Process

1.2 Definition of Mailings

1.3 Terms for Presort Levels

1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Address Visibility

2.3 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.4 Preparing Bundles of Pieces of Nonuniform Thickness ("Counter-stacking")

2.5 Securing Bundles

2.6 Bundle Sizes

2.7 Exception to Bundle Sizes

4.2 Physical Characteristics of a Sack Label

4.3 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.4 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.5 Line 3 (Origin Line)

4.6 Electronic Verification System

4.7 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.8 Placement of Extraneous Information

5.0 Preparing Media Mail Parcels

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Preparing Machinable Parcels

5.3 Preparing Irregular Parcels

476
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Verification and Deposit

1.1 Verification and Entry

480

483
Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Library Mail Prices and Fees

1.1 Price Application

1.2 Library Mail Price Application

1.3 Library Mail Presorted Prices

1.4 Mailing Fee

1.5 Computing Postage for Library Mail

2.0 Content Standards for Library Mail Parcels

2.1 General

2.2 Sender and Recipient Qualifications

2.3 Content Standards for Mailings Between Entities

2.4 Qualified Mailings "To" or "From"

2.5 Postal Inspection

2.6 Attachments and Enclosures

2.7 Written Additions

3.0 Price Eligibility for Library Mail Parcels

3.1 Basic Weight Standards

3.2 Price Eligibility Standards

3.3 Delivery and Return Addresses

3.4 Price Categories for Library Mail

484
Postage Payment and Documentation

1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment

1.1 Postage Payment Options

2.0 Mailing Documentation

2.1 Completing Postage Statements

2.2 Basic Documentation Standards

2.3 Preparing Documentation

2.4 Multiple Standards

2.5 Providing Additional Information

2.6 Reporting Multiple Mailings on One Statement

2.7 Facsimile Postage Statements

485
Mail Preparation

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Definition of Presort Process

1.2 Definition of Mailings

1.3 Terms for Presort Levels

1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

2.0 Bundles

2.1 Definition of a Bundle

2.2 Address Visibility

2.3 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

2.4 Preparing Bundles of Pieces of Nonuniform Thickness ("Counter-stacking")

2.5 Securing Bundles

2.6 Bundle Sizes

2.7 Exception to Bundle Sizes

4.2 Physical Characteristics of a Sack Label

4.3 Line 1 (Destination Line)

4.4 Line 2 (Content Line)

4.5 Line 3 (Origin Line)

4.6 Electronic Verification System

4.7 Abbreviations for Lines 1 and 3

4.8 Placement of Extraneous Information

5.0 Preparing Library Mail Parcels

5.1 Basic Standards

5.2 Preparing Machinable Parcels

5.3 Preparing Irregular Parcels

5.4 Standards for Barcode Discount

486
Enter and Deposit

1.0 Verification and Deposit

1.1 Verification and Entry

503
Extra Services

1.0 Extra Services for Express Mail

1.1 Available Services

1.2 Express Mail Drop Shipment

2.0 Registered Mail

2.1 Registered Mail Fees

2.2 Basic Information About Registered Mail

2.3 Fees and Liability

2.4 Mailing

2.5 Delivery

2.6 Inquiry on Uninsured Article

3.0 Certified Mail

3.1 Certified Mail Fees

3.2 Basic Information

3.3 Mailing

4.0 Insured Mail

4.1 Insured Mail Fees

4.2 Basic Information

4.3 Mailing

4.4 Bulk Insurance for Standard Mail

4.5 Delivery

5.0 Certificate of Mailing

5.1 Certificate of Mailing Fees

5.2 Basic Information

5.3 Presentation

6.0 Return Receipt

6.1 Return Receipt Fees

6.2 Basic Information

6.3 Obtaining Service

6.4 Delivery

6.5 Requests for Delivery Information

7.0 Restricted Delivery

7.1 Restricted Delivery Fee

7.2 Basic Information

7.3 Obtaining Service

7.4 Delivery

8.0 Return Receipt for Merchandise

8.1 Return Receipt for Merchandise Fees

8.2 Basic Information

8.3 Mailing

8.4 Delivery

9.0 Delivery Confirmation

9.1 Delivery Confirmation Fee

9.2 Basic Information

9.3 Labels

9.4 Barcodes

9.5 Electronic File Transmission

9.6 Acceptance

10.0 Signature Confirmation

10.1 Signature Confirmation Fees

10.2 Basic Information

10.3 Labels

10.4 Barcodes

10.5 Electronic File Transmission

10.6 Acceptance

11.0 Collect on Delivery (COD)

11.1 Collect on Delivery Fees

11.2 Basic Information

11.3 Forms

11.4 Mailing

11.5 Delivery

12.0 Special Handling

12.1 Fees for Special Handling

12.2 Basic Information

13.0 Confirm Service

13.1 Confirm Fees

13.2 Basic Information

13.3 Barcodes

13.4 Delivery

14.0 Money Orders

14.1 Fees for Money Orders

14.2 Issuing Money Orders

14.3 Cashing Money Orders

14.4 Federal Reserve System

507
Mailer Services

1.0 Treatment of Mail

1.1 Nondelivery of Mail

1.2 USPS Address Adjustments

1.3 Directory Service

1.4 Basic Treatment

1.5 Treatment for Ancillary Services by Class of Mail

1.6 Attachments and Enclosures

2.1 Change-of-Address Order

2.2 Forwardable Mail

2.3 Postage for Forwarding

3.0 Premium Forwarding Service

3.1 Prices and Fees

3.2 Basic Standards

3.3 Preparation

3.4 Enter and Deposit

4.0 Address Correction Services

4.1 Address Correction Service

4.2 Address Change Service (ACS)

4.3 FASTforward

4.4 Sender Instruction

5.0 Recall of Mail

5.1 Who May Recall Mail

5.2 Mailer Request for Withdrawal and Disposal of Mail

6.0 Pickup on Demand Service

6.1 Pickup on Demand Service Fee

6.2 Basic Standards

6.3 Postage and Fees

6.4 On-Call Service

6.5 Scheduled Service

6.6 Express Mail Reshipment Service

7.0 Mailing List Services

7.1 Mailing List Service Fees

7.2 General Information

7.3 Fee Assessment

7.4 Name and Address List Correction

7.5 Occupant Lists

7.6 Sortation of Lists on Cards by 5-Digit ZIP Code

7.7 Election Boards and Voter Registration Commissions

8.0 Address Sequencing Services

8.1 Address Sequencing Service Fees

8.2 Service Levels

8.3 Card Preparation and Submission

8.4 Sequencing Cards With Blanks for Missing Addresses or Sequencing Address Files With Missing Sequence Numbers

8.5 Sequencing With Address Cards or Address File Sequencing With Addresses Added for Missing and New Addresses

8.6 Service Charges

8.7 Submitting Properly Sequenced Mailings

9.0 Business Reply Mail (BRM)

9.1 Business Reply Mail (BRM) Prices and Fees

9.2 Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) Prices

9.3 Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) Basic Standards

9.4 General Information

9.5 Permits

9.6 Postage, Per Piece Fees, and Account Maintenance Fees

9.7 Mailpiece Characteristics

9.8 Format Elements

9.9 Additional Standards for Letter-Size and Flat-Size BRM

9.10 Additional Standards for Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM)

9.11 BRM Distributed and Received by Agents of a Permit Holder

9.12 Bulk Weight Averaged Nonletter-size BRM

10.0 Permit Reply Mail

10.1 General Information

10.2 Authorization and Revocation

10.3 Format Elements

10.4 Permit Imprint Account

10.5 Company Permit Reply Mail Imprint

11.0 Merchandise Return Service

11.1 Prices and Fees

11.2 Basic Standards

11.3 Additional Standards for Permit Holder

11.4 Additional Standards for Permit Holder's Customer

11.5 Preparation

11.6 Enter and Deposit

11.7 Priority Mail Reshipment

12.0 Bulk Parcel Return Service

12.1 Bulk Parcel Return Service (BPRS) Fees

12.2 Charges and Fees

12.3 General Information

12.4 Permits

12.5 Label Requirements

12.6 Format

13.0 Parcel Return Service

13.1 Basic Information

13.2 Postage and Fees

13.3 Prices

13.4 Label Formats

508
Recipient Services

1.0 Recipient Options

1.1 Basic Recipient Concerns

1.2 Carrier Release for Uninsured Parcels

1.3 Jointly Addressed

1.4 Delivery to Addressee's Agent

1.5 Delivery to Individual at Organization

1.6 Delivery at Hotels, Institutions, Schools, and Similar Places

1.7 Conflicting Delivery Orders

1.8 Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies

2.0 Conditions of Delivery

2.1 City Delivery Service

2.2 Rural Delivery Service

2.3 Highway Contract Delivery Service

3.0 Customer Mail Receptacles

3.1 Basic Information for Customer Mail Receptacles

3.2 Curbside Mailboxes

3.3 Wall-Mounted Centralized Mail Receptacles

4.0 Post Office Box Service

4.1 Fees for Post Office Box Service

4.2 Basic Information for Post Office Box Service

4.3 Service

4.4 Conditions of Use

4.5 Basis of Fees and Payment

4.6 Fee Group Assignments

4.7 Fee Refund

4.8 Keys and Locks

4.9 Service Refusal or Termination

5.0 Caller Service

5.1 Caller Service Fees

5.2 Basic Information

5.3 Service

5.4 Conditions of Use

5.5 Basis of Fees and Payment

5.6 Fee Refund

5.7 Service Refusal or Termination

5.8 Accelerated Reply Mail (ARM)

6.0 General Delivery

6.1 Purpose

6.2 Service Restrictions

6.3 Delivery to Addressee

6.4 Holding Mail

7.0 Hold For Pickup

7.1 Fees and Postage

7.2 Basic Information

7.3 Preparation Definitions and Instructions

8.0 Firm Holdout

8.1 Purpose

8.2 Obtaining and Using Service

8.3 Service Cancellation

9.0 Pandering Advertisements

9.1 Prohibitory Order

9.2 Taking Action Against Violations

10.0 Sexually Oriented Advertisements

10.1 Basic Information for Sexually Oriented Advertisements

10.2 Applying for Listing

10.3 Requesting Removal From List

10.4 Availability of USPS Lists

10.5 Envelope Marking

10.6 Violations

10.7 Reporting Unsolicited Advertisements

509
Other Services

1.0 Address Information System Services

1.1 General Information

1.2 Address Element Correction

1.3 Address Matching System Application Program Interface

1.4 Advance Notification and Tracking System

1.5 AEC ll Service

1.6 Address Information Service Viewer

1.7 Barcode Certification

1.8 Carrier Route Information System

1.9 CASS Certification

1.10 Change-of-Address Information for Election Boards and Registration Commissions

1.11 City State

1.12 Computerized Delivery Sequence (CDS)

1.13 Delivery Statistics

1.14 Delivery Type

1.15 Delivery Point Validation

1.16 DSF2 Service

1.17 eLine-Of-Travel Service

1.18 FASTforward Multi-line Optical Character Reader

1.19 Five-Digit ZIP

1.20 Labeling Lists

1.21 LACSLink

1.22 MAC Batch System Certification

1.23 MAC Gold System Certification

1.24 MAC System Certification

1.25 MASS Certification

1.26 NCOALink

1.27 NCOALink — ANKLink Service Option

1.28 Official National Zone Charts

1.29 Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation System Certification

1.30 PAVE System Certification

1.31 RDI Service

1.32 Topological Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing

1.37 ZIP Code Sortation of Address Lists

1.38 99 Percent Accurate Method

2.0 Nonpostal Services

2.1 Bird Hunting Stamps

2.2 U.S. Savings Stamps

2.3 U.S. Savings Bonds

2.4 Postal Savings

601
Mailability

1.0 General Standards

1.1 Determining Mail Processing Categories

1.2 Minimum Dimensions

1.3 Maximum Dimensions and Weight

1.4 Length and Height

1.5 Nonmailable and Nonmachinable Placement of Address

1.6 General Mailability and Right of Refusal

1.7 Mailer's Responsibility

2.0 Packaging

2.1 General

2.2 Stationery

2.3 Odd-Shaped Items in Paper Envelopes

2.4 Liquids

2.5 Aerosols

2.6 Perishable, Hazardous, and Restricted Items

2.7 High-Density Items

2.8 Load Type

3.0 Acceptable Mailing Containers

3.1 Envelopes

3.2 Boxes

3.3 Fiberboard Tubes and Similar Long Containers

3.4 Paper Bags and Wraps

4.0 Cushioning, Closure, and Reinforcement

4.1 Volume

4.2 Multiple Items Within Container

4.8 Staples and Steel Stitching

5.0 Handling, Content, and Extra Service Markings

5.1 Handling, Content, and Extra Service

5.2 Method

6.0 Mailing Containers—Special Types of Envelopes and Packaging

6.1 Express Mail and Priority Mail Packaging

6.2 6.2 Critical Mail Envelopes

6.3 Green Diamond Border Envelope

6.4 Window Envelope

6.5 Reusable Mailpiece

6.6 Alternative Reusable Mailpieces That Originate as Permit Imprint Mailings

7.0 Packaging Standards for Mail Processed at Network Distribution Centers

7.1 High-Density Items

8.0 Nonmailable and Restricted Articles and Substances Generally

8.1 Nonmailable Matter—General

8.2 Basic Premise

8.3 Other Nonmailable Matter

8.4 Restricted Matter—General

8.5 Harmful Matter—General

8.6 Hazardous Materials

8.7 Marking of Restricted Articles or Substances

8.8 Mailer Responsibility

8.9 Statutory System

8.10 Other Laws and Regulations

8.11 Refusal of Nonmailable Matter

8.12 Authorizing Mailability

8.13 Protecting Employees

8.14 Applicability to Military Postal System

9.0 Perishables

9.1 Time Factor

9.2 Preparation of Perishables

9.3 Live Animals

9.4 Dead Wild Animals

9.5 Furs, Hides, Skins, And Pelts

9.6 Mailing Plants

9.7 Nonmailable Plant Pests, Injurious Animals, and Illegally Taken Fish or Wildlife

10.0 Hazardous Materials

10.1 Definitions

10.2 U.S. Department of Transportation Regulations of Hazardous Material

10.3 USPS Standards for Hazardous Material

10.4 Hazard Class

10.5 Mailer Responsibility for Mailing Hazardous Materials

10.6 Mailability Rulings for Hazardous Materials

10.7 Warning Labels for Hazardous Materials

10.8 Package Markings for Hazardous Materials

10.9 Shipping Papers for Hazardous Materials

10.10 Air Transportation Prohibitions for Hazardous Materials

10.11 Explosives (Hazard Class 1)

10.12 Gases (Hazard Class 2)

10.13 Flammable and Combustible Liquids (Hazard Class 3)

10.14 Flammable Solids (Hazard Class 4)

10.15 Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides (Hazard Class 5)

10.16 Toxic Substances (Hazard Class 6, Division 6.1)

10.17 Infectious Substances (Hazard Class 6, Division 6.2)

10.18 Radioactive Materials (Hazard Class 7)

10.19 Corrosives (Hazard Class 8)

10.20 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials (Hazard Class 9)

10.21 Other Regulated Materials—Magnetized Materials

11.0 Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco

11.1 Definitions

11.2 Nonmailability

11.3 Mailability Exceptions

11.4 Mailing Within Noncontiguous States

11.5 Exception for Business/Regulatory Purposes

11.6 Exception for Certain Individuals

11.7 Consumer Testing Exception

11.8 Public Health Exception

12.0 Other Restricted and Nonmailable Matter

12.1 Pistols, Revolvers, and Other Concealable Firearms

12.2 Antique Firearms

12.3 Rifles and Shotguns

12.4 Legal Opinions on Mailing Firearms

12.5 Replica or Inert Explosive Devices

12.6 Knives and Sharp Instruments

12.7 Prohibited Parcel Marking

12.8 Intoxicating Liquor

12.9 Matter Emitting Obnoxious Odor

12.10 Liquids and Powders

12.11 Motor Vehicle Master Keys and Locksmithing Devices

12.12 Drugs

12.13 Drug Paraphernalia

12.14 Household Substance

12.15 Pesticide

12.16 Fragrance Advertising Sample

12.17 Compliance Certificate

12.18 Battery-Powered Devices

12.19 Abortive and Contraceptive Devices

12.20 Building Construction Material

12.21 Prohibition on Sharp Instruments Intended for Use in an Animal Fighting Venture

12.22 Mail Weighing More Than 13 Ounces

13.0 Written, Printed, and Graphic Matter Generally

13.1 Solicitations in Guise of Bills, Invoices, or Statements of Account (39 USC 3001(D); 39 USC 3005)

13.2 Solicitations Deceptively Implying Federal Connection, Approval, or Endorsement (39 USC 3001(H) and 3001(I); 39USC3005)

13.3 Lottery Matter (18 USC 1302)

13.4 Advertising Matter

13.5 Other Nonmailable Matter

13.6 Sweepstakes Matter (39 USC § 3001(K)(3)(A))

13.7 Skill Contests (39 USC 3001(K)(3)(B))

13.8 Facsimile Check (39 USC § 3001(K)(3)(C))

13.9 Exclusions and Disclosures (39 USC §§ 3001(K)(4) & 3001(K)(5))

13.10 Removal of Names from Mailing Lists (39 USC § 3001(L))

13.11 Unauthorized Decisions by Postmasters

13.12 Refusal Due to Improper Preparation

602
Addressing

1.0 Elements of Addressing

1.1 Clear Space

1.2 Delivery Address

1.3 Address Elements

1.4 Complete Addresses

1.5 Return Addresses

1.6 Ancillary Services

1.7 Attachment of Different Class

1.8 ZIP Codes

1.9 Additional Addressing Standards by Class

2.0 Restrictions

2.1 Dual Address

2.2 More Than One Post Office

2.3 Mail Addressed to CMRAs

3.0 Use of Alternative Addressing

3.1 General Information

3.2 Simplified Address

3.3 Occupant Address

3.4 Exceptional Address

4.0 Detached Address Labels (DALs)

4.1 DAL Use

4.2 Label Preparation

4.3 Mail Preparation

4.4 Disposition of Excess or Undeliverable Material

4.5 Postage

604
Postage Payment Methods

1.0 Stamps

1.1 Postage Stamp Denominations

1.2 Postage Stamps Valid for Use

1.3 Postage Stamps Invalid for Use

1.4 Imitations of Stamps

1.5 Imitations of Markings

1.6 Stamp Reproduction

1.7 Position of Stamp on Mailpiece

1.8 Reuse of Stamps

1.9 Perforating Stamps

1.10 Additional Standards for Forever Stamps

1.11 Additional Standards for Semipostal Stamps

1.12 Paying for Stamps

1.13 Seals and Stickers

2.0 Stamped Stationery

2.1 Plain Stamped Envelope

2.2 Personalized Stamped Envelopes

2.3 Other Stationery

3.0 Precanceled Stamps

3.1 General Information

3.2 Permit to Use Precanceled Stamps

3.3 Precancellation of Stamps by USPS

3.4 Precancellation of Stamps by Mailer

3.5 Stamp Collectors

3.6 Using High Value Stamps

4.0 Postage Meters and PC Postage Products ("Postage Evidencing Systems")

4.1 Basic Information

4.2 Authorization to Use Postage Evidencing Systems

4.3 Postage Payment

4.4 Special Indicia

4.5 Mailings

4.6 Authorization to Produce and Distribute Postage Evidencing Systems

5.0 Permit Imprint (Indicia)

5.1 General Standards

5.2 Suspension and Revocation

5.3 Indicia Design, Placement, and Content

6.0 Payment of Postage

6.1 Basic Standards

6.2 Unpaid Mailable Matter for Private Delivery

6.3 Payment for Postage Due Mail

6.4 Advance Deposit Account

6.5 Annual Accounting Fee for Extra Services

7.0 Computing Postage

7.1 General Standards

8.0 Insufficient or Omitted Postage

8.1 Insufficient Postage

8.2 Omitted Postage

8.3 Mailable Matter Without Postage in or on Mail Receptacles

9.0 Refunds and Exchanges

9.1 Stamp Exchanges

9.2 Postage and Fee Refunds

9.3 Refund Request for Postage Evidencing Systems and Metered Postage

9.4 Value Added Refunds

9.5 Express Mail Postage Refund

10.0 Revenue Deficiency

10.1 General

10.2 Nonprofit Standard Mail

607
Mailer Compliance and Appeals of Classification Decisions

1.0 Mailer Compliance With Mailing Standards

1.1 Mailer Responsibility

1.2 Postage Payment

1.3 Request for Exception to Standards

2.0 Rulings on Mailing Standards

2.1 Local Decision

2.2 Expedited Oral Decision

2.3 Classification While Appeal Pending

2.4 Decisions on National Rulings

2.5 PCSC Decision

2.6 Corresponding Standards

608
Postal Information and Resources

1.0 About the Domestic Mail Manual

1.1 Content of the DMM

1.2 Copies of the DMM

1.3 Revisions to the DMM

1.4 Terms in the DMM

2.0 Domestic Mail

2.1 Definition of "Domestic"

2.2 Mail Treated as Domestic

2.3 International Mail

2.4 Customs Forms Required

2.5 Foreign Trade Regulations—U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Bureau of the Census

3.0 Post Offices and Holidays

3.1 Management of Post Offices

3.2 Holiday Service

4.0 Philatelic (Stamp Collecting) Services

4.1 Basic Standards

4.2 Special Cancellations

5.0 Private Express Statutes

5.1 Private Express Statutes

6.0 Complaints and Postal Law Violations

6.1 Consumer Complaints and Inquiries

6.2 Postal Law Violations

7.0 Trademarks and Copyrights of the USPS

7.1 Trademarks and Service Marks

7.2 Copyrights

7.3 Inquiries about USPS Trademarks and Copyrights

8.0 USPS Contact Information

8.1 Postal Service
[1-2-11] [7-6-10]

8.2 Federal Agencies

8.3 Other Agencies

8.4 PCSC and District Business Mail Entry Offices Contact Information

609
Filing Indemnity Claims for Loss or Damage

1.0 General Filing Instructions

1.1 Extra Services With Indemnity

1.2 Bulk Insured Claims

1.7 Filing Duplicate Claims

2.0 Providing Proof of Loss or Damage

2.1 Missing Contents

2.2 Proof of Damage

3.0 Providing Evidence of Insurance and Value

3.1 Evidence of Insurance

3.2 Evidence of Value

4.0 Claims

4.1 Payable Claim

4.2 Payable Express Mail Claim

4.3 Nonpayable Claims

5.4 Loss or Total Damage

5.5 Dual Claim

5.6 Incompetent or Deceased

5.7 Recovered Article

6.0 Adjudication of Claims

6.1 Initial Adjudication of Claims

6.2 Appealing a Claim Decision

6.3 Final USPS Decision of Claims

703
Nonprofit Standard Mail and Other Unique Eligibility

1.0 Nonprofit Standard Mail

1.1 Basic Standards

1.2 Qualified Nonprofit Organizations

1.3 Qualified Political Committees and State or Local Voting Registration Officials

1.4 Ineligible Organizations

1.5 Identification of Nonprofit Organization

1.6 Eligible and Ineligible Matter

1.7 Authorization—Application

1.8 Confirmation of Authorization to Mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail Prices

1.9 Mailing While Application Pending

1.10 Ruling on Application

1.11 Revocation

2.0 Overseas Military Mail

2.1 Basic Standards

2.2 Addressing Military Mail

2.3 General Restrictions

2.4 Military Ordinary Mail (MOM)

2.5 Parcel Airlift (PAL)

2.6 Express Mail Military Service (EMMS)

2.7 Delivery of Military Mail

3.0 Department of State Mail

3.1 Availability

3.2 Conditions For Authorized Mail

3.3 Mail Security

4.0 Mail Sent by U.S. Armed Forces

4.1 Letters Sent Postage Collect

4.2 Matter Sent Free

5.0 Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons

5.1 Basic Information

5.2 Matter Sent To Blind or Other Physically Handicapped Persons

5.3 Matter Sent By Blind or Other Physically Handicapped Persons

5.4 Preparation

6.0 Official Mail (Franked)

6.1 Basic Information

6.2 Addressing

7.0 Official Mail (Penalty)

7.5 Services, Classes, Prices, Preparation, And Detention

7.6 General Standards for Penalty Indicia

7.7 Penalty Meter

7.8 Penalty Permit Imprint

7.9 Penalty Postage Stamps and Stationery

7.10 General Standards for Penalty Reply Mail

7.11 Penalty Business Reply Mail (BRM)

7.12 Penalty Merchandise Return Service

7.13 Penalty Periodicals

7.14 Penalty Express Mail

7.15 Contractors

8.0 Absentee Balloting Materials

8.1 Basic Standards

8.2 Marking

9.0 Mixed Classes

9.1 Basic Information

9.2 Eligibility for Attachments of Different Classes

9.3 Eligibility for an Enclosure in Periodicals Publication

9.4 Eligibility for an Enclosure in Standard Mail, Parcel Select, and Package Services Parcels

9.5 Eligibility for an Incidental First-Class Mail Attachment or Enclosure

9.6 Eligibility for Combined Mailing of Media Mail and Bound Printed Matter

9.7 Markings on Mixed Mail

9.8 Postage Payment for Attachments of Different Classes

9.9 Postage Payment for Enclosure in Periodicals Publication

9.10 Postage Payment for Enclosure in Standard Mail, Parcel Select, or Package Services Parcel

9.11 Postage Payment for Incidental First-Class Mail Attachment or Enclosure

9.12 Postage Payment for Combined Mailings of Media Mail and Bound Printed Matter

9.13 Extra Services for Mixed Classes

705
Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

1.0 Customized MarketMail

1.1 Basic Standards

1.2 Prices

1.3 Extra Services

1.4 Preparation Standards

2.0 Manifest Mailing System

2.6 Express Mail Manifesting Agreements

2.7 Basic Standards

2.8 Applications, Agreement Renewals, Modifications, Suspensions, and Cancellations

2.9 Electronic Verification System

3.0 Optional Procedure Mailing System

3.1 Basic Information

3.2 Authorization

3.3 Records

4.0 Alternate Mailing System

4.1 Basic Information

4.2 Authorization

5.0 First-Class Mail or Standard Mail Mailings With Different Payment Methods

5.1 Basic Provisions

5.2 Postage

5.3 Producing the Combined Mailing

5.4 Documentation

6.0 Combining Mailings of Standard Mail, Package Services, and Parcel Select Parcels

6.1 Basic Standards for Combining Parcels and NFMs

6.2 Combining Parcels and NFMs—DNDC Entry

6.3 Combining Parcels—Parcel Select ONDC Presort, NDC Presort, DSCF, and DDU Prices

6.4 Combining Package Services, Parcel Select, and Standard Mail—Optional 3-Digit SCF Entry

7.0 Combining Package Services and Parcel Select Parcels for Destination Entry

7.1 Combining Parcels—DSCF and DDU Entry

7.2 Combining Parcel Select and Package Services Machinable Parcels for DNDC Entry

7.3 Postage Payment

7.4 Documentation

7.5 Authorization

8.0 Preparing Pallets

8.1 Physical Characteristics

8.2 Top Caps

8.3 Stacking Pallets

8.4 Pallet Boxes

8.5 General Preparation

8.6 Pallet Placards

8.7 Copalletized, Combined, or Mixed-Price Level Mailings of Flat-Size Pieces

8.8 Basic Uses

8.9 Bundles on Pallets

8.10 Pallet Presort and Labeling

8.11 Bundle Reallocation to Protect SCF Pallet for Periodicals Flats and Irregular Parcels and Standard Mail Flats on Pallets

8.12 Bundle Reallocation to Protect ADC Pallet for Periodicals Flats and Irregular Parcels on Pallets

8.13 Bundle Reallocation to Protect NDC Pallet for Standard Mail Flats on Pallets

8.14 Pallets of Bundles, Sacks, and Trays

8.15 Sacks

8.16 Copalletized Flat-size Pieces—Periodicals or Standard Mail

8.17 Pallets of Machinable Parcels

8.18 Parcel Select—Network Distribution Center (NDC) Presort Discount

8.19 Parcel Select—Origin Network Distribution Center (ONDC) Presort Discount

8.20 Parcel Select DSCF Prices—Parcels on Pallets

8.21 Parcel Select DSCF Prices—Sacks on Pallets

8.22 Parcel Select and Bound Printed Matter DDU Prices

9.0 Combining Bundles of Automation and Nonautomation Flats in Trays and Sacks

9.1 First-Class Mail

9.2 Periodicals

9.3 Standard Mail

9.4 Bound Printed Matter

10.0 Merging Bundles of Flats in Sacks and Pallets Using the City State Product

10.1 Periodicals

10.2 Standard Mail

11.0 Combining Automation Price and Nonautomation Price Flats in Bundles

11.1 First-Class Mail

11.2 Periodicals

11.3 Standard Mail

11.4 Bound Printed Matter

12.0 Merging Bundles of Flats on Pallets Using a 5% Threshold

12.1 Periodicals

12.2 Standard Mail

13.0 Merging Bundles of Flats on Pallets Using the City State Product and a 5% Threshold

13.1 Periodicals

13.2 Standard Mail

14.0 Combining Bundles of Flats on Pallets Within FSS Zones

14.1 14.1 General

14.2 Periodicals

14.3 Standard Mail

14.4 Bound Printed Matter

15.0 Plant Load Mailings

15.1 Basic Information

15.2 Application for Plant Load Privileges

15.3 Plant Load Operations

15.4 Expedited Plant Load Shipment

15.5 Mailer Responsibilities

15.6 Intradistrict Plant-Loaded Shipments

15.7 Interdistrict Plant-Loaded Shipments

16.0 Plant-Verified Drop Shipment

16.1 Description

16.2 Program Participation

16.3 Liability

16.4 Standard Mail Documentation

16.5 Parcel Select and Package Services PVDS Option

17.0 Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute

17.1 Prices and Fees

17.2 Basic Standards

17.3 Additional Standards for Express Mail Open and Distribute

17.4 Additional Standards for Priority Mail Open and Distribute

17.5 Preparation

17.6 Enter and Deposit

18.0 Express Mail Reshipment Service

18.1 Basic Information

19.0 Metered Mail Drop Shipment

19.1 Basic Information

19.2 Authorization

19.3 Option 1: Deposit at P&DC/F

19.4 Option 2: Deposit at Another Post Office

19.5 Option 3: Consolidated Drop Shipment With Endorsement

19.6 Option 4: Consolidated Drop Shipment Without Endorsement

20.0 Postage Due Weight Averaging Program

20.1 Basic Information

20.2 Authorization

21.0 Optional Combined Parcel Mailings

21.1 Basic Standards for Combining Parcel Select, Package Services, and Standard Mail Parcels

21.2 Price Eligibility

21.3 Mail Preparation

22.0 Repositionable Notes (RPNs)

22.1 Use

22.2 Mailpiece Characteristics

22.3 RPN Characteristics

22.4 RPNs on Automation-Price Mailpieces

22.5 Prices

22.6 Compliance

23.0 Full-Service Automation Option

23.1 Description

23.2 Eligibility Standards

23.3 Preparation

23.4 Additional Standards

707
Periodicals

1.0 Prices and Fees

1.1 Outside-County—Including Science-of-Agriculture

1.2 In-County

1.3 Ride-Along Price

1.4 Fees

2.0 Price Application and Computation

2.1 Price Application

2.2 Computing Postage

3.0 Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility

3.1 Physical Characteristics

3.2 Addressing

3.3 Permissible Mailpiece Components

3.4 Impermissible Mailpiece Components

3.5 Mailpiece Construction

3.6 Printed Features

4.0 Basic Eligibility Standards

4.1 Second-Class Mail

4.2 Qualification Categories

4.3 General

4.4 Periodical Publications

4.5 Printed Sheets

4.6 Known Office of Publication

4.11 Back Issues and Reprints

4.12 Identification

4.13 Advertising Standards

4.14 Fees

5.0 Applying for Periodicals Authorization

5.1 Original Entry Application

5.2 Mailing While Application Pending

5.3 Decision on Application

5.4 Revocation or Suspension of Privileges

6.0 Qualification Categories

6.1 General Publication

6.2 Publications of Institutions and Societies

6.3 Publications of State Departments of Agriculture

6.4 Requester Publications

6.5 Foreign Publications

6.6 News Agent Registry

7.0 Mailing to Nonsubscribers or Nonrequesters

7.1 Sample Copies

7.2 Simplified Address

7.3 Advertising Copies

7.4 Gift Subscriptions

7.5 Exchange Copies

7.6 Expired Subscription

7.7 Complimentary Copies

7.8 Proof Copies

7.9 Nonrequester and Nonsubscriber Copies

8.0 Record Keeping Standards for Publishers

8.1 Basic Standards

8.2 Verification

8.3 Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation

8.4 Nonsubscriber and Nonrequester Copy Distribution

9.0 Changing Title, Frequency, or Known Office of Publication

9.1 General

9.2 Changing Qualification Categories

9.3 Application for Reentry

10.0 Preferred Periodicals

10.1 Nonprofit Eligibility—Basic Standards

10.2 Nonprofit Eligibility—Qualified Organizations

10.3 Nonprofit Eligibility—Other Qualified Organizations

10.4 Classroom Eligibility

10.5 Application

10.6 Mailing While Application Pending

10.7 Decision on Application

11.0 Basic Eligibility

11.1 Outside-County Prices

11.2 Outside-County Science-of-Agriculture Prices

11.3 In-County Prices

11.4 Discounts

11.5 Copies Mailed by Public

12.0 Nonbarcoded (Presorted) Eligibility

12.1 Basic Standards

12.2 Prices—Outside-County

12.3 Prices—In-County

12.4 ZIP Code Accuracy

13.0 Carrier Route Eligibility

13.1 Basic Standards

13.2 Sorting

13.3 Walk-Sequence Prices

13.4 Full-Service Intelligent Mail Eligibility Standards

13.5 Carrier Route Accuracy

14.0 Barcoded (Automation) Eligibility

14.1 Basic Standards

14.2 Eligibility Standards for Full-Service Automation Periodicals

14.3 Prices—Outside-County

14.4 Prices—In-County

14.5 Address Standards for Barcoded Pieces

15.0 Ride-Along Eligibility

15.1 General

15.2 Basic Standards

15.3 Physical Characteristics

15.4 Marking

16.0 Postage Payment

16.1 Filing Each Issue

16.2 Filing Marked Copy

16.3 Mailer and Publisher Responsibility

16.4 Payment Method

16.5 Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation Program

17.0 Documentation

17.1 Postage Statement

17.2 Documentation

17.3 Basic Standards for Documentation

17.4 Basic Standards for Postage Statements

17.5 Monthly Postage Statements

17.6 Detailed Zone Listing for Periodicals

17.7 Additional Standards

18.0 General Mail Preparation

18.1 Definition of Presort

18.2 Definition of Mailings

18.3 Presort Terms

18.4 Mail Preparation Terms

19.0 Bundles

19.1 Definition of a Bundle

19.2 Arranging Pieces in a Bundle ("Facing")

19.3 Preparing Bundles of Nonuniform Pieces ("Counterstacking")

19.4 Securing Bundles

19.5 Letter-Size Bundles

19.6 Flat-Size Bundles

19.7 Exception to Bundle Preparation—Full Single-Sort-Level Trays

19.8 Preparing Bundles in Sacks

19.9 Preparing Bundles on Pallets

19.10 Pieces With Simplified Addresses

19.11 Bundles With Fewer Than the Minimum Pieces Required

19.12 Address Visibility

19.13 Labeling Bundles

19.14 Carrier Route Information Lines

19.15 Facing Slips for Carrier Route Mail

20.0 Sacks and Trays

20.1 Basic Standards

20.2 Letter Tray Preparation

20.3 Sack Preparation

20.4 Use of Flat Trays (Optional)

21.0 Sack and Tray Labels

21.1 Basic Standards

21.2 Sack Labels

21.3 Tray Labels

21.4 Use of Barcoded Sack and Tray Labels

22.0 Preparing Nonbarcoded (Presorted) Periodicals

22.1 Basic Standards

22.2 Bundle Preparation

22.3 Firm Bundles

22.4 Bundles With Fewer Than Six Pieces

22.5 Tray Preparation—Letter-Size Pieces

22.6 Sack Preparation—Flat-Size Pieces and Parcels

22.7 Optional Tray Preparation—Flat-Size Nonbarcoded Pieces

23.0 Preparing Carrier Route Periodicals

23.1 Basic Standards

23.2 Bundle Preparation

23.3 Preparation—Letter-Size Pieces

23.4 Preparation—Flat-Size Pieces and Irregular Parcels

23.5 Firm Bundles

23.6 Bundles With Fewer Than Six Pieces

23.7 Multi-Box Section Bundles—Optional Preparation

23.8 Delivery Sequence Information

23.9 Delivery Sequence Documentation

24.0 Preparing Letter-Size Barcoded (Automation) Periodicals

24.1 Basic Standards

24.2 Additional Standards

25.0 Preparing Flat-Size Barcoded (Automation) Periodicals

25.1 Basic Standards

25.2 Physical Standards

25.3 Bundling and Labeling

25.4 Sacking and Labeling

25.5 Optional Tray Preparation—Flat-Size Barcoded Pieces

26.0 Physical Criteria for Nonmachinable Flat-Size Periodicals

26.1 General

26.2 Weight and Size

26.3 Flexibility and Deflection

26.4 Additional Criteria

27.0 Combining Multiple Editions or Publications

27.6 Postage Statements

27.7 Postage Payment

27.8 Deposit of Mail

28.0 Enter and Deposit

28.1 Service Objectives

28.2 Basic Standards

28.3 Exceptional Dispatch

28.4 Deposit at AMC/AMF

29.0 Destination Entry

29.1 Basic Standards

29.2 Destination Network Distribution Center

29.3 Destination Area Distribution Center

29.4 Destination Sectional Center Facility

29.5 Destination Delivery Unit

30.0 Additional Entry

30.1 Basic Standards

30.2 Authorization

30.3 Use of Additional Entry

30.4 Modification

30.5 Cancellation, Revocation, and Restoration

708
Technical Specifications

1.0 Standardized Documentation for First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Flat-Size Bound Printed Matter

1.1 Basic Standards

1.2 Format and Content

1.3 Price Level Column Headings

1.4 Sortation Level

1.5 Combined, Copalletized, and Merged Mailings

1.6 Detailed Zone Listing for Periodicals

1.7 Bundle and Container Reports for Outside-County Periodicals Mail

1.8 Optional Information

2.0 Presort Accuracy Validation and Evaluation (PAVE)

2.1 Presort Accuracy Validation and Evaluation (PAVE)

3.0 Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS)

3.1 Basic Information

3.2 Software Certification

3.3 Date of Address Matching and Coding

3.4 Definitions—Mailing and Address Lists

3.5 Documentation

3.6 CASS Certification

4.0 Standards for POSTNET and Intelligent Mail Barcodes

4.1 General

4.2 POSTNET Barcode

4.3 Intelligent Mail Barcodes

4.4 Reflectance

4.5 Skew and Baseline Shift

4.6 Barcode Software and Hardware Certification

5.0 Standards for Package and Extra Service Barcodes

5.1 Intelligent Mail Package Barcode

5.2 Other Package Barcodes

6.0 Standards for Barcoded Tray Labels, Sack Labels, and Container Placards

6.1 General

6.2 Specifications for Barcoded Tray and Sack Labels

6.3 Additional Standards—Barcoded 2-Inch Sack Labels and Barcoded Tray Labels

6.4 Additional Standards—Barcoded 1-Inch Sack Labels

6.5 Intelligent Mail Tray Labels

6.6 Intelligent Mail Container Placards (Labels)

7.0 Optional Endorsement Lines (OELs)

7.1 OEL Use

7.2 OEL Format

8.0 Carrier Route Information Lines

8.1 Basic Information

8.2 Format and Content

9.0 Facing Identification Mark (FIM)

9.1 Using FIMs

9.2 Pattern

9.3 Specification

9.4 Dimensional Tolerances

709
Experimental and Temporary Classifications

1.0 General Requirements for Negotiated Service Agreements (NSAs)

1.1 Basic Information

1.2 Candidate Factors and Requirements

1.3 Application Process

2.0 Standard Mail Incentive Program

2.1 Program Description

2.2 Eligibility Standards

2.3 Program Threshold Level

2.4 Application

2.5 Program Participation

2.6 Incentive Program Credits

2.7 Mailing Activity Review

3.0 First-Class Mail Incentive Program

3.1 Program Description

3.2 Eligibility Standards

3.3 Program Threshold Level

3.4 Application

3.5 Program Participation

3.6 Incentive Program Credits

3.7 Mailing Activity Review

600

500

700

500