Customer Support Ruling

Manuals – Media Mail

UPDATED August 2012

PS-045 (173.4)

This Customer Support Ruling discusses the eligibility of manuals at the Media Mail rates of postage.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 173.4 provides that books mailed at the Media Mail rate may contain no advertising matter other than incidental announcements of books.  In the past, some shop manuals and auto repair manuals were not accepted at the Media Mail rate as books because brand name references were viewed as advertising or because they were produced by the manufacturer of the product.  The parts references and manufacturers' names are essential to the accuracy of the service instructions.  They are not referenced for advertising purposes.  The product and brand names are not disqualifying for this rate, nor is the fact that they may be produced by the manufacturer of the product.

(Signed)
Sherry Suggs
Manager
Mailing Standards
United States Postal Service
Washington DC 20260-3436