Customer Support Ruling

Cobundling Multiple Periodicals Publications
May 2006

PS-325 (705.11)

This Customer Support Ruling explains when mailers may cobundle Periodicals flats weighing over 20 ounces with automated flat sorting machine (AFSM) 100 compatible flats.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 705.11 provides that mailers may cobundle automation and presorted rate flats when all of the pieces are AFSM 100 compatible. The criteria for AFSM compatible flats in DMM 301.3.3.3b state, in part, that the maximum weight for Periodicals flats is 20 ounces.

This ruling allows mailers to include in bundles of AFSM 100 compatible flats a small percentage of pieces that weigh slightly more than the 20-ounce maximum. Specifically, we will allow up to 5% of pieces in the non-carrier route portion of the comail pool to weigh up to 22 ounces and be cobundled under DMM 705.11. The pieces weighing over 20 ounces must meet all other standards for AFSM 100 compatible flats.

In addition to the documentation in DMM 708.1, for each comail pool containing cobundled flats over 20 ounces mailers must provide acceptance personnel a “version summary report” that includes the publication titles, edition codes, copy weights, number of pieces by editions, total copies in the pool, and an indicator showing which titles or editions weigh more than 20 ounces but not over 22 ounces.

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