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M700 Package Services
M730 Media Mail
Summary
M730 describes the preparation, sortation, and documentation requirements for single-piece and presorted Media Mail mailings.
1.0 Basic Standards
1.1General
There are no presort, sacking, or labeling standards for single-piece Media Mail. All mailings of Presorted Media Mail are subject to the standards in 2.0 through 4.0 and to these general requirements:
a. Each mailing must meet the applicable standards in E710, E713, and in M010, M020, and M030.
b. All pieces in a mailing must be within the same processing category as described in C050. A Media Mail irregular parcel is a piece that is not a machinable parcel as defined in C050.4.1 or a flat as defined in C050.3.1. Pieces that meet the size and weight standards for a machinable parcel but are not individually boxed or packaged to withstand processing on BMC parcel sorters under C010 also are irregular parcels.
c. All pieces must be sorted to the finest extent possible under 2.0 through 4.0 or palletized under M045.
d. Each piece claimed at Media Mail rates must be marked “Media Mail” under M012. Each piece claimed at Presorted Media Mail rates also must be marked “Presorted” or “PRSRT” under M012.
1.2Documentation
A complete, signed postage statement must accompany each mailing. Documentation of postage is not required if the correct rate is affixed to each piece or if each piece is of identical weight, and the pieces are separated by rate level at the time of mailing.
2.0 Preparation—Flats
2.1Packaging
A package must be prepared when the quantity of addressed pieces for a required presort level reaches a minimum of 10 pieces. Smaller volumes are not permitted. The maximum weight of each physical package is 20 pounds, except that 5-digit packages placed in 5-digit sacks may weigh a maximum of 40 pounds. Each physical package must contain at least two addressed pieces.
2.2Package Preparation
Packages must be prepared and labeled in the following required sequence:
a. 5-digit: optional, but required for 5-digit rate eligibility; red Label D or optional endorsement line (OEL).
b. 3-digit: required; green Label 3 or OEL.
c. ADC: required; pink Label A or OEL.
d. Mixed ADC: required (no minimum); tan Label MXD or OEL.
2.3Sacking
A sack must be prepared when the quantity of mail for a required presort destination reaches the minimums specified in 2.4 or 1,000 cubic inches. Smaller volumes are not permitted (except in mixed ADC sacks).
2.4Sack Preparation
Sacks must be prepared and labeled in the following sequence:
a. 5-digit: optional, but required for 5-digit rate eligibility (10-piece minimum).
(1) Line 1: use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on packages, preceded for military mail by correct prefix in M031.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC FLTS 5D NON BC.”
a. 3-digit: required (20-piece minimum).
(1) Line 1: use L002, Column A.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC FLTS 3D NON BC.”
b. ADC: required (20-piece minimum).
(1) Line 1: use L004, Column B.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC FLTS ADC NON BC.”
c. Mixed ADC: required (no minimum).
(1) Line 1: use “MXD” followed by city, state, and ZIP Code of ADC serving 3-digit ZIP Code prefix of entry post office, as shown in L004, Column B.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC FLTS NON BC WKG.”
3.0 Preparation—Irregular Parcels
3.1Packaging
A package must be prepared when the quantity of addressed pieces for a required presort level reaches a minimum of 10 pieces, except that packaging is not required for pieces placed in 5-digit scheme sacks and 5-digit sacks when such pieces are enclosed in an envelope, full-length sleeve, full-length wrapper, or polybag and the minimum package volume is met. The maximum weight of each physical package is 20 pounds, except that 5-digit packages placed in 5-digit sacks may weigh a maximum of 40 pounds. Each physical package must contain at least two addressed pieces. Packaging is also subject to these conditions:
a. Identical-weight pieces that weigh 1 pound or less must be prepared using the 10-piece minimum; those that weigh more than 1 pound must be prepared using the 10-pound minimum.
b. For nonidentical-weight pieces, mailers must either use the minimum that applies to the average piece weight for the entire mailing (divide the net weight of the mailing by the number of pieces; the resulting average single-piece weight determines whether the 10-piece or 10-pound minimum applies), or package by the actual piece count or mail weight for each sack, if documentation can be provided with the mailing that shows (specifically for each sack) the number of pieces in each package and their total weight.
c. Mailers must note on the postage statement which sacking method was used.
3.2Package Preparation
Packages must be prepared and labeled in the following sequence:
a. 5-digit: optional, but required for 5-digit rate eligibility; red Label D or optional endorsement line (OEL).
b. 3-digit: required; green Label 3 or OEL.
c. ADC: required; pink Label A or OEL.
d. Mixed ADC: required (no minimum); tan Label MXD or OEL.
3.3Sacking
A sack must be prepared when the quantity of mail for a required presort destination reaches 10 addressed pieces or 20 pounds, whichever occurs first. At the mailer’s option, a sack may be prepared when the quantity of mail reaches 1,000 cubic inches. Smaller volumes are not permitted (except in mixed ADC sacks). Optional 5-digit scheme sacks may be prepared only when there are at least 10 addressed pieces or 20 pounds. Smaller volumes are not permitted (except in mixed ADC sacks). Sacking is also subject to these conditions:
a. Identical-weight pieces weighing 2 pounds or less must be sacked using the 10-piece minimum; those that weigh more must be sacked using the 20-pound or 1,000 cubic inch minimum.
b. For nonidentical-weight pieces, mailers must use either the minimum that applies to the average piece weight for the entire mailing (divide the net weight of the mailing by the number of pieces; the resulting average single-piece weight determines whether the 10-piece or 20-pound minimum applies). Alternatively, mailers may sack by the actual piece count, mail weight for each destination, or 1,000 cubic inch minimum, provided that documentation can be provided with the mailing that shows (specifically for each sack) the number of pieces in each sack and their total weight.
c. Mailers must note on the postage statement which sacking method was used.
3.4Sack Preparation
Sacks must be prepared and labeled in the following sequence:
a. 5-digit scheme: optional.
(1) Line 1: use L606, Column B.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC IRREG 5D SCHEME” or “PSVC IRREG 5D SCH.”
b. 5-digit: optional, but required for 5-digit rate eligibility.
(1) Line 1: use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on packages, preceded for military mail by correct prefix in M031.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC IRREG 5D.”
c. 3-digit: required.
(1) Line 1: use L002, Column A.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC IRREG 3D.”
d. ADC: required.
(1) Line 1: use L004, Column B.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC IRREG ADC.”
e. Mixed ADC: required (no minimum).
(1) Line 1: use “MXD” followed by city, state, and ZIP Code of ADC serving 3-digit ZIP Code prefix of entry post office, as shown in L004, Column B.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC IRREG WKG.”
4.0 Preparation—Machinable Parcels
4.1Sacking
A sack must be prepared when the quantity of mail for a required presort destination reaches 10 addressed pieces or 20 pounds, whichever occurs first. At the mailer’s option, a sack may be prepared when the quantity of mail reaches 1,000 cubic inches. Smaller volumes are not permitted (except in mixed BMC sacks). Sacking also is subject to these conditions:
a. Identical-weight pieces that weigh 2 pounds or less must be sacked using the 10-piece minimum; those that weigh more must be sacked using the 20-pound or 1,000 cubic inch minimum.
b. For nonidentical-weight pieces, mailers must use either the minimum that applies to the average piece weight for the entire mailing (divide the net weight of the mailing by the number of pieces; the resulting average single-piece weight determines whether the 10-piece or 20-pound minimum applies). Alternately, mailers may sack by the actual piece count, mail weight for each package destination, or 1,000 cubic inch minimum, provided that documentation can be provided with the mailing that shows (specifically for each sack) the number of pieces and their total weight.
c. Mailers must note on the postage statement which sacking method was used.
4.2Sack Preparation
Sacks must be prepared and labeled in the following sequence:
a. 5-digit scheme: optional.
(1) Line 1: use L606, Column B.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC MACH 5D SCHEME” or “PSVC MACH 5D SCH.”
b. 5-digit: optional, but required for 5-digit rate eligibility.
(1) Line 1: use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on parcels, preceded for military mail by correct prefix in M031.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC MACH 5D.”
c. BMC: required.
(1) Line 1: use L601, Column B.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC MACH BMC.”
d. Mixed BMC: required (no minimum).
(1) Line 1: “MXD” followed by information in L601, Column B, for BMC serving 3-digit ZIP Code of entry post office.
(2) Line 2: “PSVC MACH WKG.”
DMM Issue 58 (8-10-03)