215 Mail Preparation

Overview

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

2.0 Priority Mail Express 1-Day and 2-Day

3.0 Firm Mailing Book

1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation

1.1 Priority Mail Express Packaging Provided by the USPS

Priority Mail Express packaging provided by the USPS must be used only for Priority Mail Express. Regardless of how the packaging is reconfigured or how markings may be obliterated, any material mailed in USPS-provided Priority Mail Express packaging is charged the appropriate Priority Mail Express price.

1.2 Sealing Flat Rate Packaging

When sealing a Flat Rate Envelope, the container flap must be able to close within the normal fold. Tape may be applied to the flap and seams to reinforce the container provided the design of the container is not enlarged by opening the sides and the container is not reconstructed in any way.

1.3 Price Marking

See 202.3.1 for price markings.

2.0 Priority Mail Express 1-Day and 2-Day

2.1 Mailing Label

[1-26-20] Priority Mail Express 1-Day and 2-Day items must be labeled as follows:

  1. Except as specified in 2.1b, for each Priority Mail Express item the mailer must complete Label 11-B or Label 11-F, Label 11-HFPU for Hold for Pickup service, or a single-ply Priority Mail Express label generated through a USPS-approved method. Mailers authorized to present 1-Day or 2-Day Priority Mail Express items using a Priority Mail Express Manifesting System must follow label preparation procedures in Publication 97, Priority Mail Express Manifesting Business and Technical Guide.
  2. For each Priority Mail Express item containing cremated remains, the mailer may present the item at a Post Office location and have a shipping label printed and affixed, or use a single-ply Priority Mail Express label generated through Click-N-Ship or a USPS-approved method. The single-ply Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) shipping label must have the appropriate service type code and banner text above the barcode used for cremated remains. (See Publication 199, Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for: Confirmation Services and Electronic Verification System (eVS) Mailers, available on PostalPro at https://postalpro.usps.com.)
2.2 Signature Required

[1-26-20] Mailers may request a signature for Priority Mail Express items as follows:

  1. For editions of Priority Mail Express Label 11-B or Label 11-F printed on or after January 2012, a mailer sending a Priority Mail Express item and requiring a signature must check the “Signature Required” box on Label 11-B or Label 11-F or indicate on a single-ply commercial label that a signature is requested in order to instruct USPS to provide a signature. If the “Signature Required” box is selected, an image of the signature will be provided to mailers when they access delivery information. A mailer must select a signature service for Priority Mail Express COD or Priority Mail Express with additional insurance.
  2. A mailer sending a Priority Mail Express item containing cremated remains and requiring a signature must indicate on a single-ply commercial label that a signature is requested in order to instruct USPS to provide a signature. If a signature is required, an image of the signature will be provided to mailers when they access delivery information. A mailer must select a signature service for Priority Mail Express with additional insurance.
2.3 ZIP Code Determination

For Priority Mail Express 1-Day Delivery, the mailer determines if the item is destined to a ZIP Code area to which Priority Mail Express 1-Day Delivery is offered from the point of origin by accessing a Priority Mail Express 1-Day Delivery directory, available at Post Offices. If the destination is not listed, only Priority Mail Express 2-Day Delivery is available.

3.0 Firm Mailing Book

Form 3877 is available at no cost to any mailer who mails an average of three or more Priority Mail Express items at one time, following these instructions:

  1. The mailer must prepare Priority Mail Express 1-Day Delivery or 2-Day Delivery items as described above and present the completed form with the items to be mailed.
  2. The mailer must enter on Form 3877 the full number of each Priority Mail Express item and the addressee‘s name and address.
  3. All entries must be made in duplicate by typewriter, ink, or ballpoint pen. One copy is kept by the accepting employee. The other is receipted and returned to the mailer.
  4. All unused parts of the address column in Form 3877 must be obliterated by drawing a diagonal line through the unused part. Any alteration must be initialed by the mailer and accepting employee.
  5. For Priority Mail Express Manifesting, a special manifest is used to present Priority Mail Express items for acceptance as described in Publication 97, Priority Mail Express Manifesting Technical Guide. Form 3877 may be used only to list items for which extra services have been requested. See 705.2.6 for more information.