130 Retail Mail First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail

133 Prices and Eligibility

Overview

1.0 Prices and Fees

2.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail

3.0 Content Standards

1.0 Prices and Fees

1.1 First-Class Mail Single-Piece and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail Price Application

The single-piece prices are applied as follows:

1. The card price applies to a card meeting the standards in 101.6.2.
2. The letter price applies to letter-size pieces meeting the standards in 101.1.1 and weighing 3.5 ounces or less, and that are not eligible for the card price. There are separate prices for stamped letters and for letters with metered postage affixed (Metered Mail price).
3. The flat price applies to flat-size pieces that meet the standards in 101.2.0.
4. The USPS Ground Advantage — Retail parcel price applies to parcel-size pieces under 101.3.0 and to flat-size pieces that do not meet the standards in 101.2.0.

1.2 Price Computation for First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail

First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail prices are charged as follows:

1. First-Class Mail - Per ounce or fraction thereof; any fraction of an ounce is considered a whole ounce. For example, if a piece weighs 0.5 ounces, the weight (postage) increment is 1 ounce.
2. USPS Ground Advantage — Retail - Based on weight and zone and is charged as follows:
1. Ounce pricing charged at the 4-ounce, 8-ounce, 12-ounce, and 15.999-ounce increments. Any fraction of an ounce over the 4-ounce, 8-ounce, 12-ounce, and 15.999-ounce increments is rounded to the next price increment. For example, if an item weighs 4.1 ounces, the next weight (price) increment is 8 ounces. If an item weighs 12.1 ounces, the next weight (price) increment is 15.999.
2. Per pound from more than 1 pound through 70 pounds. Any fraction of a pound is considered a whole pound. For example, if an item weighs 1.25 pounds, the weight (price) increment is 2 pounds.

1.3 USPS Ground Advantage – Limited Overland Routes Prices

USPS Ground Advantage — LOR retail prices are only available when mailing eligible items within Alaska for pieces delivered to or from the eligible intra-Alaska ZIP Codes not connected by overland routes in Exhibit 1.3. USPS Ground Advantage —LOR retail prices are not available through online or commercial postage payment.

Exhibit 1.3 USPS Ground Advantage — Retail LOR Eligible Intra-Alaska ZIP Codes

USPS Ground Advantage — Retail — LOR eligible intra-Alaska ZIP Codes are as follows:

99545, 99546, 99547, 99548, 99549, 99550, 99551, 99552, 99553, 99554, 99555, 99557, 99558, 99559, 99561, 99563, 99564, 99565, 99569, 99571, 99574, 99575, 99576, 99578, 99579, 99580, 99581, 99583, 99585, 99589, 99590, 99591, 99602, 99604, 99606, 99607, 99608, 99609, 99612, 99613, 99614, 99615, 99619, 99620, 99621, 99622, 99624, 99625, 99626, 99627, 99628, 99630, 99632, 99633, 99634, 99636, 99637, 99638, 99640, 99641, 99643, 99644, 99647, 99648, 99649, 99650, 99651, 99653, 99655, 99656, 99657, 99658, 99659, 99660, 99661, 99662, 99663, 99665, 99666, 99667, 99668, 99670, 99671, 99675, 99677, 99678, 99679, 99680, 99681, 99682, 99684, 99685, 99689, 99690, 99691, 99692, 99695, 99697, 99720, 99721, 99722, 99723, 99724, 99726, 99727, 99730, 99732, 99733, 99734, 99736, 99738, 99739, 99740, 99741, 99742, 99745, 99746, 99747, 99748, 99749, 99750, 99751, 99752, 99753, 99754, 99756, 99757, 99758, 99759, 99761, 99762, 99763, 99765, 99766, 99767, 99768, 99769, 99770, 99771, 99772, 99773, 99774, 99777, 99778, 99781, 99782, 99783, 99784, 99785, 99786, 99788, 99789, 99790, 99791, 99801, 99802, 99803, 99811, 99812, 99820, 99821, 99824, 99825, 99826, 99827, 99829, 99830, 99832, 99833, 99835, 99836, 99840, 99841, 99850, 99901, 99903, 99918, 99919, 99921, 99922, 99923, 99925, 99926, 99927, 99928, 99929, 99950.

1.4 Dimensional Weight Price for Low-Density Parcels

1.4.1 General

Postage for USPS Ground Advantage parcels addressed for delivery to zones 1-9 and USPS Ground Advantage — LOR parcels, exceeding 1 cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) is based on the actual weight or the dimensional weight (as calculated in 1.4.2 or 1.4.3), whichever is greater.

1.4.2 Determining Dimensional Weight for Rectangular Parcels

1. Measure the length, width, and height in inches. Round off (see 604.7.0) each measurement to the nearest whole inch.
2. Multiply the length by the width and then that total by the height.
3. If the result exceeds 1,728 cubic inches, divide the result by 166 and round up (see 604.7.0) to the next whole number to determine the dimensional weight in pounds.
4. If the dimensional weight exceeds 70 pounds, the customer pays the 70-pound price.

1.4.3 Determining Dimensional Weight for Nonrectangular Parcels

Follow these steps to determine the dimensional weight for a nonrectangular parcel:

1. Measure the length, width, and height in inches at their extreme dimensions. Round off (see 604.7.0) each measurement to the nearest whole inch.
2. Multiply the length by the width and then that total by the height.
3. Multiply the result by an adjustment factor of 0.785.
4. If the final result exceeds 1,728 cubic inches, divide the result by 166 and round up (see 604.7.0) to the next whole number to determine the dimensional weight in pounds.
5. If the dimensional weight exceeds 70 pounds, the customer pays the 70-pound price.

1.5 Determining Single-Piece Weight

To determine single-piece weight in any mailing of nonidentical-weight pieces, weigh each piece individually. To determine single-piece weight in a mailing of identical-weight pieces, weigh a sample group of at least 10 randomly selected pieces and divide the total sample weight by the number of pieces in the sample. Express all single-piece weights in decimal pounds rounded off to four decimal places.

1.6 Keys and Identification Devices

Keys and identification devices (such as identification cards and uncovered identification tags) that weigh 13 ounces or less may be returned at the applicable single-piece First-Class Mail flat price plus the fee. Keys and identification devices that weigh more than 13 ounces are subject to Priority Mail prices under 123.1.7. The key or identification device must bear, contain, or have securely attached the name and complete address of a person, organization, or concern, with instructions to return the key or identification device to that address and a statement guaranteeing payment of postage due on delivery.

1.7 Nonmachinable Surcharge

The nonmachinable surcharge is charged per piece and applies to letter-size pieces that meet one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics in 101.1.2. Pieces mailed at the card price are not subject to the nonmachinable surcharge. An envelope weighing no more than one ounce with one enclosed standard optical disc no larger than 12 centimeters in diameter that is mailed as letter-size BRM (see 505.1.0) or PRM (see 505.2.0) and addressed to a company who sent the disc and BRM or PRM envelope to a subscriber as part of a round-trip-mailing (under 233.2.8) is not subject to the nonmachinable surcharge.

1.8 Nonstandard Fees

A USPS Ground Advantage — Retail and USPS Ground Advantage — LOR piece is subject to a nonstandard fee (see Notice 123—Price List) as follows:

1. A piece measures more than 22 inches up to 30 inches long.
2. A piece measures more than 30 inches long.
3. A piece measures more than 2 cubic feet (3,456 cubic inches). Dimensions for rectangular pieces are determined by measuring the length, width, and height in inches, rounding off (see 604.7.0) each measurement to the nearest whole inch and multiplying the length by the width by the height. Dimensions for nonrectangular pieces are calculated as above and the result multiplied by an adjustment factor of 0.785. If either calculation exceeds 3,456 cubic inches, the piece is subject to the nonstandard fee.
4. A piece may be subject to both a length (1.8a, 1.8b) and a cube (1.8c) nonstandard fee.

2.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail

2.1 Description of Service

First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail receive expeditious handling and transportation. USPS does not guarantee the delivery of First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail within a specified time. Certain USPS Ground Advantage – Retail pieces may receive deferred handling.

2.2 Defining Characteristics

2.2.1 Inspection of Contents

First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail are sealed against postal inspection.

2.2.2 Forwarding and Return Service

The price of First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail include forwarding service to a new address for up to 12 months and return service if the mailpiece is undeliverable.

2.2.3 Extra Services

First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail are eligible to receive the following extra services as specified (See 503 for information regarding additional extra services):

1. First Class Mail: Registered Mail services and Certified Mail services.
2. USPS Ground Advantage — Retail: Registered Mail services.

3.0 Content Standards

3.1 General Eligibility

With the exception of restricted material as described in 601.8.0, any mailable item may be mailed as First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail.

3.2 Bills and Statements of Account

Bills and statements of account must be mailed as First-Class Mail, USPS Ground Advantage — Retail, Priority Mail, or Priority Mail Express and are defined as follows:

1. Bills and statements of account assert a debt in a definite amount owed by the addressee to the sender or a third party. In addition, bills include a demand for payment; statements of account do not include a demand for payment. The debt does not have to be due immediately but may become due at a later time or on demand. The debt asserted need not be legally collectible or owed.
2. Bills and statements of account do not need to state the precise amount due if they contain information that would enable the debtor to determine that amount.

3.3 Personal Information

Mail containing personal information must be mailed as First-Class Mail, USPS Ground Advantage — Retail, Priority Mail, or Priority Mail Express. Personal information is any information specific to the addressee.

3.4 Handwritten and Typewritten Material

Mail containing handwritten or typewritten material must be mailed as First-Class Mail, USPS Ground Advantage — Retail, Priority Mail, or Priority Mail Express.

3.5 Matter Marked Postcard or Double Postcard

Any matter marked “Postcard” or “Double Postcard” must be mailed as First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, or Priority Mail Express.

3.6 Prohibited Air Transportation

All First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail are subject to limitations for air transportation in 601.8.0.