DMM Advisory | Postal Explorer

Postal Explorer

The Postal Service is reminding customers that metallic mercury and devices containing metallic mercury are always prohibited in the mail stream. This includes antique items such as thermometers, barometers, blood pressure monitors and similar devices.

Pricing & Classification DMM Advisory

Message board to keep postal customers informed of changes to mailing standards, services, and prices.

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July 29, 2013

July Classification Updates

Postal Explorer^® (pe.usps.com) is your source for up-to-date mailing standards. The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®) is fully searchable on Postal Explorer and features fly-out menus, cross-reference links, and an extensive subject index. Yesterday we updated our mailing standards to include the following changes:

Collect on Delivery (COD)--Service Features

We revised 503.12.0, 507.4.0 and 508.1.0 to provide new standards for the automatic holding period for Collect on Delivery (COD) articles, expand the acceptable payment methods for COD articles, and provide current options for the redirecting of COD articles. We published this information in the July 11, 2013, Postal Bulletin.

New Ancillary Service Endorsement Options

We revised 507.1.5 to provide mailers with new ancillary service endorsement options. We published this information in the July 11, 2013, Postal Bulletin.

Clarification of Official Mail Standards

We revised 703 to clarify the standards for using Official Mail, such as the use of postage statements and the sale of Penalty Mail stamps and stationery. We published this information in the June 27, 2013, Postal Bulletin.

More Leeway for Barcodes on Flats

We revised 302.5.0 to remove obsolete language that prohibits 5-digit or 9-digit routing barcodes on automation flats. We published this information in the June 27, 2013, Postal Bulletin.

Package Simplification & Priority Mail Insurance Enhancement

We revised various related sections to reflect the renaming of Express Mail^® as Priority Mail Express™ and new standards to include insurance coverage in the price of barcoded domestic Priority Mail^®. We published this information in the June 27, 2013, Postal Bulletin.

Refunds and Exchanges

We revised 604.9.0 and other DMM sections to remove obsolete standards pertaining to postage refunds and stamp exchanges, and to standardize processes for requesting refunds for PC Postage^® labels and extra service refunds.. We published this information in the June 27, 2013, Postal Bulletin.

Expansion of Optional Use of Flat Trays for Periodicals Flats

We revised 705 and 707 to allow Periodicals nonmachinable flats and Periodicals flats sorted to carrier routes to be prepared in flat trays instead of sacks, whenever the current standards allow such mail in sacks. We published this information in the May 30, 2013, Postal Bulletin.

Our next scheduled DMM update is September 3, 2013.