Quick Service Guide 705f
Special Standards
Destination Entry Discounts (DBMC/DADC/DSCF/DDU)

January 2006
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Physical Standards (453.1)

Standard Mail, Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, and Periodicals may be eligible for further discounts if the mail is entered closer to its destination.

After mail is verified and postage is paid at the facility where the mailer holds the permit, the mail can be taken to three places to receive a destination entry discount: a destination bulk mail center (DBMC) (or destination area distribution center [DADC] for Periodicals), a destination sectional center facility (DSCF), or a destination delivery unit (DDU). The discount received depends on where the mail is entered.

Rates and Fees

Discount varies by destination and class of mail, subject to payment of applicable mailing fees. All mail must meet the eligibility, volume, and preparation standards for the class of mail and rate claimed.

Standard Mail (246 for letters, 346 for flats, or 446 for parcels):
Minimum volume: 200 or more addressed pieces (or 50 pounds) per mailing. Regular and Nonprofit Standard Mail meeting the basic standards in 243.2, 343.2, or 443.2 may qualify for DBMC, DSCF, or DDU discounts.

• DBMC rate applies to mail deposited at the correct DBMC (or destination auxiliary service facility (ASF)) addressed for delivery within that facility's service area and prepared subject to the standards for the rate claimed.
• DSCF rate applies to mail deposited at the correct DSCF. The mail must be addressed for delivery within that facility's service area and placed in other than an ADC, AADC, BMC, mixed ADC, mixed AADC, or residual tray, sack, or pallet (as permitted by the rate claimed) that is correctly labeled to that DSCF or postal facility within its service area.
• DDU rate applies to carrier route mail that is entered at the facility (post office, station, branch, etc.) where the carrier cases mail for the carrier route (city route, rural route, highway contract route, general delivery unit, or post office box section) serving the address on the mailpiece. Pieces for which a DDU discount is claimed must also be eligible for and claimed at one of the Enhanced Carrier Route rates or Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route rates. Automation rate Enhanced Carrier Route mail must be deposited at the facility identified by the district drop shipment coordinator.

Parcel Post Parcel Select (456.2):

• DBMC: entered at the destination BMC/ASF for delivery within the DBMC/ASF service area and part of a mailing of 50 or more Parcel Post pieces.
• DSCF: entered at the designated facility for delivery within the DSCF area, sorted by 5-digit scheme or 5-digit ZIP Code destinations, and part of a mailing of 50 or more Parcel Post pieces. Nonmachinable parcels sorted to 3-digit ZIP Code areas subject to $1.15 surcharge (456.2.2.3).
• DDU: entered at the designated destination delivery unit for delivery within the DDU area and part of a mailing of 50 or more Parcel Post pieces.

Bound Printed Matter (363 for flats or 463 for parcels):

• DBMC rate applies to mail deposited at the correct DBMC (or destination auxiliary service facility (ASF)) addressed for delivery within that facility's service area and prepared subject to the standards for the rate claimed.
• DSCF rate applies to mail deposited at the correct DSCF. The mail must be addressed for delivery within that facility's service area.
• DDU rate applies to mail entered at the designated destination delivery unit for delivery within the DDU area. Rate not available for flat-size pieces weighing 1 pound or less unless sorted to carrier route.

Periodicals (707.28):

• DADC rate applies to addressed pieces (not eligible for In-County rates) addressed for delivery in the same DADC service area, deposited at the DADC or designated facility.
• DSCF rate applies to:
  • Letter-size and nonletter-size pieces (not eligible for In-County rates), when deposited at an SCF or a designated facility (L005) and addressed for delivery within the service area of the facility, including when part of a 3-digit scheme combination in L008.
  • Nonletter-size piece only, when deposited at a DDU (707.28.4.1) and prepared as follows:
    1. In 5-digit bundles placed in a merged 5-digit scheme or merged 5-digit sack.
    2. In 5-digit bundles placed on a merged 5-digit scheme, merged 5-digit, or 5-digit scheme pallet.
• DDU rate applies only to copies of publications entered at the facility where the carrier cases mail for the carrier route (city carrier route, rural route, highway contract route, general delivery unit, or post office box section) serving the address on the mailpiece. Pieces for which a DDU discount is claimed must also be eligible for and claimed at a Carrier Route rate.

For the specific DMM standards applicable to this category of mail, consult the DMM sections referenced above and the general sections within each DMM module.

Levels of Destination Entry DBMC Destination Bulk Mail Center For this discount, you may choose to enter your mail at a destination bulk mail center. The 21 bulk mail centers in the United States handle mail for large areas. An auxiliary service facility (ASF) sometimes acts as a DBMC. To qualify for DBMC rates, your mailpieces must be addressed for delivery within the service area for that particular DBMC or ASF. Available for: Standard Mail Bound Printed Matter Parcel Post DSCF Destination Sectional Center Facility There are 350 DSCFs in the United States. You can receive a greater discount by entering your mail at a destination sectional center facility. To qualify for DSCF rates, your mailpieces must be addressed for delivery within the service area for that particular DSCF. Available for: Standard Mail Periodicals Bound Printed Matter Parcel Post DDU Destination Delivery Unit (local post office) There are more than 33,000 DDUs in the United States. You can receive an even greater discount by taking your mail to a destination delivery unit. Standard Mail and Periodicals mailings that are taken to a DDU must be claimed at Carrier Route rates and addressed for delivery within the service area for that particular DDU. Available for: Standard Mail (Carrier Route only) Periodicals (Carrier Route only) Bound Printed Matter Parcel Post

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