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Quick Service Guide 707g
Special Standards
Periodicals—Automation Flats
January 2006
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Related QSGs
707a, Periodicals General Information and Eligibility
301a, Designing Flats for Automated Processing
Physical Standards (301, 707.3)
Maximum weight:
- 20 ounces for automated flat sorting machine (AFSM).
- 6 pounds for upgraded flat sorting machine (UFSM).
For an overview of designing flats for automated processing, see Quick
Service Guide 301a.
Rates and Fees (707.1)
Rates include addressed piece charge, pound rates (advertising
and nonadvertising), and applicable discounts; factors include
place
of mailing, destination,
presort, etc.
5-Digit, 3-digit, and basic rates are bundle-based. Outside-County
rates apply; In-County rates apply to all eligible in-county
copies of other
than requester publications (707.11.3).
- 5-Digit: Six or more pieces sorted to 5-digit bundles and
placed into 5-digit, 3-digit, SCF, ADC (L004), and
mixed ADC sacks.
- 3-Digit: Six or more pieces sorted to 3-digit bundles
and placed into 3-digit, SCF, ADC (L004), and mixed
ADC sacks.
- Basic:
- Six or more pieces sorted to ADC bundles and pieces
sorted to mixed ADC bundles and placed into
ADC and mixed ADC
sacks.
- Fewer than six pieces sorted to 5-digit or 3-digit
bundles.
Destination entry discounts (DSCF and DADC) have
additional standards (707.28).
Not all presort levels may be claimed in combination
with other automation or destination entry
discounts.
Pallet discount: $0.005 per-piece discount
available for each addressed nonletter-size
piece prepared
in bundles on pallets
(outside-county only).
Destination entry pallet discount: $0.016
per-piece discount available for each addressed
nonletter-size
piece prepared
in bundles on destination
entry
pallets.
Ride-Along rate available for items up to 3.3 ounces eligible as
Standard Mail (707.15).
Eligibility (707.4, 707.14)
For authorized publications (e.g., magazines
and newspapers) whose primary purpose is transmitting
information.
Periodicals must be
issued at least
four times a
year at a stated frequency from a known office
of publication and be formed of printed sheets.
General
and requester
publications must have
an established
list
of subscribers or requesters. All pieces within
each mailing must
be in the same processing category.
Mailings eligible for automation discounts
must contain automation-compatible (301.3),
100% ZIP+4
barcoded
or delivery point barcoded (302.4)
pieces, sorted as described below.
Each piece must include a complete delivery
address with correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4
code.
For address standards, see 707.4;
for barcode quality standards, see 707.14;
and for CASS/MASS, see standards
in 708.3.
Addresses matched using CASS/MASS-certified
process within 180 days before mailing.
All letter-size reply cards and envelopes
(business reply, courtesy reply,
and metered reply mail)
provided as enclosures
must meet
the standards
in 707.14.1.2.
Mailers can apply Repositionable Notes ("sticky notes") for
an additional charge of $0.015. See 709.7.
Postage Payment and Documentation (707.16, 707.17)
Advance deposit account(s) at original
and each additional entry post
office, unless
authorized under Centralized
Postage Payment
(CPP) (707.16.5).
Documentation:
- Postage statement: Form 3541,
Periodicals One Issue
or One Edition, or approved facsimile.
- Supporting documentation: required
by rates claimed, including
marked copy. Documentation
generated
by PAVE-certified software
or printed
in standardized
format.
- Form 3553 for address and
barcode accuracy must
be retained by
mailer for 1 year
(708.3.5.2).
Mail Preparation (707.25)
Bundle preparation, labeling,
and sacking (brown sacks
only): see
reverse.
Pink barcoded sack labels
required (707.21.5).
See reverse for
pink sack label Line
2 information.
Pieces meeting specifications
for the automated
flat sorting machine
(AFSM)
100 in 301.3.3 must
be prepared in separate
bundles from
pieces meeting
specifications for
the upgraded flat
sorting machine (UFSM)
1000 in 301.3.4.
Separate
bundle minimums (707.25.1.5)
must be met for each
bundle type. Within
each
bundle,
mailers
may combine pieces
of nonidentical weights
if authorized under
705.2.
AFSM 100
and UFSM 1000 bundles
may be combined in
the same
sack or
on the same
pallet.
Any mailing job that
contains bundles
of Presorted flats
and bundles
of automation flats
must be
cosacked using
705.9.
Enter and Deposit (707.27)
Only at authorized
original and/or
additional entry
post office(s),
unless authorized
exceptional dispatch
under
707.27.3.
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.
| Bundling
and Sacking Sequence (707.25) |
|
5-Digit (Required)1
Bundles: Pieces must be bundled if 6 or more pieces
to same 5-digit ZIP Code; fewer than 6 pieces in a bundle
permitted.
Labels: Red Label
5 or optional endorse-ment line (OEL) (708.7).
Rate: 5-Digit2
|
3-Digit (Required)
Bundles: Pieces
must be bundled if 6 or more pieces to same 3-digit ZIP Code
prefix; fewer than 6 pieces in a bundle permitted.
Labels: Green Label 3
or OEL.
Rate: 3-Digit2 |
|
ADC (Required)
Bundles: Pieces
must be bundled if 6 or more pieces to same ADC (L004); fewer
than 6 pieces in a bundle not permitted.
Labels: Pink Label A
or OEL.
Rate: Basic |
Mixed ADC (Required)
Bundles: Any
remaining pieces must be bundled
in mixed ADC bundles.
Labels: Tan Label X
or OEL.
Rate: Basic |
 |
5-Digit
Sacks: Required at 24 pieces; optional with one 6-piece
bundle minimum to the same 5-digit ZIP Code.
Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use city, state, and 5-digit
ZIP Code on mail; for Line 2, "NEWS" (or "PER")
and "FLTS 5D BC." |
3-Digit
Sacks: Required at 24 pieces; optional with one 6-piece
bundle minimum to same 3-digit ZIP Code prefix.
Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column A; for Line
2, "NEWS" (or "PER")
and "FLTS 3D BC." |
SCF
Sacks: Required at 24 pieces (no minimum for required
origin/optional entry SCF); optional with one 6-piece bundle.
Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column C; for Line
2, "NEWS" (or "PER")
and "FLTS SCF BC." |
ADC
Sacks: Required at 24 pieces; optional with one 6-piece
bundle minimum
to the same ADC (L004).
Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L004, Column B; for Line
2, "NEWS" (or "PER")
and "FLTS ADC BC." |
Mixed ADC
Sacks: Required,
no minimum for any remaining bundles placed into mixed ADC
sacks.
Barcoded Labels: For
Line 1, use L009, Column
B;
for Line 2, "NEWS" (or "PER")
and "FLTS BC WKG." |
|
1. Optional scheme bundling available (707.25)
for ASFM 100–compatible flats (301.3.3).
2. Basic rate applies to bundles with fewer than six pieces.
3. Use "PER" if issued less frequently than weekly.
Rate is based on type of bundle regardless of sack in which it is placed.
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