Quick Service Guide 240b

Discount Letters and Cards

Standard Mail Machinable letters

July 2007
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Related QSG

703, Standard Mail Nonprofit Eligibility

Physical Standards (201)

Maximum weight: 3.3 ounces.

For an overview of the physical standards for discount letters and cards, see Quick Service Guide 201.

Rates and Fees (243.1.0)

For pieces over 3.3 ounces, see Standard Mail Not Flat-Machinable rates in 443.5.5.

There are no Standard Mail card rates; cards may be mailed at letter rates.

Destination discounts apply to mail prepared as prescribed by USPS and addressed for delivery within service area of destination BMC/ASF or SCF (246.2.0).

Annual $175.00 presort mailing fee.

Content (243.2.0)

Letters containing mailable items not required to be sent using First-Class Mail can be sent using Standard Mail. Standard Mail is typically used for advertisements and flyers. Additional content restrictions must be met for authorized nonprofit mailers (703.1.0).

Eligibility Standards (243.5.0)

Mailings of 200 or more addressed pieces, sorted and marked as described below. All pieces must be machinable under 201.1.0. Pieces are eligible if not required to be mailed at First-Class Mail rates or not eligible for Periodicals rates. Nonprofit rates require specific authorization (703.1.0).

Each piece must include a complete delivery address with correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code.

A certified process (243.3.8.1) must be used within 12 months before mailing to ensure accuracy of 5-digit ZIP Codes.

Mailers can apply Repositionable Notes for an additional charge of $0.015. See 709.3.0.

Postage Payment and Documentation (244)

Precanceled stamp (604.3.0), meter (604.4.0), or permit imprint (604.5.0).

Additional standards apply to mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces.

Documentation:

Mail Preparation (245)

Marking on each piece in the postage area (202.3.0):

When preparing full trays, mailers must fill all possible 2-foot trays first; if there is mail remaining for the presort destination, mailers must use a combination of 1-foot and 2-foot trays that result in the fewest total number of trays for that presort level.

See reverse for preparation and labeling.

Use 2-inch tray label (245.4.0) or barcoded tray label (recommended) (245.4.9).

Trays on pallets (705.8.5) are permitted and preferred.

Trays must be sleeved and strapped (245.3.4). See 245.3.5 for exceptions to strapping for mailings that originate and destinate in delivery area of same SCF and for trays not processed at a BMC.

Strapping not required on trays placed on SCF pallets that are secured with stretchwrap.

Enter and Deposit (246)

Mailing entered at an acceptance point designated by USPS.

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.

Traying Sequence (245.5.3)
3-Digit Origin/Entry Trays: Optional, trays may be prepared for each origin 3-digit tray; one less-than-full tray permitted. Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column A, for destination facility. For Line 2, use "STD LTR 3D MACH." Rate: Machinable AADC	AADC Trays: Required, 150-piece minimum to the same AADC, (see L801); one less-than-full/overflow tray permitted.1 Labels: For Line 1, use L801, Column B for destination facility. For Line 2, use "STD LTR AADC MACH." Rate: Machinable AADC	Mixed AADC Trays: Required for any remaining pieces placed in mixed AADC trays; one less-than-full/overflow tray permitted. Labels: For Line 1, use L011, Column B (for BMC/ASF entry, use L010, Column B). For Line 2, use "STD LTR MACH WKG." Rate: Machinable Mixed AADC
Bundling not permitted except for mailings of card-size pieces and for pieces placed in less-than-full 3-digit origin or mixed AADC trays.

1Instead of preparing overflow trays, mailers may include pieces in the mixed AADC trays. Pieces placed in a mixed AADC tray in lieu of an AADC overflow tray are eligible for the AADC rate. Pieces must be grouped by destination and placed in the front of the tray.

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