Quick Service Guide 240c

Discount Letters and Cards

Standard Mail Automation Letters

July 2007
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Related QSG

703, Standard Mail Nonprofit Eligibility

Physical Standards (201)

Maximum weight: 3.5 ounces.

Heavy letter mail weighing more than 3 ounces must have a barcode in the address block and be prepared in a sealed envelope under 201.3.13.4.

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

Rates and Fees (243.1.0)

Letters that weigh more than 3.3 ounces but not more than 3.5 ounces pay piece/pound postage but receive a discount (see 243.7.6).

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 (243.7.0)

Mailings of 200 or more addressed pieces must be 100% delivery point or Intelligent Mail barcoded (708.4.0), sorted, and marked as described below. All pieces must be automation compatible (201.3.0). 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 also include a complete delivery address with correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code.

For address standards, see 243.7.4; for barcode quality standards, see 708.4.0 and CASS/MASS standards in 708.3.0.

Addresses matched using CASS/MASS-certified process within 180 days before mailing date.

All letter-size reply cards and envelopes (business reply, courtesy reply, and metered reply mail) provided as enclosures must meet the standards in 201.3.14.

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 (245.7.0)

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

Pieces with a delivery point barcode or an Intelligent Mail barcode printed in the barcode clear zone must also bear an "AUTO" marking. For rate markings applied by a MLOCR, see 202.3.5. Pieces not claimed at an automation rate must not bear an "AUTO" marking unless First-Class Mail single-piece postage is affixed or a corrective single-piece rate marking is applied.

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.

Barcoded tray labels required (245.4.9).

See reverse for preparation and labeling.

Trays on pallets (705.8.5) are permitted and preferred.

Trays must be sleeved and strapped (246.3.4). See 245.3.5 for exceptions to strapping for mailings that originate and destinate in delivery area of same SCF. Strapping not required on trays placed on 5-digit, 3-digit, and SCF pallets that are secured with stretchwrap.

Enter and Deposit (246)

Mailing entered at an acceptance point designated by USPS.

Traying Sequence (245.7.5)
5-Digit/Scheme1 Trays: Optional, but 5-digit/scheme trays required for rate. 150-piece minimum to same 5-digit/scheme destination; only one overflow tray permitted per destination.2 Barcoded Labels: For Line 1: For 5-digit scheme trays, use destination in City State Product. For 5-digit trays, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail. Rate: 5-Digit	3-Digit/Scheme1 Trays: Required, at least 150 pieces to same 3-digit/scheme destination; only one overflow tray permitted per destination.2 Optional: One less-than-full tray may be prepared for any remaining pieces for each 3-digit/scheme of SCF serving post office where mail is verified. Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column B, for destination facility. Rate: 3-Digit or AADC3	AADC Trays: Required, at least 150 pieces to same AADC (see L801); group pieces within trays grouped by 3-digit/scheme; only one overflow tray permitted per destination.2 Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L801, Column B, for destination facility. Rate: AADC	Mixed AADC Trays: Required for all remaining pieces placed in mixed AADC trays; group pieces within trays by AADC; only one less-than-full tray permitted per mailing. Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, L011, Column B (for BMC/ASF entry, use L010, Column B). Rate: Mixed AADC
Bundling not permitted except for mailings of card-size pieces and for pieces in overflow and less-than-full trays. The maximum thickness for a bundle is 6 inches.

1For the 5-digit rate, all possible 5-digit scheme trays must be prepared, then all possible 5-digit trays. Mailers must prepare all possible 3-digit scheme trays, then prepare all possible 3-digit trays. 2Instead of preparing overflow trays with fewer than 150 pieces, mailers may include pieces in the next tray level if it results in at least 150 pieces in that tray. The rate is based on the overflow tray that would have been made (i.e., pieces placed in a 3-digit tray in lieu of 5-digit overflow trays are eligible for the 5-digit rate). Pieces placed in the next tray level must be grouped by destination and placed in the front of the tray. This option may be used selectively for 3-digit/scheme and AADC ZIP Codes. The overflow option does not apply origin/entry to 3-digit trays. 3AADC rate for any 3-digit/scheme tray for the origin SCF area containing fewer than 150 pieces.

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