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Quick Service Guide 507aAdditional ServicesBusiness Reply MailJuly 2007 Related QSGs 507b, Courtesy Reply Mail (CRM) Overview For an annual permit fee, a business reply mail (BRM) permit is available for distributing business reply cards, envelopes, self-mailers, cartons, and labels. BRM allows the permit holder to receive First-Class Mail and Priority Mail back from customers by paying postage only on the mail returned. The BRM permit holder guarantees payment of First-Class Mail postage plus a per piece charge for pieces returned by the USPS (see payment options below). When designing a BRM mailpiece or label, mailers must consult with their local post office. The piece must conform to a specific format to qualify as BRM, including a unique ZIP+4 code assigned by the USPS. Proofs for regular BRM should be approved by the USPS before printing. Proofs for Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) must be approved by the USPS. On page two is a layout example for a BRM envelope. BRM pieces distributed in automation rate mailings are required to meet automation compatibility standards. BRM templates are available on the Postal Explorer Web site at pe.usps.com by selecting "Mailpiece Design" in the left frame. Payment Options (507.8.0) Basic BRM—Annual permit fee of $175. Per piece charge of $0.70 plus First-Class Mail postage. Paid through an advance deposit account or by cash/check on delivery.
High-Volume BRM—Annual permit fee ($175) plus a BRM annual account maintenance fee of $550 for each account at each delivery unit. Per piece charge of $0.08 plus First-Class Mail postage. Paid through an advance deposit account. Best suited if return volume for letters is approximately 887 pieces or more per year.
Basic Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM)—Annual permit fee ($175) plus a BRM annual account maintenance fee of $550. Per piece charge of $0.05 plus a lower QBRM automation First-Class Mail postage rate. Paid through an advance deposit account. Used only on barcoded automation-compatible cards and letter-size mail weighing up to 2 ounces if design is approved for QBRM by USPS before distribution (507.8.3). A unique ZIP+4 code is assigned by the USPS for each rate category of QBRM to be returned (one for card-rate pieces, one for letter-size pieces weighing 1 ounce or less, and one for letter-size pieces weighing over 1 ounce up to 2 ounces). Best suited if return volume is approximately 809 pieces or more annually.
High-Volume QBRM—Annual permit fee ($175) and a BRM annual account maintenance fee ($550) and separate quarterly fee of $1,800. Mailers can pay quarterly fee for any consecutive 3-calendar-month period. Per piece charge $0.005 plus lower QBRM automation First-Class Mail postage rate. Paid through an advanced deposit account . Best suited if return volume is approximately 36,036 pieces or more quarterly.
Other Post Offices A BRM permit holder can allow its authorized representatives or agents to use that permit number to receive BRM at any post office. The original permit holder must supply the representative with a letter authorizing the use of the BRM permit and a copy of the USPS receipt showing the annual fee payment for that permit. See 507.8.11 for additional requirements. Official Mail Authorized users of official mail may distribute BRM, subject to 703.7.11 and 507.8.0. 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.
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