Quick Service Guide 370

Commercial Flats

Media Mail Presorted Flats

January 4, 2010
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Physical Standards (301)

Maximum weight: 70 pounds.

For an overview of the physical standards for commercial flats, see Quick Service Guide 301.

Prices and Fees (373.1.0)

For a complete list of Commercial Media Mail prices, see Notice 123-Price List.

Flat-size pieces that do not meet the physical standards in 301.1.3 and 301.1.4 must be prepared as parcels.

For heavier pieces, see 373.1.0.

Annual presort mailing fee applies.

Content (373.2.0)

Generally used for books (at least eight pages), film (16 mm or narrower), printed music, printed test materials, video and sound recordings, playscripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, and computer-readable media. Sound recordings may include incidental announcements of recordings and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such recordings. Books may contain no advertising other than incidental announcements of other books.

Eligibility Standards (373.3.0)

Mailings of 300 or more addressed pieces. Prices based on weight and level of presort.

Each piece must include complete delivery and return addresses with correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code.

Mailing items with no ancillary service endorsement obligates the mailer to pay any applicable forwarding and return postage charges at the single-piece price (507.1.5.4).

Rigid, nonrectangular, and pieces that are not uniformly thick must be prepared as parcels and pay parcel prices (373.1.3).

Postage Payment and Documentation (374)

Meter (604.4.0) or permit imprint (604.5.0).

Postage statement: PS Form 3605-R or approved facsimile.

Mail Preparation (375)

Mark each piece "Media Mail" and "Presorted" or "PRSRT" in the postage area. For optional marking locations, see 302.3.2.3.

Flat-size pieces that do not meet the physical standards in 301.1.3 and 301.1.4 must be prepared as parcels.

Enter and Deposit (376)

All meter or permit imprint: generally, at Post Office where permit or meter license is held.

Preparation

Bundling and Sacking Sequence (375.5.0)
5-Digit/Scheme1 Bundles: Optional but required for 5-digit price. Scheme bundles required for 5-digit ZIP Codes in L007. Required at 10 addressed pieces, smaller volumes not permitted.2 Maximum weight 20 pounds.3 Labels: Red Label 5 SCH, Red Label 5, or optional endorsement line (OEL) (708.7.0).	3-Digit/Scheme1 Bundles: Scheme bundles required for 3-digit ZIP Codes in L008. Required at 10 addressed pieces, smaller volumes not permitted.2 Maximum weight 20 pounds. Labels: Green Label 3 SCH, Green Label 3, or OEL.	ADC Bundles: Required at 10 addressed pieces, smaller volumes not permitted.2 Maximum weight 20 pounds. Labels: Pink Label A or OEL.	Mixed ADC Bundles: Required with no minimum. Maximum weight 20 pounds. Labels: Tan Label X or OEL.
Sacks: Optional but required for 5-digit price. Minimum 10 pieces (or 1,000 cubic inches), smaller volumes not permitted. Labels: Line 1: For 5-digit scheme sacks, use L007, Column B. For 5-digit sacks, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail. Line 2: For 5-digit scheme sacks, use "PSVC FLT 5D SCH NBC." For 5-digit sacks, use "PSVC FLT 5D NBC." Price: 5-Digit	Sacks: Required at 20 pieces (or 1,000 cubic inches), smaller volumes not permitted. Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column A. For Line 2, use "PSVC FLTS 3D NON BC." Price: Basic	Sacks: Required at 20 pieces (or 1,000 cubic inches), smaller volumes not permitted. Labels: For Line 1, use L004, Column B. For Line 2, use "PSVC FLTS ADC NON BC." Price: Basic	Sacks: Required, no minimum. Labels: For Line 1, use L009, Column B. For Line 2, use "PSVC FLTS NON BC WKG." Price: Basic
Each bundle (except mixed ADC bundles) must contain at least two addressed pieces.

1Pieces weighing up to 20 ounces and meeting the automation-compatibility standards in 301.3.0 must be prepared in 5-digit scheme and 3-digit scheme bundles and 5-digit scheme sacks. Mailers must prepare all possible 5-digit scheme bundles and 5-digit scheme sacks before preparing 5-digit bundles and 5-digit sacks. All possible 3-digit scheme bundles must be prepared before preparing 3-digit bundles. 2Bundles may contain less than 10 pieces if the bundle size would exceed the maximum size (375.2.7). 35-digit bundles of flats placed in 5-digit sacks may weigh a maximum of 40 pounds.

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