Quick Service Guide 440a

Commercial Parcels

Standard Mail Machinable Parcels

January 4, 2010
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Related QSG

703, Standard Mail Nonprofit Eligibility

Physical Standards (401)

Minimum weight: 6 ounces (3.5 ounces for parcels prepared under 401.1.5.2).

Maximum weight: less than 16 ounces.

For an overview of the physical standards for commercial parcels, see Quick Service Guide 401.

Prices and Fees (443.1.0)

For a complete listing of commercial Standard Mail prices, see Notice 123-Price List.

Unless prepared in 5-digit/scheme containers, Standard Mail machinable parcels are subject to a surcharge if they do not bear a GS1-128 barcode under 708.5.0.

Destination discounts apply to mail prepared as prescribed by USPS and addressed for delivery within service area of destination BMC/ASF, SCF (5-digit and SCF), or delivery unit (5-digit only) under 446.

Annual presort mailing fee applies.

Content (443.2.0)

Pieces are eligible if not required to be mailed at First-Class Mail prices or not authorized for Periodicals prices. Nonprofit prices require specific authorization (703.1.0).

Eligibility Standards (443.3.0)

Mailings of 200 or more addressed pieces (or 50 pounds of addressed pieces), sorted and marked as described below. Machinable parcels (401.1.5) and irregular parcels (401.1.6) may not be combined in the same mailing.

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

A certified process must be used at least once a year to ensure accuracy of 5-digit ZIP Codes.

Mail prepared using an extra service must bear a return address and an ancillary service endorsement that results in the return of the mailpiece if undeliverable (443.4.5).

Addresses on all pieces must be updated within 95 days before mailing through a USPS-approved address update method (e.g., ACS, NCOA^Link, or the appropriate ancillary service endorsement (except Forwarding Service Requested) under 507.1.5.3). For an overview of the Move Update standards, see Quick Service Guide 230a.

Postage Payment and Documentation (444)

Meter (604.4.0), or permit imprint (604.5.0).

Documentation:

Additional standards apply to mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces.

Mail Preparation (445)

Marking on each piece in the postage area (402.2.0):

For barcode placement, see 402.4.0.

For use of detached address labels with merchandise samples more than 5 inches wide (high) or 1/4 inch thick, or nonuniform in thickness, see 602.4.0.

Enter and Deposit (446)

Mailing entered at an acceptance point designated by USPS.

Machinable Sacking Sequence—when entered at Origin (445.5.3)
Origin BMC Sacks: Required, no minimum. Labels: For Line 1, use L601, Column B.1 For Line 2, "STD MACH BMC." Price: Mixed BMC	Mixed BMC Sacks: Required, no minimum for all remaining mail. Labels: For Line 1, "MXD" followed by L601, Column B information for the BMC serving the 3-digit ZIP Code prefix of the entry Post Office. For Line 2, "STD MACH WKG." Price: Mixed BMC

1For DBMC price eligibility, see 446.3.0. 1For DDU and DBMC price eligibility and preparation see DMM 440.

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