QSG 370 Discount Flats - Media Mail Presorted Flats

ARCHIVED QSG - NOV 07, 2011

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Quick Service Guide 370

Commercial Flats

Media Mail and Library Mail Presorted Flats
November 7, 2011
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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 and Library Mail prices, see Notice 123–Price List.

Flat-size pieces that do not meet the physical standards in 301.1.3 through 301.1.5 must be prepared as parcels.

Annual presort mailing fee applies separately for Media Mail and Library Mail.

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.

Library Mail:

Generally used by qualified libraries, schools, nonprofit organizations, universities, and museums to mail specific types of Package Services matter that meet additional eligibility standards. Mailable items are limited generally to books, recordings, educational, and museum materials; advertising restrictions apply. Specific mailable items may be sent to, from, or between a school, college, university, public library, museum, herbarium, or nonprofit organization (religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic, agricultural, labor, veterans, or fraternal); any such institution, organization, or association, and an individual who has no financial interest in the sale, promotion, or distribution of the materials. Also, there are provisions for publishers to mail specified items to qualified customers.

Eligibility Standards (373.6.0)

Mailings of 300 or more addressed pieces as Media Mail and mailings of 300 or more addressed pieces as Library Mail are eligible for 5-digit and Basic prices. 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.

For Library Mail, each piece must show in the address or return address the name of a school, college, university, public library, museum, herbarium, or a qualified nonprofit organization (703.1.2).

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 (373.1.2).

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)

Media Mail: mark each piece “Media Mail” and “Presorted” or “PRSRT” in the postage area. For optional marking locations, see 302.3.3.3.

Library Mail: mark each piece “Library Mail” and “Presorted” or “PRSRT” in the postage area. For optional marking locations, see 302.3.3.4.

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-Digit/Scheme 1 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.

Pieces 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.

²	Bundles may contain less than 10 pieces if the bundle size would exceed the maximum size (375.2.7).

³	5-digit bundles of flats placed in 5-digit sacks may weigh a maximum of 40 pounds.