E620 Presorted Rates

Summary

E620 describes the eligibility standards for Presorted Standard Mail mailings.

1.0 Basic Standards

1.1All Pieces

[6-12-03] All pieces in a Regular Standard Mail or Nonprofit Standard Mail Presorted rate mailing must:

a. Meet the basic standards for Standard Mail in E610.

b. Except as provided in 1.2, be part of a single mailing of at least 200 pieces or 50 pounds of pieces qualifying for Presorted Standard Mail. Regular and Nonprofit mailings must meet separate minimum volumes.

c. Bear a delivery address that includes the correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code and that meets these address quality standards:

(1) The ZIP Code accuracy standard in A030.2.0.

(2) If an alternative addressing format is used, the additional standards in A020.

(3) If merchandise samples are prepared with detached address labels, the additional standards in A060.

d. Be marked, sorted, and documented as specified in M045, M610, or, for flat-size mail only, under M900.

1.2Residual Volume Requirement

Pieces in an Enhanced Carrier Route rate mailing that has separately met a 200-piece or 50-pound minimum quantity requirement may be counted toward the minimum quantity requirement for a Presorted rate mailing, provided that the Enhanced Carrier Route rate mailing and the Presorted rate mailing are part of the same mailing job. Likewise, pieces in an automation rate mailing that has separately met a 200-piece or 50-pound minimum quantity requirement may be counted toward the minimum quantity requirement for a Presorted rate mailing, provided that the automation rate mailing and the Presorted mailing are part of the same mailing job. Pieces mailed at Presorted Standard Mail rates must not be counted toward the minimum volume requirements for an Enhanced Carrier Route rate or an automation rate mailing.

1.3Residual Mail Subject to First-Class or Priority Mail Rates

Pieces prepared as Standard Mail (i.e., that bear Standard Mail rate markings, ACS codes, etc.) that do not qualify for Enhanced Carrier Route, automation, or Presorted Standard Mail rates are subject to the single-piece First-Class or Priority Mail rates as applicable for the weight of the mailpiece. Metered pieces weighing over 13 ounces but less than 16 ounces that do not qualify for Standard Mail rates and any pieces that do not qualify for Standard Mail rates for which First-Class or Priority Mail service is desired must be re-enveloped or otherwise prepared so that they do not bear Standard Mail markings, endorsements, and ACS codes and must bear the proper First-Class Mail or Priority Mail rate markings and ACS codes. Mailers who have pieces (other than metered pieces weighing over 13 ounces but less than 16 ounces) that do not qualify for Standard Mail rates but that are prepared as Standard Mail and who do not desire to receive First-Class Mail or Priority Mail service for those pieces may enter their mailpieces “as is” (i.e., bearing the Standard Mail markings and endorsements), provided the requirements in P100 are met.

2.0 Rates

Presorted Regular or Nonprofit Standard Mail rates apply to Regular or Nonprofit Standard Mail letters, flats, and machinable and irregular parcels weighing less than 16 ounces that are prepared under M045, M610, or (flat-size mail only) under M900. Basic Presorted rates apply to pieces that do not meet the standards for the 3/5 Presorted rates described below. Basic rate and 3/5 rate pieces prepared as part of the same mailing are subject to a single minimum volume standard. Pieces that do not qualify for the 3/5 rate must be paid at the basic rate and prepared accordingly. Pieces may qualify for the 3/5 rate if they are presented:

a. In quantities of 150 or more letter-size pieces for a single 3-digit area, prepared in 5-digit or 3-digit trays.

b. [1-9-03] In a 5-digit, 5-digit scheme (under M950), or 3-digit package of 10 or more flat-size pieces and placed in a 5-digit, 5-digit scheme (under M950), or 3-digit sack containing at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds of pieces.

c. In a 5-digit package of 10 or more flat-size pieces that is part of a group of packages sorted to a merged 5-digit sack(s) or merged 5-digit scheme sack(s) destination that contains either at least one qualifying carrier route package of 10 or more pieces, or contains at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds of pieces prepared in 5-digit packages (both automation and Presorted rate 5-digit packages count toward the 125-piece or 15-pound sack minimum).

d. [1-9-03] In a 5-digit, 5-digit scheme, or 3-digit package of 10 or more flat-size pieces palletized under M045, M920, M930, or M940.

e. In a 5-digit scheme, 5-digit, ASF, or BMC sack containing at least 10 pounds of machinable parcels. (The 3/5 rates are available for pieces in 5-digit sacks only when all possible 5-digit sacks are prepared.)

f. On a 5-digit scheme, 5-digit, ASF, or BMC pallet of machinable parcels. (The 3/5 rates are available for pieces on 5-digit pallets only when all possible 5-digit pallets are prepared.)

g. In a 5-digit scheme, 5-digit, or 3-digit sack of irregular parcels containing at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds.

h. In a 5-digit scheme or 5-digit sack containing at least 10 pounds of commingled machinable and irregular parcels. (The 3/5 rates are available for pieces in 5-digit sacks only when all possible 5-digit sacks are prepared.)

3.0 [8-10-03] Residual Shape Surcharge

Any Presorted Standard Mail piece that is prepared as a parcel or is not letter-size or flat-size as defined in C050 is subject to a residual shape surcharge.

4.0 [8-10-03] Nonmachinable Surcharge

The nonmachinable surcharge in R600 applies only to Regular and Nonprofit Standard Mail letter-size pieces (including card-size pieces), except for letter-size pieces prepared and entered as Customized MarketMail under E660, if the pieces weigh 3.3 ounces or less, are claimed at Presorted letter rates, and are subject to either of these conditions:

a. The pieces have one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics for letter-size mail in C050.

b. The pieces are labeled for manual processing by the mailer under the manual only option in M610.

5.0 Barcoded Discount

The barcoded discount applies to Presorted rate machinable parcels (C050) that are subject to the residual shape surcharge in 3.0; bear a correct, readable barcode under C850 for the ZIP Code shown in the delivery address; and are prepared as machinable parcels under M045 or M610. Machinable parcels entered at the DSCF rates are eligible for the barcoded discount only if prepared in 5-digit sacks or on 5-digit pallets (i.e., are not prepared in ASF, BMC, or mixed BMC sacks or pallets). Machinable parcels claiming the DBMC rates that are entered at an ASF are not eligible for the barcoded discount except that mail entered at the Phoenix, AZ, ASF may claim the barcoded discount because that facility uses barcode scanning equipment. See P600 for postage payment standards.

DMM Issue 58 (8-10-03)

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