E620 Presorted Rates

Summary

E620 describes the eligibility standards for Presorted Standard Mail mailings.

1.0 Basic Standards

1.1All Pieces

[8-1-04] 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 addressed pieces or 50 pounds of pieces qualifying for Presorted Standard Mail. Basic rate and 3/5 rate pieces prepared as part of the same mailing are subject to a single minimum volume standard. 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 [8-1-04] Rates

2.1Application

Presorted rates for Regular and Nonprofit Standard Mail apply to letters, flats, and machinable and irregular parcels that meet the eligibility standards in E610 and the preparation standards in M045, M610, M800, or, for flat-size mail only, M900.

2.2Basic Rate

The basic rate applies to pieces that do not meet the standards for 3/5 rates described in 2.3.

2.33/5 Rates

[9-2-04] The 3/5 rate applies to qualifying pieces if they are presented:

a. For letter-size pieces (see C050.2.0), in quantities of 150 or more pieces for a single 3-digit ZIP Code prefix area, prepared in 5-digit or 3-digit trays.

b. For flat-size pieces (see C050.3.0):

(1) In a 5-digit scheme (under M950) or 5-digit bundle of 10 or more pieces, or 15 or more pieces, as applicable; or in a 3-digit bundle of 10 or more pieces; placed in a 5-digit scheme (under M920), 5-digit, or 3-digit sack containing at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds of pieces.

(2) In a 5-digit bundle of 10 or more pieces, or 15 or more pieces, as applicable, that is part of a group of bundles sorted to a merged 5-digit or merged 5-digit scheme (under M920) sack that contains either at least one qualifying carrier route bundle of 10 or more pieces, or contains at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds of pieces prepared in 5-digit bundles (both automation and Presorted rate 5-digit bundles count toward the 125-piece or 15-pound sack minimum).

(3) In a 5-digit scheme (under M950) or 5-digit bundle of 10 or more pieces, or 15 or more pieces, as applicable; or in a 3-digit bundle of 10 or more pieces; palletized under M045, M920, M930, or M940.

c. For machinable parcels (see C050.4.0):

(1) In a 5-digit scheme (L606), 5-digit, ASF, or BMC sack containing at least 10 pounds of parcels. (The 3/5 rates are available only when all possible 5-digit scheme and 5-digit sacks are prepared.)

(2) On a 5-digit scheme (L606), 5-digit, ASF, or BMC pallet. (The 3/5 rates are available only when all possible 5-digit scheme and 5-digit pallets are prepared.)

d. For irregular parcels (see C050.5.0) of uniform thickness and more than 15 inches long or more than 12 inches high in a 5-digit bundle of 10 or more pieces, or in a 3-digit bundle of 10 or more pieces, palletized under M045.

e. For all other irregular parcels (see C050.5.0) in a 5-digit scheme (L606), 5-digit, or 3-digit sack containing at least 125 parcels or 15 pounds of parcels. (The 3/5 rates are available only when all possible 5-digit scheme and 5-digit sacks are prepared.)

f. For commingled machinable and irregular parcels, in a 5-digit scheme (L606) or 5-digit sack containing at least 10 pounds of parcels.

3.0 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 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 Updated 12-9-04

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