Pricing & Classification DMM Advisory

Message board to keep postal customers informed of changes to mailing standards, services, and prices.

April 6, 2009

April DMM Update

Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com) is your source for up-to-date prices and mailing standards. The Domestic Mail Manual is fully searchable on Postal Explorer and features fly-out menus, cross-reference links, and an extensive subject index. Today we updated our mailing standards with the following changes:

Delivery Addresses on Commercial Flat-Size Mail

We adopted new address standards for Periodicals, Standard Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail flat-size pieces mailed at automation, presorted, or carrier route prices. The changes affect where the delivery address is placed on the piece and how the address is formatted. We also revised the formatting requirements for automation and presorted First-Class Mail flats. We made these changes in 302.1.0, 302.2.0, 333.3.0, 343.3.0, 363.2.0, 373.3.0, 383.3.0, 604.5.0, and 707.3.0.

Bound Printed Matter Mailings of Nonidentical-Weight Pieces

We revised 364.1.0, 364.2.0, 464.1.0, and 464.2.0 to simplify the postage payment and documentation standards for Bound Printed Matter. Mailers can use new PS Form 8042, Bound Printed Matter Documentation Form, when they have less than 300 nonpresorted, nonidentical-weight pieces in a mailing. The new form eliminates the need for prior authorization and multiple postage statements, and expedites the acceptance process.

New Open and Distribute Tray Boxes

We revised 705.16.0 to add the new Express Mail and Priority Mail Open and Distribute tray boxes. Open and Distribute service allows mailers to expedite shipments of other classes of mail to destination facilities using Express Mail or Priority Mail service. The new boxes are available in two sizes, improve mail security, and help control costs. Mailers may use the boxes in lieu of sleeved trays at no additional charge.

Labeling Lists

We revised the labeling lists to reflect changes in mail processing operations.

Our next scheduled update is May 11 and includes all of the new prices and mailing standards related to the Mailing Services pricing change.