The Postal Service is reminding customers that metallic mercury and devices containing metallic mercury are always prohibited in the mail stream. This includes antique items such as thermometers, barometers, blood pressure monitors and similar devices.

240k Quick Service Guide

Commercial – Heavy Printed Matter Nonstandard and Machinable Parcels

Physical Standards (201)

Minimum weight nonstandard parcels: None.

Minimum weight machinable parcels: None.

Maximum weight: 15 pounds.

For an overview of other physical standards for Marketing parcels, see Quick Service Guide 201e.

Prices and Fees (243.1.0)

For a complete listing of Heavy Printed Matter prices, see Notice 123–Price List.

Presorted and Carrier Route prices: separate per piece and per pound charges. Pricing is based on two weight tiers: up to 2.5 pounds and over 2.5 pounds. Destination entry discounts apply to mail prepared as prescribed by USPS and addressed for delivery within service area of destination SCF or delivery unit (DDU) (246).

Annual presort mailing fee applies.

Content (243.2.0)

Heavy Printed Matter is typically catalogs, directories, and other printed material that weigh up to 15 pounds and meet specific eligibility standards in 243.2.0. Nonprofit prices require specific authorization (703.1.0). Contents must:

Not be used for “fulfillment purposes” (i.e. the sending of items specifically purchased or requested by the customer of a mailer).
Meet the standards in 601.10.0 if prepared as a catalog.
Not contain books or other non-eligible matter.
Be securely bound by permanent fastening.
Not have the nature of personal correspondence.
Not be stationery (e.g., pads of blank printed forms).

Eligibility Standards (243.3.0)

Mailings of 200 or more addressed pieces (or 50 pounds of addressed pieces), sorted and marked as described below. Machinable parcels (201.7.5) and nonstandard parcels (201.7.6) may not be combined in the same mailing.

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

For Presorted prices, a certified process must be used at least once a year to ensure accuracy of 5-digit ZIP Codes (602.6.0).

For the Carrier Route price, carrier route information must be updated using a CASS-certified process within 120 days before the mailing (602.7.0).

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 (243.4.4).

Addresses on all pieces must be updated within 95 days before mailing through a USPS-approved address update method (e.g., ACS, NCOALink, 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 602a.

Postage Payment and Documentation (244)

Permit imprint (604.5.0).

Documentation:

Postage statement:

Regular: PS Form 3602-R.

Nonprofit: PS Form 3602-N.

Supporting documentation: required unless correct price is affixed to each piece or unless each piece is of identical weight and separated by price when presented for acceptance; documentation generated by PAVE-certified software (or printed in standardized format).

Additional standards apply to mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces.

Mail Preparation (245)

Markings on each piece in the postage area (202.3.0):

Presorted price: “Heavy Printed Matter” or “HPM” and “Presorted” or “PRSRT”.
Carrier Route price: “Heavy Printed Matter” or “HPM” and “Carrier Route Presort” or “CAR-RT SORT”.
Nonprofit: “Nonprofit Heavy Printed Matter” or “Nonprofit HPM” and “PRSRT” or “CAR-RT SORT”.

All Heavy Printed Matter parcels must bear an Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) and an Intelligent Mail matrix barcode (IMmb), prepared under 204.2.0.

For barcode placement, see 202.6.0.

Enter and Deposit (246)

Mailing entered at an acceptance point designated by USPS.

Preparation

Sacking Sequence for Nonstandard Parcels (245.13.2)

5-digit/Scheme

Sacks: Optional, 10 piece or 20 pound minimum except at DDU/SDC entry, which has no minimum

Labels: Line 1, For 5-digit scheme sacks, use L606, Column B. For 5-digit sacks, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination on pieces. Line 2: For 5-digit scheme sacks, use “HPM NONSTD 5D SCH.” For 5-digit sacks, use “HPM NONSTD 5D.”

SCF

Sacks: 10 piece or 20 pound minimum.

Labels: Line 1, use L051. Line 2, use “HPM NONSTD SCF.”

Mixed

Sacks: Required, no minimum.

Labels: Line 1: Use “MXD WKG.” Line 2, use “HPM NONSTD WKG.”

Sacking Machinable Parcels (245.13.3)

5-digit/Scheme Sacks: Optional; 10-pound minimum except at DDU/S&DC entry, which has no minimum. Labels: Line 1, For 5-digit scheme sacks use L606, Column B. For 5-digit sacks, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination on pieces. Line 2, For 5-digit scheme sacks, use “HPM MACH 5D SCH.” For 5-digit sacks, use “HPM MACH 5D.”	SCF Sacks: Optional, 10 pound minimum. Labels: Line 1, use L051. Line 2, use “HPM NONSTD SCF.”	Mixed Sacks: Required, no minimum. Labels: Line 1, “MXD WKG.” Line 2, use “HPM MACH WKG.”
All possible 5-digit scheme bundles must be prepared before preparing 5-digit sacks.