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nonmachinable
The inability of a mailpiece to be sorted on mail processing equipment because of size, shape, content, or address legibility. Such mail must be processed manually and could be subject to higher rates or a nonmachinable surcharge.

The nonmachinable surcharge is eliminated, however, the prices for nonmachinable letters would increase significantly due to their higher cost. Regardless of weight, letters that do not meet aspect ratio, or that have any other nonmachinable characteristics, or that may be too rigid, would pay the rates for nonmachinable letters. Nonmachinable letters must be handled manually, and finer presorting is more valuable, so the price structure is expanded to four separate presort tiers.

Our processing and delivery operations have evolved over the past 20 years. Flats prepared and mailed with detached address labels (DALs) no longer provide the benefit that they once did. DALs allow a saturation mailer to provide the address and postage on a separate card, rather than on the piece itself. We're not taking away the option, but we are proposing a surcharge of 1.5 cents each if DALs are used. Addressed pieces are more compatible with our mail processing operations.

The nonprofit price structure and incentives mirror those of (commercial) Standard Mail.

Periodicals

Our proposal includes incentives for preparing and entering Outside-County mail deeper into the system — closer to its destination, and an 85-cent "per container" charge to encourage efficiency. Flats and irregular parcels prepared in bundles and placed directly onto pallets, which can be drop shipped, is the most efficient method of preparing Periodicals mailings, and the proposed prices encourage this activity. If preparing mail on pallets is not feasible, mailers would be encouraged to use the fewest number of sacks necessary to minimize the per container charge.

pallet
A reusable platform on which
bundles or containers of mail
is placed (stacked) to be moved
as a single unit. Pallets are made
of rigid plastic material designed
for four-way forklift entry and capable
of handling loads of up to 65 cubic
feet and 2,200 pounds. A USPS
pallet measures 48 by 40 inches.

Mailers of high-editorial content publications would see lower increases if they take advantage of proposed editorial pound rate discounts for mail that is drop shipped. These new discounts, based on editorial pounds, are in addition to the increased per-piece drop ship discounts.

Since In-County mail is already entered locally, the initiatives that encourage deeper entry and more efficient containerization, including the container charges, would not apply. The In-County prices already reflect the fact that the mail is entered locally. 

bundle
A group of addressed pieces assembled and secured together to make up a basic unit of mailpieces for processing purposes.

Nonprofit and Classroom publications price structure would continue to mirror that of Outside-County and would continue to include a 5 percent discount (excluding advertising pounds). 

Package Services

Package Services mail includes Bound Printed Matter (BPM), Library Mail, Media Mail®, and Parcel Post®/Parcel Select®. Our proposal includes the elimination of BPM as an option for retail customers in order to simplify the retail transaction. Mailers would still have options such as Express Mail, Priority Mail®, Parcel Post, and Media Mail, as appropriate.

A lower increase for drop shipped BPM and Parcel Select mail recognizes the savings generated by mailers who enter mail in bulk at downstream processing and delivery facilities. Similar to Priority Mail, we are also proposing revised balloon rate (minimum) pricing for Parcel Post and Parcel Select.

Parcel Select

Barcodes allow more efficient processing and help support our efforts to streamline acceptance and verification processes. We currently offer a 3-cent barcode discount for machinable Parcel Select-DBMC parcels. Our proposal would build this discount into the base price for Parcel Select-DBMC and require that parcels bear a UCC/EAN Code 128 barcode. Most Parcel Select parcels are currently barcoded by mailers or consolidators, so this added requirement should not be too troublesome. Additionally, the "no fee" electronic option in Delivery Confirmation service would be retained for all Parcel Select parcels.  

Special Services and Other Fees

Special services include Certified Mail, Return Receipt, Delivery Confirmation, Signature Confirmation, Registered Mail and Insurance. Other fees include items such as Post Office Boxes and Address Change Service.

OneCode Address Change Service (ACS)

One method of reducing the volume and cost of undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail is to provide a correct address to the mailer as soon as possible. This proposal includes a low-cost OneCode Address Change Service (ACS) option and will allow us to electronically identify an incorrect address on a letter, and then electronically send the corrected address to the mailer at a much lower cost than today.

address change service (ACS)
A process that provides change-of address (COA) and undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) information to participating mailers. Information is captured in Computerized Forwarding System (CFS) units and other sources, and sent to mailers on electronic media, which reduces the volume of hard copy notifications.

For First-Class Mail letters using automated ACS, the first two notices of an incorrect address would be provided at no charge; after that, the fee would be 5 cents each. For Standard Mail letters. the first two notices are 2 cents each, and subsequent notices would be 15 cents each.

Redesigned Confirm Service

Confirm enables mailers to obtain information about the status of their letters and flats in the mail processing system. We propose to replace the current Silver, Gold, and Platinum subscription tiers with one subscription price with declining block rates for scans — the more scans purchased, the lower the price. This proposal includes lower prices for First-Class Mail, which is consistent with the long-standing practice of including more features in  First-Class Mail.

Business Reply Mail

Business Reply Mail (BRM) would continue to use the prices in First-Class Mail and therefore would be subject to the proposed changes. In addition, BRM fees are proposed to change, with some increasing and some decreasing.

Certified Mail

Certified Mail service would increase from $2.40 to $2.65.

Return Receipt Service

Return Receipt service at the time of mailing would increase from $1.85 to $2.15. Electronic option at the time of mailing decreases from $1.35 to 85 cents. The proposed increase for Return Receipt requested after mailing is from $3.45 to $3.80.

Delivery Confirmation

The Delivery Confirmation service fee is built into the price for certain Priority Mail and Parcel Select parcels, and can be purchased separately for other parcels. For First-Class Mail parcels and Parcel Post, the retail option fee increases from 60 cents to 75 cents, and the electronic option fee goes from 14 to 18 cents. For Priority Mail, the retail option fee increases from 50 to 65 cents, and the electronic option fee — as well as Delivery Confirmation obtained through Click-N-Ship® — remains free. For Standard Mail parcels, the electronic option fee rises from 14 to 18 cents.

Insurance

Pieces with up to $50 (unnumbered) merchandise insurance would receive a delivery scan, but in keeping with current practice, the signature of the recipient would not be obtained. We propose to reduce fees for insurance over $50 and up to $200, however the recipient’s signature would no longer be obtained. A delivery scan would help verify that the piece was indeed delivered. We will also create a new online claims process. 

Fees for additional Express Mail insurance coverage are reduced in this proposal.

Post Office Boxes

Overall Post Office Box fees would increase in our proposal. However, individual box holders at different locations may experience a wide variety of price changes due to our continuing efforts to realign Post Office Box prices with our costs for each location. We also realign Caller Service in our proposal.

Registered Mail

Registered Mail provides maximum security and accountability, as well as proof of mailing, and date of delivery. We propose to raise Registered Mail fees significantly in order for this service to cover its high costs.

Mailing and Permit Fees

The permit imprint application fee and all annual mailing fees are proposed to increase from $160 to $175. Annual accounting fees are proposed increase from $500 to $550.