The online DMM is updated monthly and is available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.
DMM Revisions
Permissible Barcode Symbology for Confirmation Services Labels/Mailings
Effective April 1, 2004, DMM S918 and S919 were revised to establish a required use date of the UCC/EAN Code 128 barcode symbology for all electronic option Delivery Confirmation and Signature Confirmation services mail and for retail rate Delivery Confirmation service used with Merchandise Return Service. As of January 31, 2005, the UCC/EAN Code 128 barcode symbology will be the only permissible barcode for items mailed with electronic option Delivery Confirmation and Signature Confirmation services. This standard also applies to Merchandise Return Service labels with Delivery Confirmation service.
Since January 10, 2004, the UCC/EAN Code 128 barcode is the only symbology acceptable for postal routing barcodes on Standard Mail and Package Services parcels to qualify for the $0.03 barcode discount.
Machinable Parcel Testing Changes
Effective April 17, 2004, the DMM was revised to require requests for testing parcel machinability to be sent to Bulk Mail Center (BMC) Operations at Postal Service Headquarters.
Some parcels may be successfully processed on BMC parcel sorters even though they do not conform to the general machinability criteria in 4.1. The manager, BMC Operations, USPS Headquarters, may authorize a mailer to enter such parcels as machinable parcels rather than irregular parcels if the parcels are tested on BMC parcel sorters and prove to be machinable. Mailers who wish to have parcels tested for machinability on USPS parcel sorting machines must:
a. Submit a written request to: Manager, BMC Operations, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC, 20260-7367. The request must list mailpiece characteristics for every shape, weight, and size to be considered. If the letter requesting testing describes a mailpiece that falls within the specifications of pieces that were tested previously, the mailpiece will not be tested.
b. Describe mailpiece construction, parcel weight(s), estimated number of parcels to be mailed in the coming year, and preparation level (e.g., destination BMC pallets).
c. Send 100 samples to the test facility designated by the manger, BMC Operations, at least 6 weeks prior to the first mailing date. The manager, BMC Operations, will recommend changes, to ensure machinability, of parcels that do not qualify.
Standard Mail Low-Weight Flats — 15-Piece Minimum for 5-Digit and 5-Digit Scheme Packages
Effective August 1, 2004, DMM E620.2.0, E640.1.5, M610.4.2, M820.5.1, and M950.3.2 are revised to raise the required minimum number of pieces from 10 to 15 at which 5-digit and, for certain automation-compatible mail, optional 5-digit scheme presort destination packages are prepared in a Standard Mail job consisting of flat-size pieces each weighing no more than 5 ounces (0.3125 pound) and measuring no more than 3/4 inch thick.
The long lead time provided with this notice will permit mailers, software developers, and Postal Service employees to make the necessary adjustments to existing equipment and systems. Mailers are advised to consider production runs and mailing dates to ensure that Standard Mail flats entered for verification and acceptance on Sunday, August 1, 2004, meet the new standards. Mailers may begin using the 15-piece minimum immediately under the current standards now available and explained in the section “Current Standards.”
New Standards
When the changes take effect on August 1, 2004, mailers will not be permitted to prepare 5-digit packages until there are 15 or more pieces to a 5-digit ZIP Code or optional 5-digit scheme destination for Standard Mail mailings of flat-size pieces that each weigh no more than 5 ounces and measure no more than 3/4 inch thick.
For mailings that contain any pieces that weigh more than 5 ounces, and for upgraded flat sorting machine (UFSM) 1000 automation rate flats measuring more than 3/4 inch thick, regardless of weight, mailers will be required to prepare 5-digit packages whenever there are 10 or more pieces to a destination. For ease of administration, mailers will use the 10-piece package minimum for mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces if any pieces in the mailing weigh more than 5 ounces.
Current Standards
Under current mailing standards, mailers have the option to prepare 5-digit and 5-digit scheme presort destination packages (collectively referred to in this article as 5-digit packages) of Standard Mail flat-size pieces not more than 3/4 inch thick, regardless of the piece weight, whenever there are as few as 10 pieces to the same 5-digit ZIP Code or to the same 5-digit scheme destination in DMM L007.
Under these same current standards, mailers must prepare such packages when there are 17 or more pieces to these destinations. If a mailer selects an optional minimum 5-digit package size from 10 to 16 pieces, that same package size must be used consistently throughout the mailing job for all 5-digit packages.
The current mailing standards allowing the variable package minimums were implemented on September 5, 2002, and gave mailers the option to select a number from 10 to 17 as the minimum number of pieces at which 5-digit packages are prepared in a Standard Mail job of flat-size pieces no more than 3/4 inch thick, without regard to the weight of the individual pieces. Prior to that date, mailers were required to prepare 5-digit packages whenever there were 10 or more pieces to the same 5-digit ZIP Code destination.
Effective January 9, 2003, mailing standards were further amended to permit the preparation of optional 5-digit scheme packages under DMM L007 using the same flexible minimum of 10 to 17 pieces. Under current mailing standards, mailers may still prepare 5-digit packages with as few as 10 pieces.
Productivities
The Postal Service had adopted the current optional 5-digit package minimum (optional with 10 to 16 pieces, required with 17 pieces) based in large part on an examination of the productivities and piece processing efficiencies of the automated flat sorting machine (AFSM) 100, which can handle flat-size pieces up to 3/4 inch thick. Furthermore, as a result of the combined 3/5 rate, a change to the 5-digit package minimum would have little impact on postage.
Initial analysis of piece, package, and container handling costs indicated that the appropriate minimum for 5-digit packages of Standard Mail flat-size pieces is, on average, above 10 pieces, and that the minimum could be further increased for flats likely to be processed on the AFSM 100. AFSM 100-compatible flats are limited to pieces measuring no more than 12 inches high, 15 inches long, and 3/4 inch thick. (Only flat-size pieces claimed and prepared at automation rates and meeting the standards for the UFSM 1000 may measure up to 1-1/4 inches thick. All other flat- size pieces may not measure more than 3/4 inch thick.)
Increasing the minimum for 5-digit packages of such pieces could help reduce overall Postal Service processing costs, with the additional AFSM 100 piece handlings for pieces moving from 5-digit to 3-digit packages more than offset by reduced package handling costs. Package handling costs include processing the packages, either on a small parcel and bundle sorter (SPBS) or manually, and opening the packages in preparation for piece processing.
Applying the Nonmachinable Surcharge
DMM E130.3 states that the nonmachinable surcharge applies to First-Class Mail letter-size pieces (except card-rate pieces) that weigh 1 ounce or less and meet one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics in C050.2.2. Nonletters (flats and parcels) that weigh 1 ounce or less are subject to the nonmachinable surcharge if any one of the following applies (see C010.1.3 for how to determine the length and height of a mailpiece):
a. The piece is greater than 1/4 inch thick.
b. The length is more than 11-1/2 inches or the height is more than 6-1/8 inches.
c. The aspect ratio (length divided by height) is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.
The nonmachinable surcharge also applies to letter-size pieces that weigh 1 ounce or less for which the mailer has chosen the MANUAL ONLY (“do not automate”) option. For card-rate pieces and pieces weighing over 1 ounce, a mailer can specify manual handling but is not assessed the nonmachinable surcharge.
For Standard Mail letters, the nonmachinable surcharge under E620.4 applies to Presorted letter rate mail (including card-size pieces) weighing 3.3 ounces or less that have one or more of the characteristics in C050.2.2, or for which the mailer has chosen the MANUAL ONLY option. Customized MarketMail pieces, automation rate letters, and enhanced carrier route letters are not subject to the nonmachinable surcharge.
The nonmachinable surcharge never applies to:
Compliance Date for New Customs Forms
Customers and employees are reminded that the compliance date for using the January 2004 editions of the following forms is June 5, 2004.
DMM Reminders
First-Class Mail Eligibility
DMM E110 states all mailable matter may be sent as First-Class Mail except for Customized MarketMail or other items prohibited by our mailing standards, such as hazardous materials and nonmailable written, printed, and graphic material.
The following is a list of material described in E110 that must be mailed as First-Class Mail:
It is important to note that both a bill and a statement of account must have an assertion of debt; however, they do not need to state the precise amount if they contain enough information to enable the debtor to determine the exact amount of the claim asserted.
Additionally, a bill or statement of account must be mailed as First-Class Mail whether or not the amount claimed is actually owed or legally collectible.
Packages of Standard Mail Flats on Pallets
Customers and employees are reminded that, in addition to the required sortation for rate eligibility, DMM M045.2.4 requires a minimum of 10 Standard Mail pieces per palletized package, with a maximum of 20 pounds per package, except that all pieces for the same presort destination must be in one package if the package weighs less than 10 pounds. Otherwise, packages must weigh 10–20 pounds each. Additionally, the last package to a presort destination may weigh less than 10 pounds. We do not limit the height of these packages because package size is based on weight. These preparation standards are not new.
Mailers who prepare packages that do not meet these standards — specifically, creating multiple packages when only one should have been made for a presort destination — create additional handling costs for the Postal Service.
Please note that the preparation standards for packages of Standard Mail flats in sacks are different and can be found in DMM M020.1.8.
Mailing Cigarette Lighters
Cigarette lighters that are equipped with an ignition element and contain either flammable fuel or gas are permitted in the domestic mail via surface transportation only with prior written approval under the conditions in DMM C023.4.4.
Cigarette lighters presented for mailing require specific package markings. The address side of the mailpiece must prominently display:
Improperly packaged and/or marked material is subject to refusal.
Mailing Succeeding Issues of a Periodical
Publishers have asked if they may routinely mail copies of two (or more) succeeding issues of a Periodicals publication together as one addressed piece. An example would be a publication with a frequency of “monthly, plus an extra issue in December (13 issues per year),” with the 13th issue being a “buyer’s guide” that the publishers want to mail along with the regular December issue (the 12th issue).
Basic standards for Periodicals in DMM E211.2.1d state: “The primary distribution of each issue [of a Periodicals publication] must be made before that of each succeeding issue.” In the above example, it would appear that the regular December issue and the “extra” December issue are planned for simultaneous distribution. That does not comply with DMM E211.2.1d. The two issues must be mailed separately.
Alternatively, if the publishers still want to mail the items together, they may change the authorized frequency to monthly (12 times a year) and properly prepare the “buyers guide” material (for example) as a part or section under DMM C200.1.2 or as a supplement under DMM C200.1.5. If the material cannot be prepared to qualify for mailing at Periodicals rates as a part, section, or supplement, it still may be mailed with the issue of the Periodicals publication as a Standard Mail enclosure or, possibly, as a Ride-Along piece (in accordance with DMM E260).
Procedures for Submission of Periodicals Marked Copies
A publisher must submit a marked copy of every issue that is mailed at the Periodicals rates. The publisher has the option to submit the marked copy to the Original Entry office or Additional Entry office(s) of mailing.
The marked copy must contain on the first page the following items displayed clearly:
If there are multiple editions of an issue, the publisher has the option to submit all editions or one edition (main/national/basic edition) along with a listing of the remaining editions. The listing must contain each edition and the corresponding advertising and nonadvertising percentages of each edition. If a publisher elects not to submit a marked copy for every edition for an issue and submits an edition listing along with a marked copy of the main edition, they must retain, for six months, a copy of all editions not submitted and must be able to produce and submit a marked copy of each of these editions, within 10 days upon request by the Postal Service.
The publisher must always submit a copy (marked or unmarked) of each issue of the publication to the Original Entry Office for proof of publishing.
Delivery Confirmation and Signature Confirmation Service:
Eligible Mailpieces Table
Customers and employees can reference this table to easily determine class-specific Delivery Confirmation and Signature Confirmation service standards.
Priority Mail
All Priority Mail pieces, regardless of mail processing category, are eligible for Delivery Confirmation or Signature Confirmation service.
First-Class Mail
Only First-Class Mail parcels are eligible for Delivery Confirmation or Signature Confirmation service as specified in DMM S918.1.2c and S919.1.2c. Parcels that measure 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch thick must be machinable according to DMM C050.4 (except there is no minimum weight restriction for First-Class Mail) and must be relatively rigid or inflexible either because of the mailing container or because of the item itself. A parcel over 3/4 inch thick at its thickest point is eligible and need not be rigid. The address side of parcels must be large enough to contain all address, endorsement, postage, and label elements. Complete information can be found in DMM S918.1.2. and S919.1.2.
Package Services
Only Package Services parcels are eligible for Delivery Confirmation or Signature Confirmation service as specified in DMM S918.1.2c and S919.1.2c. Parcels that measure 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch thick must be machinable according to DMM C050.4 (minimum piece weight for Package Services is 6 ounces) and must be relatively rigid or inflexible either because of the mailing container or because of the item itself. A parcel over 3/4 inch thick at its thickest point is eligible and need not be rigid. The address side of parcels must be large enough to contain all address, endorsement, postage, and label elements. Complete information can be found in DMM S918.1.2. and S919.1.2.
Standard Mail
Only Standard Mail pieces subject to the residual shape surcharge are eligible for Delivery Confirmation service (and only for the electronic option).
Standard Mail pieces, regardless of mail processing category or whether a residual shape surcharge is applied, are not eligible for any form of Signature Confirmation service.