HIGHLIGHTS OF CHANGES

TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MAILING SERVICES

On Feb. 11, 2008, the Governors of the Postal Service announced new prices and product features for mailing services to be effective May 12, 2008. New mailing standards to support the price changes are being implemented as well. There are only a few classification changes, First-Class Mail International and Periodicals limited circulation, which are described below. 

On March 4, 2008, the Governors of the Postal Service announced new prices and product features for shipping services with prices effective May 12. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 gives the Postal Service increased flexibility in pricing, product enhancements and product introductions for shipping services. The product and mailing standards changes are described beginning on page 5. 

Mailing Services

Mailing services consist of:

• First-Class Mail

• First-Class Mail International

• Periodicals

• Standard Mail

• Package Services Mail 

• Bound Printed Matter

• Library Mail

• Media Mail

• Parcel Post

• Extra Services and Fees

First-Class Mail

The additional-ounce price for all retail letters, flats and packages remains 17 cents, and for automation-rate letters it remains 12.5 cents. We reduced the additional-ounce price for presort-rate (nonautomation) letters to 12.5 cents. By aligning automation-rate and presort-rate additional ounce prices to 12.5 cents, we eliminate extra mail preparation work by customers and simplify the postage verification procedures during acceptance. This also results in some relatively large price reductions for presort-rate letters weighing 2 to 3.5 ounces. To continue to encourage efficient automation mail preparation, we maintain the 2.2 cents difference between 5- and 3-digit automation-rate letter prices, and provide slight reductions in the prices for 5- and 3-digit automation-rate flats. The surcharge for retail and presort-rate nonmachinable letters increases to 20 cents, and still applies to all nonmachinable letters weighing up to 3.5 ounces. 

First-Class Mail International

Shaped-based pricing is introduced with separate prices for letters, large envelopes (flats), and packages (small packets). This change aligns the price structure with the domestic First-Class Mail structure implemented May 2007. The weight limit for letters will be 3.5 ounces, and the weight limit for large envelopes and packages remains 64 ounces. The nonmachinable surcharge increases to 20 cents and will now apply to all letters weighing up to 3.5 ounces (the same as domestic First-Class Mail letters). We expand the total number of country price groups to nine — aligning the First-Class Mail International price groups with the price groups for Priority Mail International and Express Mail International.

The size standards for First-Class Mail International letters, and large envelopes have changed. See page 13.

As with domestic First-Class Mail, there are separate First-Class Mail International price categories for each mail shape: postcards, letters, flats (large envelopes) and packages (small packets). Unlike domestic First-Class Mail, however, the prices for postcards and 1-ounce letters have the same price to each individual country. Determining the price category of a mailpiece (letter, flat or package) depends solely on the physical dimensions of the piece without regard to address placement. When initially measuring a mailpiece to determine the price category, the longest of the three dimensions is generally considered the length with flats and packages. If the mailpiece is a “letter,” the length is the dimension parallel to the delivery address as read. Confirm that it has a minimum length of 5-1/2 inches, and if it is a machinable or nonmachinable letter due to aspect ratio.

Except for the minimum size for mailing (5-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches), the maximum weight for large envelopes (64 ounces), all other standards for First-Class Mail International letters and flats are the same as domestic First-Class Mail. Notice 3-S, First-Class Mail Shape-Based Pricing Template, can be used with First-Class Mail International mailpieces to determine the maximum physical size for letters and flats, as well as to check the aspect ratio of letters. Notice 3-S is available from your Post Office.

We are revising  the IMM to reflect changes to First-Class Mail International.

MailPro
News for Mailing Professionals

For a "snapshot" of First-Class Mail International prices and shapes.