Effective January 2, 2011, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) to reflect changes to prices and standards for the international shipping services noted here.
On average, Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG®) prices increase by 3.7 percent, with prices starting at $35.50. In addition, the following changes are effective on January 2, 2011:
n Permit imprint is added as a new postage payment option for GXG service when used in conjunction with USPS®-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS).
n The Postal Service eliminates the commercial base price for customers who pay for GXG shipments with information-based indicia (IBI) postage meters. The commercial base price (10 percent below the retail price) applies only for customers who pay with permit imprint (used in conjunction with GSS or an approved functional equivalent), Click-N-Ship® service, or an authorized PC Postage® vendor.
On average, Express Mail International® prices increase by 3.1 percent, with prices starting at $26.95 for Canada, and at $29.95 for all other countries. In addition, the following changes are effective on January 2, 2011:
n The Express Mail International price groups expand from 10 to 17. With this change, 9 of the 17 price groups are assigned to a specific country — those 9 countries are Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain (including Northern Ireland), Japan, Mexico, and Netherlands. Previously, only two price groups were assigned to a specific country (Canada and Mexico).
n The Postal Service combines Express Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes for Mexico with the “All Other Countries” price tier. Previously, Mexico was combined with the Canada price tier.
n The Postal Service introduces the new Express Mail International Legal Flat Rate Envelope. The new larger envelope, which measures 15 inches by 9-1/2 inches, enables customers to pay a flat rate to ship legal-size documents without folding them. The Express Mail International Legal Flat Rate Envelope is the same price as the regular Express Mail International Flat Rate Envelope.
n Due to minimal demand, the Postal Service will no longer offer return receipt service with Express Mail International service.
n Express Mail corporate account commercial base volume prices are eliminated under current IMM 223.231. Customers who currently receive these discounts for outbound Express Mail International shipments may qualify for lower prices by using a permit imprint in conjunction with GSS under new IMM 223.222. The commercial base price is also eliminated for customers who pay for Express Mail International shipments with IBI postage meters. The commercial base price (8 percent below the retail price) will apply only for customers who pay with permit imprint (used in conjunction with GSS or an approved functional equivalent), Click-N-Ship service, or an authorized PC Postage vendor.
On average, Priority Mail International® prices increase 3.8 percent, with prices for Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Boxes starting at $11.95 for Canada and Mexico, and at $13.95 for all other countries. In addition, the following changes are effective on January 2, 2011:
n The Priority Mail International price groups expand from 10 to 17. With this change, 9 of the 17 price groups are assigned to a specific country — those 9 countries are Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain (including Northern Ireland), Japan, Mexico, and Netherlands. Previously, only two price groups were assigned to a specific country (Canada and Mexico).
n The Postal Service introduces several new variations of the Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope and expands the items eligible for the Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Box price. Included in these variations is the new Priority Mail International Legal Flat Rate Envelope. The new larger envelope, which measures 15 inches by 9-1/2 inches, enables customers to pay a flat rate to ship legal-size documents without folding them. The Priority Mail International Legal Flat Rate Envelope will be the same price as the regular Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope. These new variations of the Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope and the Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Box may be registered based on eligibility for the country destination, but they cannot be insured.
n The Postal Service introduces the new Priority Mail International Padded Flat Rate Envelope, which measures 12-1/2 inches by 9-1/2 inches and enables customers to ship lightweight merchandise at a flat rate. The Priority Mail International Padded Flat Rate Envelope will be the same price as the regular Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope. The Priority Mail International Padded Flat Rate Envelope may be registered based on country destination, but it cannot be insured.
n The Postal Service eliminates the separate price tier for Canada when optional insurance is purchased for Priority Mail International parcels. With this change, all insurance fees for Priority Mail International parcels are the same. The current maximum insurance limit for Canada remains the same at $675.00.
n The Priority Mail International commercial base price is eliminated for customers who pay postage with IBI postage meters. The commercial base price (5 percent below the retail price) will apply only for customers who pay with permit imprint (used in conjunction with GSS or an approved functional equivalent), Click-N-Ship service, or an authorized PC Postage vendor.
The following revisions to international shipping services are also effective January 2, 2011:
n The price increase for International Priority Airmail™ (IPA®) service averages 3.3 percent. There is no price change for IPA M-bags.
n The price increase for International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®) service averages 6.4 percent. There is no price change for ISAL M-bags.
n The price increase for Airmail M-bags averages 5.8 percent.
n The Postal Service revises prices for Express Mail International insurance, Priority Mail International insurance, and international postal money orders. The price increase for extra services averages 7.9 percent.
n This IMM edition also includes other minor editorial revisions not noted in this article, such as making references to the “Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope” plural to encompass the additional product offerings that are now eligible for this price.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
1 International Mail Services
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150 Postage
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152 Payment Methods
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152.4 Permit Imprint
152.41 Conditions of Use
***This postage payment method may be used for postage and extra service fees for the following services:
[Redesignate current items 152.41a through e as new items b through f and insert new item a to read as follows:]
a. Global Express Guaranteed service prepared under 213.8.
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152.44 Required Format
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Exhibit 152.44 Indicia Formats
[Add to the exhibit two new sections — one for Global Express Guaranteed indicia and one for Express Mail International indicia, with each section having the respective examples shown below to illustrate permit imprints:]
Global Express Guaranteed
Express Mail International
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2 Conditions for Mailing
210 Global Express Guaranteed
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213 Prices and Postage Payment Methods
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213.2 Postage Payment Methods — General
[Revise 213.2 to read as follows:]
Global Express Guaranteed shipments may be paid with postage stamps, postage validation imprinter (PVI) labels, postage meter stamps, information-based indicia (IBI), PC Postage service, or permit imprint under 213.8.
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213.7 Online Postage Payment Method
213.71 Online Prices
[Revise 213.71 to read as follows:]
For selected destination countries, Global Express Guaranteed items receive a 10 percent discount below retail prices for the following online shipping methods:
a. Click-N-Ship service.
b. An authorized PC Postage vendor.
The commercial base price is automatically applied to each shipment. The discount applies only to the postage portion of the Global Express Guaranteed price. It does not apply to any other charges or fees, such as fees for Pickup on Demand service, insurance, or shipments made under a customized agreement.
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[Redesignate current item 213.8 as new 213.9 and insert new 213.8 to read as follows:]
213.8 Permit Imprint
213.81 Permit Imprint — General
Payment for Global Express Guaranteed shipments paid with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account is allowed only when guidelines for commercial base prices (see 213.82) are followed. Postage paid with a permit imprint is subject to the general conditions in 152.4, and DMM 604 and 705.
213.82 Permit Imprint — Commercial Base Prices
Global Express Guaranteed commercial base postage prices are 10 percent below retail prices for all postage paid with a permit imprint. The commercial base price applies only to the postage portion of Global Express Guaranteed prices. In addition, customers must meet the following requirements:
a Use USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS). (To request information about GSS, send an e-mail to GSSHelp@usps.gov.)
b. Pay for postage with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account.
c. Meet manifesting and permit imprint requirements under IMM 152.4 and DMM 604 and the manifesting requirements under DMM 705.
Note: When using GSS, no extra services such as insurance are available.
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220 Express Mail International
221 Description and Physical Characteristics
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[Revise the heading and first sentence of 221.3 to read as follows:]
221.3 Express Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes
USPS-produced Flat Rate Envelopes are charged at a flat rate regardless of weight or destination.***
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222 Eligibility
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[Revise the heading and first sentence of 222.3 to read as follows:]
222.3 Express Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes
Mailers are eligible for the Flat Rate Envelope price only with the use of the USPS-produced Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope (Item EP13-F — 12-1/2 inches by 9-1/2 inches), or the Express Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope (Item EP13-L — 15 inches by 9-1/2 inches).***
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222.7 Extra Services
[Revise 222.7 to read as follows in its entirety (removing the former 222.72 on return receipt service, so that the text previously in 222.71 is now the only text in 222.7):]
Additional merchandise insurance coverage above $100, up to a maximum of $5,000, may be purchased at the sender’s option. See the Individual Country Listings for merchandise insurance limits. See Notice 123, Price List, for the fee schedule for optional Express Mail International merchandise insurance coverage.
223 Prices and Postage Payment Methods
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223.2 Postage Payment Methods
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223.22 Permit Imprint
[Revise 223.22 to read as follows:]
223.221 Permit Imprint — General
Express Mail International shipments paid with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account are eligible for either the commercial base price under 223.222 or the retail price under 223.223. An Express Mail International shipment using a permit imprint does not qualify for postage-refund guarantees under 221.2 for Express Mail International With Guarantee service destination countries.
Customers capable of tendering at least 2,500 Express Mail International pieces or paying at least $50,000 in international postage on an annualized basis should contact the Postal Service to discuss customized agreements (see 297).
223.222 Permit Imprint — Commercial Base Prices
Express Mail International commercial base postage prices are 8 percent below retail prices for all postage paid with a permit imprint and using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS). The commercial base price applies only to the postage portion of Express Mail International prices. In addition, customers must meet the following requirements:
a. Use USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS). (To request information about GSS, send an e-mail to GSSHelp@usps.gov.)
b. Pay for postage with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account.
c. Meet manifesting and permit imprint requirements under IMM 152.4 and DMM 604 and the manifesting requirements under DMM 705.
Note: When using GSS, no extra services such as insurance are available.
223.223 Permit Imprint — Retail Price
Express Mail International items paid with a permit imprint through an Express Mail corporate account (see 223.23) are charged the applicable retail price. In addition, customers must meet the permit imprint requirements under IMM 152.4 and DMM 604 and the manifesting requirements under DMM 705.
223.23 Express Mail Corporate Account
[Revise 223.23 to read as follows in its entirety (removing the former 223.231 and 223.232):]
Mailers using an Express Mail Corporate Account under 223.21 must pay the applicable retail price for each mailpiece.
223.24 Online Postage Payment Method
223.241 Online Prices
[Revise 223.241 to read as follows:]
For selected destination countries, Express Mail International items receive an 8 percent discount below retail prices for the following online shipping methods:
a. Click-N-Ship service.
b. An authorized PC Postage vendor.
The commercial base price is automatically applied to each shipment. The discount applies only to the postage portion of the Express Mail International price. It does not apply to any other charges or fees, such as fees for Pickup on Demand service, insurance, or shipments made under a customized agreement.
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230 Priority Mail International
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232 Eligibility
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[Renumber current items 232.2 through 232.7 as new 232.3 through 232.8 and insert new 232.2 to read as follows:]
232.2 Eligible Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes
Only the following items qualify for the Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope or Small Flat Rate Box pricing:
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232.8 Extra Services
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[Move the section about return receipt service down one section so that it follows the section about Registered Mail service, and revise the Registered Mail section to read as follows (the Registered Mail section is now 232.83, and the return receipt section is now 232.84):]
232.83 Registered Mail Service
Registered Mail service is available (for an additional fee) only for the following Priority Mail International items:
a. Flat Rate Envelopes listed in 232.2, including free matter for the blind items.
b. Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes listed in 232.2, including free matter for the blind items.
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233 Prices and Postage Payment Methods
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233.2 Postage Payment Methods
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233.22 Permit Imprint
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233.222 Permit Imprint — Commercial Base Prices
[Revise 233.222 to read as follows:]
Priority Mail International commercial base postage prices are 5 percent below retail prices for all postage paid with a permit imprint and using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS). The commercial base price applies only to the postage portion of Priority Mail International prices. In addition, customers must meet the following requirements:
a. Use USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS). (To request information about GSS, send an e-mail to GSSHelp@usps.gov.)
b. Pay for postage with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account.
c. Meet manifesting and permit imprint requirements under IMM 152.4 and DMM 604 and the manifesting requirements under DMM 705.
Note: When using GSS, no extra services such as insurance are available.
* * * * *
233.23 Online Postage Payment Method
233.231 Online Prices
[Revise 233.231 to read as follows:]
For selected destination countries, Priority Mail International items receive a 5 percent discount below retail prices for the following online shipping methods:
a. Click-N-Ship service.
b. An authorized PC Postage vendor.
The commercial base price is automatically applied to each shipment. The discount applies only to the postage portion of the Priority Mail International price. It does not apply to any other charges or fees, such as Pickup on Demand service, insurance fees, or shipments made under a customized agreement.
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3 Extra Services
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330 Registered Mail
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332 Availability
***Registered Mail service is available for the following types of mail:
[Revise items a and b to read as follows:]
a. Flat Rate Envelopes listed in 232.2, including free matter for the blind items.
b. Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes listed in 232.2, including free matter for the blind items.
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Country Price Groups and Weight Limits
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[In the table, revise the entries for the following countries to read as follows (indicating new price groups for Express Mail International and Priority Mail International services):]
Individual Country Listings
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Global Express Guaranteed (210)
[For each country that offers Global Express Guaranteed service, replace the price table with the appropriate revised price table — see pages 55–56 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin for a table of all the revised Global Express Guaranteed prices.]
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Express Mail International (220)
[For each country that offers Express Mail International service, replace the price table with the appropriate revised price table — see pages 57–59 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin for a table of all the revised Express Mail International prices. For each of the following countries, revise the EMI price group to be as noted in the following table, and insert the appropriate revised price table:]
Express Mail International — Flat Rate (223.3)
[For each country that offers Express Mail International Flat Rate service, revise the Flat Rate section to read as follows:]
[For all countries except Canada:]
Flat Rate Envelope: $29.95
[For Canada:]
Flat Rate Envelope: $26.95
Insurance (222.71)
Available for Express Mail International merchandise shipments only
[For each country that offers Express Mail International merchandise insurance, insert a table with revised prices, as noted in the table below. As a sample, below is the table for a country that offers insurance up to a maximum amount of $5,000 — note, though, that some countries have a lower maximum insurance amount, and the tables for those countries will show the maximum amount available to those countries.]
* * * * *
[For each country that offers Express Mail International service, delete the heading “Return Receipt Service (222.72)” and all associated text in its entirety.]
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Priority Mail International (230)
[For each country that offers Priority Mail International service, replace the price table with the appropriate revised price table — see pages 59-61 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin for a table of all the revised Priority Mail International prices. For each of the following countries, revise the PMI price group to be as noted in the following table, and insert the appropriate revised price table:]
Priority Mail International — Flat Rate (232.2)
[For each country that offers Priority Mail International Flat Rate service, revise the lines of text for the Flat Rate Envelope and Flat Rate Boxes to read as follows:]
[For all countries except Canada and Mexico:]
Flat Rate Envelope or Small Flat Rate Priced Box: $13.95
* * * * *
Flat Rate Boxes: Medium — $ 45.50; Large — $58.50
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[For Canada and Mexico:]
Flat Rate Envelope or Small Flat Rate Priced Box: $11.95
* * * * *
Flat Rate Boxes: Medium — $27.95; Large — $35.50
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[Following the Flat Rate information, insert a new heading titled “Insurance.” For each country that offers Priority Mail International parcel insurance, insert the text noted below and a price table. As a sample, below is the table for a country that offers insurance up to a maximum amount of $5,000 — note, though, that some countries have a lower maximum insurance amount, and the tables for those countries will show the maximum amount available to those countries. For countries that do not offer Priority Mail International insurance, insert “NOT Available” after the heading.]
Insurance (232.82)
Available for Priority Mail International merchandise parcels only (see 323.72 for markings)
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First-Class Mail International (240)
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Airmail M-bags (260) — Direct Sack to One Addressee
[For each country that offers Airmail M-bags, replace the prices with the prices noted in the following table based on each country’s appropriate price group.]
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Extra Services
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[Remove the heading titled “Insurance” and all text pertaining to it. (This insurance information has been moved to the Priority Mail International section in each ICL.)]
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International Postal Money Order (371)
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[For each country that offers international postal money order service, revise the fee to read as follows, and directly below the fee line, add the following text to indicate the money order inquiry fee:]
Fee: $4.25
Money Order Inquiry Fee: $5.40
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the IMM and into the monthly update of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing, 12-16-10
Global Express Guaranteed Price Table
Express Mail International Price Table
Priority Mail International Price Table
