Domestic Mail

Effective May 11, 2006, we are revising the preparation requirements for bundles of Periodicals, Standard Mail®, and Package Services flat-size mail or irregular parcels on pallets. This revision affects section 705.8.5.2 of Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®).

Under the new standards, after preparing all other pallets at the 500-pound required minimum, if there are 250 or more pounds of bundles labeled to destinations within the ZIP CodeTM range for an area distribution center (ADC), a mailer who prepares bundles of Periodicals flat-size mail or irregular parcels on pallets must prepare the ADC pallet. If there are 250 or more pounds of bundles labeled to destinations within the ZIP Code range for a bulk mail center/auxiliary service facility (BMC/ASF), a mailer who prepares bundles of Standard Mail and Package Services flat-size mail or irregular parcels on pallets must prepare the BMC/ASF pallet. If a mailing does not contain any ADC or BMC/ASF pallets and there are 250 or more pounds for a sectional center facility (SCF), the mailer must prepare the SCF pallet.

Bundles of flat-size mailpieces or irregular parcels on pallets are easier and less costly for us to handle than bundles in sacks. In addition, bundles on pallets maintain their integrity to a greater degree than bundles in sacks. By revising the requirements for pallet preparation, we help increase the volume of mail on pallets.

In addition, we are removing text in section 705.8.5.2 regarding the labeling of pallets and optional bundle reallocation because we cover these topics in detail elsewhere in the DMM.

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

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700 Special Standards

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705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

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8.0 Preparation for Pallets

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8.5 General Preparation

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8.5.2 Required Preparation

[Revise 8.5.2 to require ADC, BMC/ASF, or SCF pallets at 250 pounds of bundles to read as follows:]

The following standards apply to Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services, except Parcel Post mailed at BMC Presort, OBMC Presort, DSCF, and DDU rates:

a. Mailers must prepare a pallet to the required sortation level(s) for the class of mail when a mailing contains 500 or more pounds of bundles, sacks, or parcels or 72 linear feet or six layers of letter trays for the destination.

b. For bundles of flat-size mailpieces or bundles of irregular parcels on pallets, after preparing all possible pallets under 8.5.2a, when 250 or more pounds of bundles remain for an ADC (Periodicals) or for a BMC/ASF (Standard Mail and Package Services), mailers must prepare the ADC or BMC/ASF pallet, as applicable for the class of mail. Exception: If there are no ADC or BMC/ASF pallets in a mailing and 250 or more pounds remain for an SCF, mailers must prepare the SCF pallet.

c. If bundles remain that cannot be prepared on an ADC, BMC/ASF, or SCF pallet, mailers must place those bundles in sacks (8.9.1).

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We will incorporate this revision into the May 11, 2006, update of the online DMM on Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com and into the next printed edition following that update.

— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 1-5-06

Effective January 19, 2006, we are revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) Labeling Lists L001, L007, L201, L601, L603, L604, and L606 to reflect changes in mail processing operations. Note: While this is an out-of-schedule labeling list change, the "must comply" date is identical to that which will be associated with the next regularly scheduled labeling list change article. Mailers are encouraged to label according to these revised lists immediately, but must comply with these changes no later than April 16, 2006.

We will incorporate these revisions into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.gov.

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

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Index and Appendices

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Labeling Lists

L000 General Use

L001 5-Digit Scheme - Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services Flats and Irregular Parcels

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L007 5-Digit Scheme - Periodicals, Standard Mail, and BPM Flats in Bundles

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L200 Periodicals

L201 Periodicals Origin Split

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L600 Standard Mail and Package Services

L601 BMCs

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L603 ADCs - Irregular Standard Mail Parcels

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L604 Originating ADCs - Standard Mail Irregular Parcels

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L606 5-Digit Scheme - Standard Mail and Package Services Parcels

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— Logistics,
Network Operations Management, 1-5-06

In response to an increasing number of fraudulent money orders being presented to financial institutions and unsuspecting customers, we have recently implemented an interactive voice response (IVR) system to assist customers and financial institutions in determining whether postal money orders are genuine. The toll-free telephone number for the IVR system is 866-459-7822 (for both the U.S. and Canada).

Postal ServiceTM money orders are still among the most secure financial instruments in the world. They are designed with many security features that help to distinguish them from counterfeit money orders; however, technological advances have made it possible to create counterfeit money orders that look nearly identical to genuine postal money orders.

The latest money order scam involves mostly forgers in Nigeria but also includes forgers in Ghana and Eastern Europe. These forgers contact U.S. citizens through the Internet, who are subsequently told that a Nigerian has postal money orders, cashier's checks, or traveler's checks that need to be cashed. The money orders are then mailed to victims in the United States, who are told to cash them and/or deposit them in their personal bank accounts, in exchange for a percentage of the illegal funds.

Customers and financial institutions can protect themselves from falling prey to these money order schemes by familiarizing themselves with these current money order security features:

• When held to the light, a genuine money order reveals a watermark image of Benjamin Franklin inside of an oval shape. This watermark is repeated top to bottom on the left side.

• A dark security thread running top to bottom with the word "USPS" repeated is revealed when held to the light.

If these features are not present, the money order is not genuine. Also, there should be no discoloration around the dollar amounts, which might indicate that the dollar amounts were changed.

Additional information regarding postal money order security features can be found in Notice 299, U.S. Postal Money Order Reference Card, and online at www.usps. com/missingmoneyorders/security.htm.

— Value Added and Special Services,
Product Management, 1-5-06