Q. Why are prices going up again?
A. The costs of doing business — for things like fuel, transportation, utilities, and health care benefits — have continued to increase. Without an increase to keep up with rising costs, we face significant losses. Postal Service™ operations are not subsidized by tax dollars. We rely on the sale of postal products and services to cover our operating costs.
Q. The USPS raised prices on January 8, 2006. Why another increase so soon?
A. The January 8, 2006, across-the-board price increase was to meet an escrow payment mandated by Public Law (PL) 108-18. This is the first time since January 2001 that we have restructured our prices. A lot has happened since then. In accordance with our Strategic Transformation Plan, we’ve made extensive changes to our operations and increased our efficiency. And the market has changed too. We’re using this opportunity to reflect changes in operations and respond to market changes. We’ve done that by re-aligning our classifications (product descriptions) and their prices. We must ensure that our prices for our products cover their costs.
Q. Why don’t you just make the price of a stamp an even 50 cents?
A. No one should have to pay more than necessary. We want to make sure the mail remains a great value. A price increase of more than 2 cents for a First-Class Mail® stamp would impose an unfair share of the burden of operating the Postal Service on First-Class Mail users. A 2-cent increase results in a more equitable distribution of postal costs among all mail classes.
Also, the majority of customers purchase stamps not in singles but in booklets or panes of 10 or 20 stamps, and in coils of 100 or more, so pennies are not usually involved in the transaction.
Q. What is this Forever Stamp that I'm hearing about?
A. The Postal Service is issuing the Forever Stamp™, intended to reduce the inconvenience that consumers experience having to acquire new-price postage or “make-up” stamps (1-cent and 2-cent stamps) prior to the implementation of new prices. The Forever Stamp will initially be sold at the new First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter rate — 41 cents. The value of the Forever Stamp will always be the First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter rate that is in effect on the day of use (mailing), unaffected by any subsequent changes.
Customers still need to prepare for the May 14 change, just as they have for previous price adjustments.
Additional postage will need to be affixed to letters weighing in excess of 1 ounce, letters subject to the nonmachinable surcharge, or mailpieces subject to another rate of postage (e.g., large envelopes or packages).
The Forever Stamp will be available in Post Offices™ on April 12, 2007.
Q. How much will the Forever Stamp cost?
A. The Forever Stamp will be available in booklets of 20 for $8.20 at the retail counter. It will also be available (beginning May 14) from our Automated Postal Centers® (APCs®) and at select automated teller machines (ATMs) in sheetlets of 18 for $7.38.
Q. Will the Forever Stamp be available in coils or other formats?
A. No, but a nondenominated American Flag stamp is also being issued and will be available in coils of 100, 3,000, and 10,000 and in panes of 20 and 100, as well as in individual quantities.
Q. Can the Forever Stamp be used for international mail?
A. Any nondenominated stamps (except those that bear unique markings, such as First-Class Presort, Nonprofit Organization) may be affixed to items that are sent to foreign countries. The postage value of such stamps is linked to its appropriate domestic rate (e.g., the Lady Liberty and U.S. Flag stamp has a postage value of 39 cents). The postage value of the Forever Stamp will be the domestic First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter rate that is in effect on the day of use (mailing). Since international postage rates are always higher than the comparable domestic rates, additional postage would have to be affixed.
Q. Will the price of the Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp change?
A. Yes, this increase in the First-Class Mail letter rate requires us to raise the selling price to 55 cents each to maintain the relationship between price and contribution.
Q. Will there be 17-cent stamps available for the lower First-Class Mail additional-ounce rate?
A. A new 17-cent stamp will be issued in the immediate future.
Q. Can I exchange my 39-cent postage stamps for new 41-cent stamps?
A. No. Unless mistakes were made when originally purchased or stamps were defective when purchased, adhesive stamps are not exchangeable or refundable. You must use 1-cent or 2-cent stamps to make up the difference.
Q. Did the price for First-Class Mail postcards increase?
A. Yes, the new price is 26 cents for postcards eligible for the card price.
Q. Where can I find additional information regarding the new rates and fees?
A. For additional information on domestic (as well as international) changes, see the January/February and March/April issues of MailPro at www.usps.com/mailpro.
Q. Is there still a nonmachinable surcharge for First-Class Mail?
A. Yes, the nonmachinable surcharge continues to apply to letters weighing 1 ounce or less, and will be 17 cents. The Board of Governors has asked the Postal Rate Commission (PRC) to reconsider its recommendation that limits the surcharge to 1-ounce letters instead of applying it to letters of any weight (up to the 3.5-ounce maximum for letters).
Q. Will large envelopes weighing 1 ounce or less continue to be subject to a nonmachinable surcharge?
A. No, since large envelopes will have their own price structure (flats prices), the nonmachinable surcharge no longer applies.
Q. Why do all the prices for letters only go up to 3.5 ounces?
A. With pricing by shape, the maximum weight for letters is now 3.5 ounces. Letters weighing more than 3.5 ounces would be subject to the flats prices (the prices for large envelopes). The maximum weight for large envelopes and packages remains 13 ounces.
Q. Is there still a “heavy-piece” discount for automation-rate and presort-rate mail weighing more than 2 ounces?
A. No. Separate price schedules for letters and flats (such as large envelopes) make the heavy-piece discount unnecessary. With these separate schedules comes a lower additional-ounce rate that decreases to 12.5 cents for automation letters and 17 cents for presorted letters and flats.
Q. Does the price structure and related mail preparation standards for automation letters change?
A. Aside from the elimination of automation carrier route rates, there are no changes to the automation letters rate structure or the existing 150-piece minimums associated with the optional 5-digit, 3-digit, and automated area distribution center (AADC) rates.
Q. Is there a new price for the Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes?
A. Yes. The Priority Mail® Flat-Rate Boxes are now a permanent feature of our product line, and the new price is $9.15, regardless of weight, contents, or distance traveled. The Board of Governors has asked the PRC to reconsider its recommended rate, which is higher than proposed.
Q. What is the new price for the Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelope?
A. The price for the Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelope continues to be the same as the 1-pound rate — $4.60.
Q. Why is dimensional-weight pricing important with Priority Mail service?
A. Dimensional-weight pricing is an important component because it allows prices to better reflect our transportation costs. Air transportation costs are based on the cubic capacity (size) of the package while previous prices were all weight-based. Dimensional-weight pricing applies only to Priority Mail packages larger than 1 cubic foot capacity and traveling to destinations within Zones 5–8 (zones that use air transportation).
Q. With the new dimensional-weight pricing for Priority Mail packages, is there still the (minimum) balloon rate?
A. Yes; but only for packages (measuring larger than 84-inches combined length and girth) traveling locally and to Zone 1–4 destinations. The new minimum rate will be 20 pounds.
Q. Are packages measured the same way for dimensional-weight pricing as with balloon-rate pricing?
A. No. Dimensional weight is based on cubic inches by measuring (in inches) and multiplying the length by the width by the height. If the result is greater than 1,728, divide it by 194 (the “dim factor”). The result is the dimensional-weight. Balloon rate is determined by measuring the length and girth combined, and if the result is greater than 84 inches, balloon-rate pricing may apply.
Q. What if the resulting dimensional weight is more than 70 pounds?
A. The package would be charged the applicable 70–pound rate.
Q. Would anything mailed in our Priority Mail containers be subject to dimensional-weight pricing or the balloon-rate?
A. No. None of our standard Priority Mail containers available online or at Post Offices, would be subject to dimensional-weight or balloon-rate pricing.
Q. Would mailings expedited using “Priority Mail Open-and-Distribute,” be subject to dimensional-weight pricing?
A. Mailings of other classes of mail enclosed in USPS®-supplied containers for expedited service as Priority Mail Open and Distribute (formerly Priority Mail Drop Shipment) to destination postal facilities would not be subject to dimensional-weight pricing.
Q. What is the most significant change for Express Mail service?
A. The addition of 1-pound rates to fill the gap between the (minimum) 1/2-pound rate and 2-pound rate, now makes Express Mail® service a better value for mailers of lightweight documents. The new Post Office to Addressee 1-pound rate is $19.50. Previously, mailers with any piece weighing over 1/2 pound and under 2 pounds were charged the 2-pound price.
Q. What is the new price for the Express Mail Flat-Rate Envelope?
A. The price for the Express Mail Flat-Rate Envelope continues to be the same as the 1/2-pound rate. The Post Office to Addressee price is $16.25.
Q. Is insurance still included in the base price for Express Mail service?
A. Yes, merchandise insurance is provided against loss, damage, or rifling up to a maximum liability of $100. Additional insurance may be purchased, at the mailer's option.
Q. Does dimensional-weight pricing apply to Express Mail shipments?
A. No.
Q. What are the major changes to Standard Mail service?
A. The four major changes to Standard Mail® service are the following: Separate price structures for machinable and nonmachinable letters; four separate presort and price tiers for flats; separate price structures for irregular and machinable parcels (that includes a new destination delivery unit (DDU) entry price); and the creation of the “Not Flat-Machinable” or NFM category.
Q. Is there a higher nonmachinable surcharge for letters?
A. The nonmachinable surcharge for Standard Mail letters is discontinued and replaced with separate nonmachinable prices for letters that do not meet the aspect ratio or that have any nonmachinable characteristics.
Q. Has the maximum weight for automation-rate letters increased?
A. No. The maximum weight for automation-rate letters (letters with the barcode in the address block and prepared in a sealed envelope) remains 3.5 ounces.
Q. Are there any changes to the requirements for self-mailers and booklets prepared as automation-rate letters?
A. No.
Q. Do the price structure and related mail preparation standards for automation-rate letters change?
A. Aside from the elimination of automation basic enhanced carrier route (ECR) rates, there are no changes to the automation-rate letters price structure or the existing 150-piece minimums associated with the optional 5-digit, 3-digit, and AADC prices.
Q. Have any ECR categories been eliminated?
A. The basic automation rate for letters is eliminated, as well as the DDU entry rate for ECR letters. Due to changes in our automated processing, DDU entry of ECR letters is no longer advantageous.
Q. Why have the 3/5 and basic rates for machinable letters been changed to AADC and mixed-AADC rates?
A. This change establishes letter rates that parallel corresponding presort levels. Machinable letters can be processed and barcoded on USPS® automation at the origin facility therefore, with the exception of optional origin/entry 3-digit trays, preparation by the mailer to finer sortation levels is unnecessary.
Q. Why were the 3/5 and basic prices for flats split into separate 5-digit, 3-digit, ADC, and mixed-ADC rates?
A. We created rates for flats that parallel the presort levels and better reflect worksharing efforts. These changes apply to both automation-rate and nonautomation-rate flats.
Q. What are the minimum piece requirements for automation and nonautomation flats 5-digit and 3-digit rate categories?
A. We did not change the bundle and sacking requirements, including the minimums. For mail prepared on pallets and for automation-rate flats prepared in sacks, pieces prepared in a 5-digit scheme/5-digit bundle would get the 5-digit rate. Likewise, pieces prepared in a 3-digit scheme/3-digit bundle would get the 3-digit rate. For nonautomation flats prepared in sacks, the rates continue to be based on the level of the sack in which the bundles are placed.
Q. What is the definition of “uniform thickness” for flats? If a flat is not uniformly thick, would it have to be mailed as a parcel, or Not Flat-Machinable piece?
A. All flats must be uniformly thick so that any bumps, protrusions, or other irregularities do not cause more than 1/4-inch variance in thickness. The outer edges of the mailpiece (up to 1 inch) would not be considered when measuring variance in thickness. Also, if the contents are significantly smaller than the envelope, wrapper, or sleeve, they must be secured to prevent shifting of more than 2 inches within the mailpiece. Flat-size pieces not meeting the uniform-thickness standard must be mailed as either Not Flat-Machinable (NFM) pieces or as parcels.
Q. With separate rate categories for irregular parcels, machinable parcels, and NFM pieces, is there a residual shape surcharge?
A. No, the residual shape surcharge (RSS) is discontinued.
Q. What is the new NFM category?
A. We created the NFM category for pieces that previously qualified as automation flats by virtue of the UFSM 1000 guidelines (which no longer exist). Many of these pieces were handled as parcels, especially at delivery. Since such pieces do not meet the processing specifications of the AFSM 100 for flats, they no longer qualify as Standard Mail flats.
Q. What is the required preparation for NFM pieces?
A. There is no bundling for most NFMs; mailers prepare pieces as follows:
Note: NFMs weighing 6 ounces or more are not eligible for 3-digit rates, and pieces prepared in ASF/BMC containers qualify for the ADC rate. To give mailers access to deeper discounts, we also allow 5–digit rates for 5-digit bundles placed directly on pallets. In addition, the DDU-entry rate is available for NFMs sorted to 5-digit destinations. There is no minimum quantity for 5-digit NFMs entered at a DDU.
Q. Is there a barcode discount available for machinable parcels?
A. No, the value of the barcode is factored into the rate, and a 5-cent surcharge would apply to all parcels and NFM pieces that are not barcoded, unless the parcels are placed into 5-digit containers.
Q. I see there are new barcode requirements for all the parcel categories. Can I use the same barcode on all parcels to avoid the 5-cent surcharges?
A. Irregular parcels (regardless of weight) and NFM pieces weighing less than 6 ounces: either a 5–digit UCC/EAN Code 128 or a POSTNET barcode is acceptable.
Machinable parcels and NFM pieces weighing 6 ounces or more: a 5-digit UCC/EAN Code 128 must be used.
Q. Will Extra Services (formerly Special Services) be available for use with Standard Mail parcels and NFMs?
A. Electronic Option Delivery Confirmation™, bulk insurance, and Return Receipt for merchandise services are available with the irregular and machinable parcel categories. Only Electronic Option Delivery Confirmation is available with NFM pieces.
Q. Are there changes to Standard Mail Nonprofit mailings?
A. Nonprofit prices (categories) and incentives continue to mirror those of commercial Standard Mail prices.
Q. Are there any changes to Parcel Post?
A. The significant change to Parcel Post® service (and Parcel Select® service) is the revision of the minimum balloon rate from 15 pounds to 20 pounds, for parcels measuring larger than 84 inches in combined length and girth.
Q. Is there still a barcode discount for Parcel Select parcels?
A. No. The new prices reflect the savings, and barcodes are now required on (machinable) Parcel Select-DBMC parcels. Barcodes facilitate efficient verification and processing and are necessary for no-fee electronic Delivery Confirmation service. The majority of Parcel Select parcels are barcoded by mailers and consolidators. Machinable Parcel Select-DBMC parcels that do not bear a barcode would be subject to Intra-BMC/ASF rates.
Q. Does dimensional-weight pricing apply to Packages Services mail?
A. No.
Q. I see there is now a surcharge for Standard Mail ECR flats mailed with detached address labels (DALs). Is there a similar surcharge for BPM flats and irregular parcels mailed with DALs?
A. No.
Q. Can postage for Bound Printed Matter eligible items be purchased at the retail counter?
A. No. To simplify options at the retail counter, Bound Printed Matter (BPM) will no longer be offered. However, we will still accept nonpresorted BPM pieces for mailing at the retail window (as well as for mailing at collection boxes and giving to letter carriers, as appropriate) when the customer pre-applies postage using any of the current forms — adhesive stamps, meter strips, PC Postage®.
Q. Is no-fee electronic Delivery Confirmation service still available?
A. Yes, it continues with Priority Mail (including Click-N-Ship® service) and Parcel Select parcels.
Q. Are there any changes to address correction–related fees, including the Standard Mail weighted fee, for returns?
A. Yes there are significant changes to Address Change Service™ (ACS) including the new OneCode ACS™ using the Intelligent Mail® barcode (formerly the 4–state customer barcode), as well as new options for mailers requiring forwarding service for their Standard Mail items. Low-cost OneCode ACS fees are initially available for First-Class Mail and Standard Mail letters.
There are minor increases as well as decreases in Business Reply Mail (BRM) per-piece charges. Also, BRM returns will be subject to the appropriate First–Class Mail rates for letters, large envelopes (flats), and parcels.
Q. Will BRM standards be changed to make use of the Intelligent Mail barcode?
A. No, there are no “format” changes for BRM.
Q. Will Priority Mail parcels using a BRM label, or Merchandise Return Service label, be subject to balloon-rate or dimensional-weight pricing?
A. Yes, parcels greater than 84 inches combined length and girth returned from within Zones 1–4, will be subject to balloon-rate pricing. Parcels greater than 1 cubic foot capacity and returned from Zone 5 or beyond will be subject to Priority Mail dimensional-weight pricing.
Q. Will the fees for Premium Forwarding Service change?
A. The enrollment (application) fee remains $10, but the weekly shipment fee increases to $11.95 per week. The new weekly fee applies only to customers initially enrolling or extending and paying on or after May 14. PS Form 8176, Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) Application, is being updated to reflect this change (under Terms and Conditions #6).
Q. Will new point-of-purchase materials be available with the new weekly price for PFS?
A. Yes, both the brochure (Publication 615) and the stand-up countercard (Sign 615) are being prepared with the new weekly shipment fee. (Most Post Offices will need only one stand-up countercard.) Details will follow in an upcoming Postal Bulletin.
Q. What should postmasters do with the old PFS stand-up signs and hand-outs?
A. Recycle those that are out-of-date.
Q. If a residential customer has both a Post Office box and a street address and wants to use PFS, can he/she file one application and pay one weekly fee?
A. No. Two applications and two weekly service fees are required. See “Terms and Conditions #3” of the PFS application.
Q. Have Post Office box fees changed?
A. Yes. With our continuing efforts to realign Post Office box prices with our costs, the fee groups for some individual Post Offices will change, which may result in increases or decreases for some box holders. The new fees apply only to new rentals and renewals. Current Post Office box holders do not begin paying the new fees until their current rental period expires and it is time to renew.
Q. Aside from general price increases, did Caller Service fees change?
A. We are realigning Caller Service fees in the same fee groups as Post Office box fees, and depending on location, customers may see increases or decreases. Previously, Caller Service fees were the same at all locations. The new fees apply only to first-time users and renewals. Current customers paying Caller Service fees do not begin paying the new fees until their current period expires and it is time to renew.
Q. My company reserves multiple Caller Service numbers for future use, are those fees realigned into fee groups, also?
A. No. The caller number reservation fee remains a single fee at $38. As with Caller Service fees, current customers do not begin paying the $38 fee until the next calendar year.
Q. Do permit fees increase?
A. Yes. All annual mailing fees and the permit imprint application fee increased to $175; and all annual accounting fees (account maintenance fees) increase to $550. These new fees apply only to first-time payments and fee renewals. Customers with current fees paid do not begin paying the new fees until it is time to renew.
Q. I see Pickup on Demand® service increases from $13.25 to $14.25. What about Carrier Pickup service?
A. Carrier Pickup™ service remains available at no charge.
Q. Are there any new addressing requirements associated with OneCode ACS™?
A. No. Consistent with the goal of reducing undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail, we encourage mailers to use every tool possible to improve the quality of their address lists.
Q. Why are international prices going up?
A. The costs of doing business, for things like fuel, transportation, foreign delivery, and utilities, have continued to increase. This is the first time since 2001 that we have proposed any restructuring to our prices. The January 8, 2006, increase was implemented to meet an escrow payment mandated by Public Law (PL) 108-18. This increase for 2007 is needed to cover the increase in operating costs.
Q. When do the international changes take effect?
A. International changes will be implemented concurrent with the domestic changes, Monday, May 14.
Q. Where can I get more detailed information on the changes?
A. For additional information on international (as well as domestic) changes, see the January/February and March/April issues of MailPro at www.usps.com/mailpro.
Q. Why are changes being proposed to international mail?
A. We are restructuring our products to better meet customer needs.
Q. What kinds of services have customers requested?
A. Customers have expressed the desire for clear and concise product options to choose from. They would like to have the same quick, easy, and convenient shipping options that are available domestically. Also, customers have stated a preference for using the same USPS-provided packaging for both domestic and international shipments, free Carrier Pickup service, and better tracking and package visibility — all at the Postal Service’s competitive prices.
Q. What are some of the major changes to international mail?
A. The changes include a simplification and rebranding of all international products. Eight international products with overlapping prices and service standards will be combined into four: Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG®), Express Mail International®, Priority Mail International, and First-Class Mail International.
Q. What international products are eliminated?
A. The product simplification eliminates Economy (surface) products including economy Parcel Post; economy Letter Post; Publishers’ Periodicals, Books, and Sheet Music; and economy M-bags. All these services will have comparable air product offering alternatives. In addition, Aerogrammes and Recorded Delivery service will be eliminated. First-Class Mail International letters and cards are alternatives to Aerogrammes, and Registered Mail is an alternative for Recorded Delivery.
Q. What are some new international services?
A. Customers will have the convenience of the use of domestic shipping supplies, including “flat-rate” options, as well as increased visibility and more specific delivery times to major destinations. Additionally, online shippers will qualify for discounts of up to 10 percent when paying postage online through www.usps.com and authorized postage vendors.
Q. Will each of the four products offer insurance and tracking?
A. GXG and Express Mail International include insurance covering up to $100 for loss, damage, rifling, or document reconstruction. Priority Mail International also includes limited insurance coverage. Additional merchandise insurance is available at the mailer's option. Tracking is included in the price of these products.
Q. Were all international mail prices adjusted?
A. Yes, all international product prices were increased an average of 13 percent. The price adjustment for First-Class Mail International will average 8.6 percent. The 1-ounce letter rate to Canada or Mexico will increase from 63 cents to 69 cents (9.5 percent) and the 1-ounce letter rate to all other countries will increase from 84 cents to 90 cents (7.1 percent).
Q. What are the new prices for Express Mail International Flat-Rate Envelopes?
A. The Express Mail International Flat-Rate Envelope price will be $22 for Canada and Mexico, and $25 for all other countries.
Q. Will the Postal Service provide free packaging for these services? If so, what will the sizes be and for what class?
A. Yes. We will continue to provide GXG packaging. Customers using other international products will be able to use the same packaging they use for domestic shipping. Therefore, all Express Mail packaging can be used for Express Mail International, including the flat-rate envelope; all Priority Mail packaging can be used for Priority Mail International, including the flat-rate envelope, the flat-rate boxes and all other Priority Mail packaging supplies and labels. These can be ordered online at www.usps.com/shippingsupplies or by calling 800-610-8734.
Q. I'm hearing the Priority Mail Flat-Rate Box is now available for international use. Is that true?
A. Yes. Up to a 20-pound limit, or allowable contents, Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Boxes will be $23 to Canada and Mexico, and $37 for all other countries.
Q. Is there a Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelope for international at a single price?
A. The Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelope price will be $9 for Canada and Mexico, and $11 for all other countries. The weight limit for the Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelope is 4 pounds.
Q. Did the USPS propose balloon-rate or dimensional-weight pricing for Priority Mail International packages?
A. No. However, dimensional-weight pricing will continue for applicable Global Express Guaranteed shipments.
Q. Will pricing based on shape apply to First-Class Mail International items?
A. No.
Mailing options for Books and Sheet Music and Publishers' Periodicals include International Priority Airmail (IPA®), M-bag, and International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®) service. “Single-piece” mailing options would be First-Class Mail International and Priority Mail International service.
Q. What product lines can be sent with Registered Mail service?
A. Registered Mail service (without insurance) will be available for purchase for all First-Class Mail International items and for the Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelopes. See the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual, (IMM®) for country restrictions.
Q. Other than the rates, will there be any other changes to IPA and ISAL service?
A. Yes, a separate rate group is being established for Australia, and an IPA M-bag option is being introduced.
Q. Are there any significant changes to Extra Services?
A. The structure of Extra Services, formerly known as Special Services, remains unchanged except for the elimination of Recorded Delivery service.
Q. Is there any change to initiating an inquiry for the new international mail categories?
A. For international mail, an inquiry must be initiated before a claim can be submitted. For GXG, Express Mail International, and Priority Mail International, customers should call 800-222-1811 to initiate an inquiry. Upon determination that a claim can be filed, we will provide you with a claim packet containing detailed instructions. If a customer receives an article from a foreign country in damaged condition, or with some or all contents missing, he/she needs to take the mailing container, wrapping, packaging, and any other contents to any Post Office for inspection. The postmaster will verify damage and give the customer a PS Form 2855, Claim for Indemnity-International Registered Mail, Insured, Ordinary Parcel and Express Mail, to complete.
Note that for Registered Mail service, regardless of the declared value of a registered item, the maximum amount of indemnity payable for loss, damage, or rifling is $44.86.
Q. Can domestic stamped envelopes be used for international mail?
A. Yes, but since international postage rates are always higher than the postage value, additional postage would have to be affixed.
Q. Were the prices for postcards eliminated?
A. No, postcards are part of First-Class Mail International service. The prices for eligible cards will be 69 cents to Canada and Mexico, 52 cents to the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, and 90 cents to all other countries. Remember, for postcard rates, cards can be no larger than 4-1/4 by 6 inches.
Q. Are International Reply Coupons (IRCs) still available?
A. Yes, the selling price will be $2.00 each. IRCs are exchangeable in any other UPU-member country for a stamp(s) representing the minimum postage for an unregistered air letter.
Q. Is there still a nonmachinable surcharge for letters?
A. Yes, the nonmachinable surcharge for First-Class Mail International letters weighing 1 ounce or less is increased to 17 cents. As always, 1-ounce letters that do not meet aspect ratio or that have any nonmachinable characteristics would be subject to the nonmachinable surcharge.
Q. I see that Aerogrammes are no longer available, but can Aerogrammes still be mailed?
A. Aerogrammes can be mailed as First-Class Mail International items; however, since the First-Class Mail International price is higher, additional postage would have to be affixed.
