Domestic Mail

Mailing Services consist of the following types of mail:

First-Class Mail

The additional-ounce price for all flats and packages remains 17 cents, and the additional-ounce price for automation-rate letters remains 12.5 cents. We have reduced the additional-ounce price for presort-rate (nonau­tomation) letters to 12.5 cents (the same as for automation-rate letters). This eliminates extra mail preparation work by customers, simplifies the postage verification procedures, and results in some relatively large price reductions for presort-rate letters weighing 2 to 3.5 ounces. 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 nonmachinable surcharge for single-piece and presort-rate letters increases to 20 cents, and still applies to all retail and nonautomation presort letters regardless of weight.

First-Class Mail International

Shaped-based pricing is introduced with separate prices for letters, large envelopes (flats), and packages (small packets). This change aligns this price structure with that for (domestic) First-Class Mail service implemented May 2007. The weight limit for letters will be 3.5 ounces, and the weight limit for large envelopes and packages is 64 ounces. The nonmachinable surcharge will now apply to all nonmachinable letters regardless of weight (the same as domestic First-Class Mail letters). The total number of country price groups is expanded to nine — aligning the First-Class Mail International price groups with Priority Mail International™ and Express Mail International® services. The size standards for First-Class Mail Interna­tional letters and large envelopes have changed. See page 20 of this Postal Bulletin issue, page 31 of Notice 123, Price List, and Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Ser­vice, International Mail Manual (IMM®) 240.

As with (domestic) First-Class Mail, we will have 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 service, however, the price for postcards and 1-ounce let­ters continue to be priced the same to the individual coun­try. Determining the processing (price) category of a mailpiece (letter, flat, or package) depends solely on the physical dimensions of the piece without regard to address placement. The longest of the three dimensions is consid­ered the length for flats and packages. If the mailpiece is a letter, the length is the dimension parallel to the delivery address as read.

Except for the minimum size for mailing (5-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches), the maximum weight for large envelopes, and the maximum weight and size limits for packages, all other standards for First-Class Mail International service are the same as domestic First-Class Mail service. Notice 3-S, First-Class Mail Shape-Based Pricing Template, can be used for First-Class Mail International items to determine the maximum physical size for letters and flats, as well as to check the aspect ratio of letters. Notice 3-A, Letter-Size Mail Dimensional Standards Template, can be used to determine maximum physical size for letter-size pieces, and the aspect ratio. A nonma­chinable surcharge applies to letters determined to be non­machinable. Package prices are applied to flats determined to be nonmachinable.

First-Class Mail International items can also be sent as M-bags (see page 66).

Periodicals

Periodicals efficiencies have generally maintained at current levels, and there are modest price increases. The new law provides for a limited circulation price reduction for eligible Outside-County pieces of a Periodicals publica­tion having fewer than 5,000 Outside-County pieces, in addition to their In-County circulation. Eligible Periodicals publications receive a 5-percent discount off the total Outside-County postage (excluding postage for advertis­ing pounds, Ride-Along pieces, and RPNs). As set forth in the new standards, publications in each of the qualification categories may be eligible for the discount. Issues of these publications will qualify if eligible copies are mailed at In–County prices, and the total number of Outside-County copies mailed for that issue is less than 5,000. The new standards provide that circulation limits apply to paid and requester circulation, depending upon the qualification cat­egory of the publication. The discount does not apply to commingled nonsubscriber or nonrequester copies in excess of the 10 percent allowance in DMM 707.7.

Standard Mail

The price changes for letters and flats reflect our deci­sion to moderate the increases for catalogs and other flats due to the large price increases of last year. We have reduced the pound price for flats to provide some addi­tional relief for catalogs. In some instances, more highly presorted catalogs weighing more than 3.3 ounces will see modest price reductions. This reduction also encourages catalog mailers to add content to their catalogs.

Standard Mail parcels and Not Flat-Machinables mean­while, have larger price increases. This reflects the higher costs of processing parcels as compared to letters and flats. The new prices move toward providing parcels with better cost coverage and encourage efficient drop-ship behavior by increasing the incentive to take parcels to the destination delivery unit.

With the advent of delivery point sequencing of letters, and with the expected implementation of the Flats Sequencing System (FSS), the relationship between high density and saturation Enhanced Carrier Route and basic Enhanced Carrier route preparation will remain important. There are modest increases for walk-sequence saturation and high density Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail items.

Package Services

Overall, there are modest increases and price reduc­tions in certain prices of Inter-BMC/ASF Parcel Post. We have reduced the nonmachinable surcharges for both Intra- and Inter-BMC/ASF parcels.

Bound Printed Matter (BPM) has two shape categories: flats and parcels. The percentage increase for BPM is lower for flats than parcels to encourage more flat-shaped catalogs.

In a change separate from the Mailing Services pricing change, but also effective May 12, all BPM, regardless of quantity or pricing claimed can only be prepared and mailed as a permit imprint mailing entered through a busi­ness mail entry unit. Retail outlets will no longer have BPM pricing information in POS terminals. Therefore, BPM can no longer be mailed at retail outlets, placed in collection boxes, or given to a carrier. If the material being mailed is eligible, Library Mail and Media Mail postage is still avail­able at retail outlets.

Library Mail and Media Mail have prices that are linked by law and thus, have low cost coverages. We have increased the prices by 4.5 percent.

Special Services and Other Fees

Certified Mail® increases by 5 cents, and electronic Return Receipt increases 15 cents. There are no changes to any of the Delivery Confirmation™ service fees, including the no-fee option included in the price for certain Priority Mail® and Parcel Select® parcels. The first two notices for One Code ACS™ for First-Class Mail letters remains no-fee. One Code ACS “additional notices” for First-Class Mail letters and the first two notices for Stan­dard Mail letters increase by 1 cent. There are no price changes to the other manual and electronic fees, to encourage better addresses. For Confirm® service, the new prices retain the existing unlimited scan option, though the Platinum Tier receives a larger increase to reflect the changing subscriber base.

There are minimal increases to Post Office™ box and Caller Service fees, and all Post Office boxes and Caller Services maintain their current fee group. Up-to-date fee group information on Post Office boxes is available on webBATS, as well as in Publication 431, Post Office Box Fee Groups. New fees apply only to new rentals and renew­als. Current Post Office box holders (and customers paying Caller Service fees) are not required to pay the new fees until their current rental period expires and it is time to renew. Post Office box and Caller Service fees may be paid for up to two semi-annual periods at a time (i.e., up to 1 year in advance).

Annual mailing and permit fees increase to $180, and all annual account maintenance fees will be $565. The quar­terly fee for high-volume qualified business reply mail let­ters increases to $1,855. Remember, new fees apply only to first-time payments and renewals. Customers with cur­rent fees paid will pay the new fees at renewal.

International extra services fees maintain their correla­tion for those services that are similar to domestic special services.

Shipping Services consist of the following:

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA) gives the Postal Service increased flexibility in pric­ing, product enhancements, and product introductions. On March 4, 2008, the Governors of the Postal Service estab­lished new prices and product features for shipping ser­vices. The product and mailing standards changes needed to implement are described below. The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Ser­vice, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to reflect changes to the following shipping services:

The Postal Service is also revising the IMM to reflect changes to the following shipping services:

Express Mail

With the exception of the flat-rate envelope, Express Mail service is no longer priced based on weight alone. Instead, Express Mail service will offer zone-based prices based on weight and distance consistent with standard industry practices. On average, Express Mail prices will increase 3 percent with larger increases for heavier pieces and pieces destined for Zones 5 through 8 (mail trans­ported more than 600 miles).

We introduce Express Mail “commercial base” prices 3 percent lower than retail prices. Commercial base prices will be available to customers who use an Express Mail Corporate Account (EMCA) — including Federal Agency Accounts — and Click-N-Ship® customers, as well as customers who are registered end users of PC Post­age® service (e.g., Stamps.com, Endicia, and Pitney Bowes) and produce individual shipping labels.

Express Mail PC Postage Label

Commercial base price reductions apply to postage only, and not extra services such as additional insurance and pickup on demand service.

To encourage growth, beginning July 1, 2008, commer­cial volume rebates will also be available (in addition to the commercial base price) to customers whose account vol­ume exceeds a minimum threshold.

 

Minimum Quarterly Volume

Additional Percentage Off

Retail Prices (Rebate)

125

2.0%

438

4.5%

938

7.0%

Rebates will be credited to each qualifying mail owner’s account each postal quarter. Rebates are intended for end users; therefore, third-party consolidators and postage resellers are not eligible. We will be working with other ven­dors to expand the availability as we authorize additional systems.

The new Express Mail Flat-Rate Envelope retail price is $16.50, and the commercial base price will be $16. We are eliminating separate price schedules for “Post Office-to-Post Office” and “Custom Designed,” and Post Office-to-Post Office service will be replaced with a “Hold for Pickup” option. We will continue to notify addressees of the first delivery attempt of an Express Mail piece, and we will pro­vide a second notice on the third day. We will no longer make a second delivery attempt unless requested by the customer.

Priority Mail

Priority Mail retail prices are increasing by 6 percent, on average, with individual prices increasing from 0 to 10 per­cent. The price increases tend to be larger for relatively heavy pieces and for pieces that are transported relatively long distances.

Priority Mail commercial base prices will be 1 to 11 per­cent lower than retail prices and 2.2 percent on average lower than today’s Priority Mail prices.

Commercial base prices will be available to customers who use Click-N-Ship service, customers who are regis­tered end users of PC Postage service and produce indi­vidual shipping labels, and customers using permit imprint with electronic Confirmation Services. A routing barcode will be required by October 1, 2008. Commercial base price reductions apply to postage only, and not extra services such as insurance and pickup on demand service.

Priority Mail PC Postage Label

Parcel Select

Parcel Select is the Postal Service’s bulk ground ship­ping product primarily for destination entry (i.e., Parcel Select–Destination Delivery Unit (DDU), Parcel Select–Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF), and Parcel Select–Destination Bulk Mail Center (DBMC). It will now also include Inter-BMC parcels prepared and mailed at Origin BMC (OBMC) Presort, BMC Presort, as well as machinable parcels prepared for barcoded discounts. On average, Parcel Select prices are increasing by 5.7 percent, and priced to encourage Parcel Select shippers to enter parcels at DDUs.

To encourage growth and continued use of Parcel Select service, we will offer loyalty and growth incentives to large-volume shippers. These annual rebates will be avail­able to shippers whose total annual Parcel Select postage is at least $5 million and whose Parcel Select volume increases over their total volume for the previous year. These shippers will receive rebates based on all DDU vol­umes. Customers whose Parcel Select volume grows by more than 10 percent will be eligible for an additional rebate applied only to qualified incremental DDU volume.

Parcel Return Service

Parcel Return Service (PRS) is the Postal Service’s bulk parcel return product. Parcel returns are made to select return delivery units (RDUs) or any return bulk mail center (RBMC). The overall average price increase is 2.2 percent; however, the new structure prices RDU parcels by 1–70 pounds and an oversized price allowing for a decrease to lighter-weight parcels (RDU prices are not subject to balloon-rate criteria). RBMC prices will continue to be based on weight and zone (and the balloon-rate criteria).