Effective August 14, 2008, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 707 to allow publishers of Periodicals flats to combine copies addressed for box section distribution into multi-box section bundles when there are fewer than six copies to each Post Office™ box section.
Changes to sacking requirements caused some Periodicals mail formerly presorted to carrier route sacks to be moved to 5-digit, 3-digit, Sectional Center Facility (SCF), or Area Distribution Center (ADC) level preparation.
With this change, multi-box section bundles of flats may be placed in carrier route sacks. This preparation option will help to ensure that Post Office box section customers receive the same delivery service as those who enjoy letter carrier delivery and will reduce handling and transportation costs.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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700 Special Standards
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707 Periodicals
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23.0 Preparing Carrier Route Periodicals
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[Renumber current 23.7 through 23.8 as 23.8 through 23.9 and add new 23.7 as follows:]
23.7 Multi-Box Section Bundles — Optional Preparation
A mailer may combine individual copies of Periodicals for Post Office box sections into a multi-box section bundle or bundles of copies to the same 5-digit ZIP Code under these conditions:
a. Each multi-box section bundle must contain at least six copies.
b. Fewer than six copies to each Post Office box section are included in the bundle or bundles.
c. Copies must be prepared in order from the lowest to the highest Post Office box section, and if more than one piece exists for a specific Post Office box section, existing sequencing requirements as specified in DMM 707.23 must be met.
d. Each multi-box section bundle must be secured with at least two bands, one around the length and one around the girth; or with shrinkwrap; or with shrinkwrap plus one or more bands.
e. Each multi-box section bundle must be labeled with an optional endorsement line (OEL). The top bundle must contain the box section information for the individual bundle preceded by the endorsement “Multi” and two asterisks (e.g., **************Multi**B-001).
f. Bundles must be placed in existing carrier route, 5–digit scheme, or 5-digit carrier route sacks.
g. Copies prepared in multi-box section bundles qualify for 5-digit prices.
h. Copies prepared in multi-box section bundles may qualify for DDU container discounts.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed edition of the DMM and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 8-14-08
