Effective January 22, 2012, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 402.2.2, 423.1.4, and 425.2.3 to introduce two new Priority Mail® Commercial Plus Cubic packaging alternatives — soft-pack envelopes and padded envelopes.
Currently the DMM provides standards only for the measurement of boxes and similar rectangular and nonrectangular packaging. With this revision, the Postal Service will provide measurement standards and marking requirements to mailers who package their items in soft-pack or padded envelopes, in addition to boxes.
The pricing calculation for soft-pack and padded envelopes is based on the outside dimension of the length plus width in inches of the original packaging. The Postal Service will provide a range of combinations (length plus width) which correlate to specific cubic price tiers. The length plus the width and the cubic pricing tier must also be printed on the shipping label.
Cubic tier measurements for soft pack and padded envelopes are based on the outside dimensions of length plus width, in inches, of the original packaging material. Mail items placed in packages that are pleated (e.g., expandable) must follow the measurement guidelines for parcels to be eligible for Commercial Plus Cubic pricing.
All other standards for Priority Mail Commercial Plus Cubic mailpieces remain applicable.
Soft-pack envelopes are usually cloth, plastic, or vinyl packaging that is flexible enough to adhere closely to the contents being packaged and strong enough to securely contain the contents. This packaging has a measurable shape before being used but can conform to the shape of its content and will permit any excess air to escape to ensure that it takes up minimum cubic space while protecting the contents. Cubic measurement is done prior to items being placed in the envelope.
A padded envelope is a type of envelope that contains an inner liner of plastic bubble or other flexible cushion material for content protection. The bubble lining can vary in thickness, and the outer skin can be made of paper, thin cardboard, or Tyvek material.
All packaging material for Priority Mail Commercial Plus Cubic pricing is intended to be customer-supplied.
Although, these packaging alternatives are effective in the DMM beginning January 22, 2012, in the interim mailers may begin using the soft pack and padded envelopes immediately when a customer has obtained a signed customer commitment agreement with USPS®. Mailers may contact their local sales representative for more information. Current Priority Mail Commercial Plus Cubic prices will apply to the packaging alternatives.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
400 Commercial Parcels
* * * * *
402 Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece
* * * * *
2.0 Placement and Content Markings
* * * * *
[Revise items 2.2 and 2.3 by reorganizing the text of 2.2 into a new 2.2.1 and the text of 2.3 into a new 2.2.2 as follows:]
2.2 Priority Mail Commercial Plus Cubic Markings
2.2.1 Price Marking — PC Postage
Priority Mail pieces claiming the commercial plus cubic price must be marked “Priority Mail” and bear the applicable marking that reflects the respective price tier printed on the piece or produced as part of the meter imprint or PC Postage indicia. The cubic tiers are determined by the cubic measurement of each mailpiece up to the defined threshold, (i.e., measurements from .01 up to .10 for “Cubic .10” and from .101 up to .20 for “Cubic .20”). Place the marking directly above, directly below, or to the left of the postage. Approved markings are as follows:
a. “Cubic .10”
b. “Cubic .20”
c. “Cubic .30”
d. “Cubic .40”
e. “Cubic .50”
2.2.2 Price Marking—Permit Imprint
Except under 2.2.3, Priority Mail permit imprint pieces claiming the commercial plus cubic price must be marked “Priority Mail” and bear the applicable marking, printed on the piece or produced as part of the permit imprint indicia. Place the marking directly above, directly below, or to the left of the postage. Approved markings are as follows:
a. Cubic
b. CUBIC
c. cubic
[Add new 2.2.3 as follows:]
2.2.3 Additional Price Markings
In addition to the tier price markings in 2.2.1, soft pack and padded envelopes must also contain the dimensions (length and width) of the original packaging. Place the marking directly above, directly below, or to the left of the postage.
[Renumber current items 2.4 through 2.9 as 2.3 through 2.8.]
* * * * *
420 Priority Mail
423 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
* * * * *
1.4 Commercial Plus Cubic
* * * * *
[Renumber current item 1.4.4 as new 1.4.5 and add new 1.4.4 as follows:]
1.4.4 Determining Cubic Tier Measurement for Soft Pack and Padded Envelopes
Cubic tier measurements for soft pack and padded envelopes are based on the outside dimensions of length plus width, in inches, of the original packaging material. Mailpieces that are pleated (e.g., expandable) must follow the measurement guidelines for rectangular and nonrectangular parcels under 1.4.3 to be eligible for cubic pricing. Determine cubic tier measurements as follows:
a. Measure the length and width separately in inches.
b. Round down (see 604.7.0) each measurement to the nearest 1/4 inch. For example, 10-1/8 inches is rounded down to 10 inches.
c. Add the two measurements together. The maximum total of length plus width cannot exceed 36 inches. See Exhibit 1.4.4 for corresponding price tiers.
Exhibit 1.4.4 Commercial Plus Pricing Tiers for Soft Pack and Padded Envelopes
* * * * *
425 Mail Preparation
* * * * *
2.0 Marking
* * * * *
[Revise items 2.3 and 2.4 by reorganizing the text of 2.3 into a new 2.3.1 and the text of 2.4 into a new 2.3.2 as follows:]
2.3 Price Marking for Commercial Plus Cubic Prices
2.3.1 Price Marking—PC Postage
Priority Mail pieces claiming the commercial plus cubic price must bear the appropriate marking that reflects the respective price tier printed on the piece or produced as part of the meter imprint or PC Postage indicia. The ranges are determined by pieces measuring up to the threshold, i.e., pieces from .01 up to .10, from .101 up to .20, etc. Place the marking directly above, directly below, or to the left of the postage. Markings are as follows:
a. “Cubic .10”
b. “Cubic .20”
c. “Cubic .30”
d. “Cubic .40”
e. “Cubic .50”
2.3.2 Price Marking—Permit Imprint
Except under 2.3.3., Priority Mail pieces claiming the commercial plus cubic price must bear the appropriate marking, printed on the piece or produced as part of the permit imprint indicia. Place the marking directly above, directly below, or to the left of the postage. Markings are as follows:
a. Cubic
b. CUBIC
c. cubic
[Add new 2.3.3 as follows:]
2.3.3 Additional Price Markings
In addition to the tier price markings in 2.3.1, soft pack and padded envelopes must also contain the dimensions (length and width) of the original packaging. Place the marking directly above, directly below, or to the left of the postage.
* * * * *
We will include these revisions in the next monthly update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 11-3-11
