DMM Revision: New Options for Restricted Delivery and Pickup On Demand Services

Effective October 30, 2014, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various related sections to introduce the following enhanced service features:

Special, Extra, and Other Services

Restricted Delivery with Signature Confirmation

The Postal Service is enhancing the Signature Confirmation offering by allowing mailers purchasing Signature Confirmation™ to add Restricted Delivery service, when postage is paid online. Currently, customers need to purchase another extra service in order to add Restricted Delivery. Mailers must use either USPS Click-N-Ship® or be the end-user of an authorized PC Postage product to add Restricted Delivery service to Signature Confirmation service. Restricted Delivery with Signature Confirmation™ is available for all Priority Mail® (except Critical Mail), First-Class Package Service®, Package Services and Parcel Select® (except Parcel Select Lightweight®) parcels.

Package Pickup and Pickup on Demand

The Postal Service will expand Package Pickup and Pickup on Demand® service, including the following products to be picked up when postage (excluding postage stamps for items weighing more than 13 ounces) is prepaid: First-Class Mail®, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Return Service, Media Mail/Library Mail, or Bound Printed Matter, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select Nonpresort, and First-Class Package Return® Service. Mailers do not need to include a Priority Mail Express® or a Priority Mail® piece in order to request a Pickup on Demand for these products. Customers may visit https://tools.usps.com/go/ScheduleAPickupAction!input.action to schedule Pickup on Demand.

Although these standards will not be updated in the online DMM until December 8, 2014, they may be followed immediately.

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

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500 Additional Mailing Services

503 Extra and Additional Services

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1.0 Basic Standards for Extra Services

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1.4 Matter Eligible for Extra Services

1.4.1 Eligible Matter

One or more of the following extra or additional services may be added at the time of mailing, if the standards for the services are met and the applicable fees are paid, as follows:

Exhibit 1.4.1 Eligible Matter — Domestic Destinations

[Revise the text of Exhibit 1.4.1 under Restricted Delivery ADDITIONAL COMBINED SERVICES column and under Signature Confirmation ADDITIONAL COMBINED SERVICES column to read as follows:]

 

Extra Service

Eligible Mail Class

Additional Combined Services

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Restricted Delivery

(see 503.8.0 for additional standards)

Priority Mail1

First-Class Mail1

First-Class Package Service1

Standard Mail

(parcels only)2

Standard Post3

Parcel Select3

Parcel Select Lightweight2

Bound Printed Matter3

Library Mail3

Media Mail3

1. If purchased with: Certified Mail, COD, insurance over $200.00 or Registered Mail, or Signature Confirmation under 8.2.1.

2. If purchased with bulk insurance over $200.00.

3. If purchased with COD or insurance over $200.00, or Signature Confirmation under 8.2.1.

USPS Tracking

Special Handling

Parcel Airlift (PAL)

(see 703.2.5)

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Signature Confirmation

(see 503.12.0 for additional standards)

Priority Mail

Priority Mail-Critical Mail

First-Class Mail

(parcels only)1

First-Class Package Service1

Standard Post

Parcel Select

Bound Printed Matter

Library Mail

Media Mail

1. Electronic option only.

Collect on Delivery (COD)

Insurance

Registered Mail

Restricted Delivery1

Return Receipt2

(Form 3811)

Special Handling

1. If purchased with: insurance over $200.00, COD, Registered Mail, or Signature Confirmation under 8.2.1.

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8.0 Restricted Delivery

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8.2 Obtaining Service

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8.2.1 At Time of Mailing

[Revise the fourth and final sentence in 8.2.1 to read as follows:]

***Mailers may purchase restricted delivery with Signature Confirmation at the time of mailing, either online at http://www.usps.com or as a registered end-user of an authorized PC Postage product, for Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select, and Packages Services.

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507 Mailer Services

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7.0 Pickup on Demand Service

[Revise the heading and delete the entire text of 7.1 as follows:]

7.1 Postage and Fees

[Insert new 7.1.1 through 7.1.4 as follows:]

7.1.1 Postage

The correct amount of postage must be affixed to each piece except for a Priority Mail Express label paid with a corporate account, items with a merchandise return service or Parcel Return Service permit label (under 505.0) affixed, and manifest mailings paid by permit imprint indicia approved by Business Mailer Support (BMS).

7.1.2 Fee Charged

Pickup on Demand fees are listed in Notice 123 Price List. Except under 7.3.3, the customer is charged the required fee each time Pickup on Demand service is provided, regardless of the number of pieces or combination of classes of mail, and for additional trips to pick up exceptional volume of which the serving Post Office was not notified.

7.1.3 Fee Not Charged

The customer is not charged for:

a. A scheduled Pickup on Demand that is canceled under the cancellation requirements.

b. An on-call Pickup on Demand that is canceled before the USPS employee is dispatched for the pickup.

c. A package pickup that occurs as part of a regularly scheduled delivery or collection stop.

d. A Pickup on Demand when the item bears a merchandise return service label that indicates that the permit holder will pay for Pickup on Demand service.

e. A minimum of seven pieces of the eligible types of mailpieces in 7.2.1 from a customer who has an authorized signed agreement (Form 5543) with the local Post Office. This agreement must be completed and signed in advance of any pickup request made under this standard.

7.1.4 Fee Payment Method

The Pickup on Demand fee must be paid online at http://www.usps.com.

7.2 Basic Standards

7.2.1 Availability

[Revise the text of 7.2.1 to read as follows:]

Pickup on Demand service is available for certain domestic and international mail meeting all applicable eligibility and preparation standards. Incidental amounts of other postage-affixed, full-price mail also may be collected when Pickup on Demand service is provided for:

a. Priority Mail Express.

b. Priority Mail.

c. First-Class Mail parcels.

d. First-Class Package Service.

e. Parcel Select Nonpresort.

f. Package Services parcels.

g. Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail Open and Distribute shipments.

h. Global Express Guaranteed.

i. Priority Mail Express International.

j. Priority Mail International.

k. First-Class Package International Service.

7.2.2 Stamped Pieces over 13 Ounces

[Revise the text of 7.2.2 to read as follows:]

Mailpieces weighing more than 13 ounces bearing only postage stamps as postage cannot be picked up by letter carriers and must be presented to an employee at a retail service counter in a Postal Service facility.

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[Delete 7.2.5 and 7.2.6 in their entirety (context of text relocated to 7.2.1), then renumber 7.2.7 and 7.2.8 as new 7.2.5 and 7.2.6.]

[Delete renumbered 7.2.6, International Mail, in its entirety (context of text relocated to 7.2.1).]

[Delete 7.3, Postage and Fees, in its entirety (context of section relocated to 7.1), then renumber 7.4, On-Call Service as new 7.3, and 7.5, Scheduled Service as new 7.4.)

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When effective, we will incorporate these revisions into the December update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.