Effective June 6, 2016, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), part 503, to reinsert the language for Return Receipt for Merchandise (RRM) service.
On December 18, 2013, in the Federal Register (78 FR 76533), the Postal Service provided advance notice of plans to discontinue RRM service. In order No. 2322, the Postal Regulatory Commission conditionally approved the elimination of RRM service. On February 5, 2015, (80 FR 6575), the Postal Service expressed its intent to re-evaluate the elimination of RRM service. On May 4, 2015, (80 FR 25529), the Postal Service elected to defer its proposal to eliminate RRM service. Despite this deferral, the RRM language was inadvertently omitted from the DMM. That omission is being corrected.
Additionally, the Postal Servivce will update section 503.13.2.2 to clarify the process for when a mailer does not receive a return receipt.
Although this revision will not be published in the DMM until June 6, 2016, it is effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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500 Additional Mailing Services
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503 Extra and Additional Services
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[Add new section 13.0, Return Receipt for Merchandise, to read as follows:]
13.0 Return Receipt for Merchandise
13.1 Basic Standards
13.1.1 Description
Return Receipt for Merchandise is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4.1 for eligible matter. Return receipt for merchandise is a form of return receipt service that provides the sender with a mailing receipt (PS Form 3804) and a return receipt (PS Form 3811) (see forms at http:⁄⁄pe.usps.gov⁄). After delivery, the return receipt is mailed back to the sender and also supplies the recipient’s actual delivery address if it is different from the address used by the sender. A delivery record is maintained by the USPS, but no record is kept at the office of mailing. A return receipt for merchandise may not be requested after mailing, and restricted delivery is not available.
13.1.2 Return Receipt for Merchandise for Standard Mail
If return receipt for merchandise is requested for all of the pieces in a Standard Mail mailing consisting of pieces of identical weight, then postage may be paid only with metered postage or permit imprint. If return receipt for merchandise is not requested for all of the pieces in the mailing, or if the pieces are not identical weight, then either the exact metered postage must be affixed to each piece or postage must be paid with permit imprint under a manifest mailing system (705.2.0).
13.2 Mailing
13.2.1 How to Mail
Return receipt for merchandise mail must bear PS Forms 3804 and 3811, and mailers must observe these procedures:
a. Enter on the receipt part of the PS Form 3804, the name and complete address of the person or firm to whom the mail is addressed.
b. Affix the numbered, barcoded label part of the PS Form 3804 to the address side of the mailpiece. The label part of the form and the endorsement “Return Receipt Requested” must be placed above the delivery address and to the right of the return address, or to the left of the delivery address on parcels. Give the completed receipt part of the PS Form 3804 to a USPS employee. If asked to do so, the USPS employee must show on the receipt the time the article is accepted for mailing. If given to a rural carrier, the carrier returns the postmarked receipt to the mailer.
c. Place the correct endorsement on the address side of the mailpiece. Enter the return receipt for merchandise number on PS Form 3811 and address it to yourself on the reverse of the return receipt. Attach it to the front of the mailpiece (or the back) so the card does not cover the address. The name of the person to whom the return receipt is to be returned must be the same as that of the sender.
d. Affix the correct amount of postage and fees to the article.
e. To request waiver of signature, detach both parts of the gummed label sections of PS Form 3804 and attach them to the mailpiece. By signing the waiver on PS Form 3804, the mailer authorizes the USPS delivery employee to sign the return receipt in lieu of obtaining the signature of the addressee or the addressee agent. The item is then delivered to the addressee\u0027s mail receptacle or other secure location.
13.2.2 Receipt Not Received
A mailer who did not receive a return receipt (PS Form 3811) for which the mailer had paid may request information from the delivery record within 90 days of the date of purchase using PS Form 3811-A. The mailer must complete PS Form 3811-A, at any Post Office, station, or branch, and produce their receipt showing that the applicable return receipt fee was paid.
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Index
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R
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[Revise the DMM reference numbers under return receipt for merchandise as follows:]
return receipt for merchandise, 503.13.0
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how to mail, 503.13.2.1
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required label, 503.13.2.1
what may be mailed, 503.13.2.1
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We will incorporate this revision into the next update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http:⁄⁄pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Marketing and Sales, 4-28-16
