Effective November 7, 2016, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), Chapter 503.0 and section 505.3.0, to provide clarity and consistency on the eligibility of extra services.
The Postal Service will add text to section 503.1.4 to describe Exhibits 1.4.1, 1.4.2, and 1.4.3. The text of subsection 503.1.4.1 will be revised to clarify the use of Exhibit 1.4.1, Eligible Matter — Domestic Destinations, and minor revisions will be made to the exhibit. Exhibit 1.4.2, Eligible Matter — Offshore Domestic Destinations, will be revised for clarity and consistency with Exhibit 1.4.1. Exhibit 1.4.3, Eligible Matter — Domestic Returns, will have a minor revision for clarity. Minor revisions will be made in Chapter 503.0 for consistency with the aforementioned changes.
Section 503.9.0, Collect on Delivery (COD), will be revised to remove text referencing retired PS Form 3816-AS (Postal Bulletin, December 24, 2015). It will also be revised to add a subsection on COD Restricted Delivery for consistency in Chapter 503.0.
Section 505.3.0, Merchandise Return Service, will be revised to clarify the extra services that may be obtained by the permit holder and sender for consistency with subsection 503.1.4.3, Exhibit 1.4.3.
Although this clarification will not be published in the DMM until November 7, 2016, this revision is effective immediately.
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
1.0 Basic Standards for All Extra Services
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[Revise the title and text of 1.4 to read as follows:]
1.4 Eligibility for Extra Services
Exhibits 1.4.1, 1.4.2, and 1.4.3 provide the eligibility of each extra service for domestic mail as follows:
a. Exhibit 1.4.1, Eligibility — Domestic Mail.
b. Exhibit 1.4.2, Eligibility — Other Domestic Mail (e.g., APO⁄FPO⁄DPO, territories and possessions, and Freely Associated States).
c. Exhibit 1.4.3, Eligibility — Domestic Returns.
[Revise the title and text of 1.4.1 to read as follows:]
1.4.1 Eligibility — Domestic Mail
Exhibit 1.4.1 provides the eligibility of each extra service for domestic mail. The exhibit also provides the additional extra services that may be combined with each extra service. The combined extra services are subject to the eligibility of the mail listed for each extra service. The following extra services or additional extra services may be added at the time of mailing, if the standards for the services are met and the applicable fees are paid.
[Revise the title of Exhibit 1.4.1 to read as follows:]
Exhibit 1.4.1 Eligibility — Domestic Mail
[Revise the titles of column two and three to read as follows:]
[Revise Exhibit 1.4.1 by hyperlinking each extra service in column one to the applicable section in 503.]
[Revise Exhibit 1.4.1 by deleting Parcel Airlift (PAL) as an option where listed in the Additional Combined Extra Services column.]
[Revise the Registered Mail section to read as follows:]
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Certificate of Mailing
[Revise the Certificate of Mailing section by adding “-Fragile” to Special Handling in the Additional Combined Extra Services column.]
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Certificate of Bulk Mailing
[Revise the Certificate of Bulk Mailing section by adding “-Fragile” to Special Handling in the Additional Combined Extra Services column.]
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Return Receipt
[Revise the parenthetical under Return Receipt in the first column to read as follows:]
(Form 3811 must bear an IMpb linked to the IMpb for the host extra service for the appended mailpiece.)
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[Delete the USPS Signature Services heading and re-shade the table.]
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Collect on Delivery (COD)
[Revise the Collect on Delivery (COD) section by adding the following note to the bottom of the Additional Combined Extra Services column to read as follows:]
Note: For Registered Mail see Registered Mail COD (9.1.3).
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[Delete the Special Handling heading and re-shade the table.]
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[Revise the title and text of 1.4.2 to read as follows:]
1.4.2 Eligibility — Other Domestic Mail
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[Revise the title of Exhibit 1.4.2 to read as follows:]
Exhibit 1.4.2 Eligibility — Other Domestic Mail
[Revise the Registered Mail section to read as follows:]
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Insurance
[Revise the footnote number under APO⁄FPO⁄DPO for Insurance >$500 and Insurance Restricted Delivery to read as follows:]
Limited3
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[Add a Certificate of Bulk Mailing section after Certificate of Mailing to read as follows:
[Add a Return Receipt section after Certificate of Bulk Mailing as follows:]
[Move the USPS Tracking section after the Signature Services section.]
[Delete the USPS Signature Services heading and re-shade the table.]
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USPS Tracking
[Revise the footnote number under APO⁄FPO⁄DPO to read as follows:]
Limited5
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[Revise the COD section to read as follows:]
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[Delete the Special Handling heading and re-shade the table.]
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[Revise the footnotes of Exhibit 1.4.2 to read as follows:]
1. Available only to select APO⁄FPO⁄DPO destinations.
2. Except for items sent to the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.
3. If insured for more than $500.00, signature service provided only if hard copy return receipt (PS Form 3811) is also purchased.
4. Electronic option is not available for items mailed to APO or FPO addresses or U.S. territories, possessions, and freely associated states.
5. Availability of electronic information regarding an event scan may be limited.
[Revise the title of 1.4.3 to read as follows:]
1.4.3 Eligibility — Domestic Returns
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[Revise the title of Exhibit 1.4.3 to read as follows:]
Exhibit 1.4.3 Eligibility — Domestic Returns
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[Revise the parenthetical under the heading of the third column to read as follows:]
(paid by sender)
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2.0 Registered Mail
2.1 Basic Standards
2.1.1 Description
[Revise the first sentence in the introductory text of 2.1.1 to read as follows:]
Registered Mail is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for eligibility.***
[Revise the last sentence in the introductory text of 2.1.1 to read as follows:]
***Registration may not be obtained if:
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[Revise item f. to read as follows:]
f. Not listed as eligible mail under 1.4.
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3.0 Certified Mail
3.1 Basic Standards
3.1.1 Description
[Revise the first sentence of 3.1.1 to read as follows:]
Certified Mail is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for eligibility.***
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4.0 Insured Mail
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4.3 Basic Standards
4.3.1 Description
[Revise the first sentence of 4.3.1 to read as follows:]
Insured mail is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for eligibility.***
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5.0 Certificates of Mailing
5.1 Basic Standards
5.1.1 Description — Individual Pieces
[Revise the first sentence of 5.1.1 to read as follows:]
Certificates of Mailing are subject to the applicable basic standards in 1.0, see 1.4 for eligibility.***
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6.0 Return Receipt
6.1 Basic Standards
6.1.1 Description
[Revise the first sentence of 6.1.1 to read as follows:]
Return Receipt service is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for eligibility.***
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7.0 USPS Tracking
7.1 Basic Standards
7.1.1 Description
[Revise the first sentence of 7.1.1 to read as follows:]
USPS Tracking is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for eligibility.***
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8.0 USPS Signature Services
8.1 Basic Standards
8.1.1 Description
[Revise the first sentence in the introductory text of 8.1.1 to read as follows:]
USPS Signature Services include Signature Confirmation, Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery, Adult Signature Required, and Adult Signature Restricted Delivery, all of which are subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for eligibility.***
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9.0 Collect on Delivery (COD)
9.1 Basic Standards
9.1.1 Description
[Revise the first sentence of 9.1.1 to read as follows:]
Collect on Delivery (COD) is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for eligibility.***
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[Add new 9.1.4 to read as follows and renumber current 9.1.4 through 9.1.8 as new 9.1.5 through 9.1.9:]
9.1.4 Additional Standards for COD Restricted Delivery
COD Restricted Delivery permits a mailer to direct delivery only to the addressee (or addressee’s authorized agent). The addressee must be an individual (natural person) specified by name. The mailer may request COD Restricted Delivery at the time of mailing by advising the USPS clerk or by marking the mail “Restricted Delivery” above the address and to the right of the return address and paying the applicable fee. A firm mailer must enter the proper fee in the correct column of the firm sheet and place the required endorsement on the mail. Customers may obtain a record of delivery (which includes the recipient’s signature) by purchasing a return receipt (6.0). If a return receipt is requested, the correct block on PS Form 3811 must be checked to show that COD Restricted Delivery is also required. Mail marked “Restricted Delivery” is delivered under the conditions in 508.1.1.7 and 508.1.1.8.
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9.2 Forms
9.2.1 Form 3816
[Revise the text of 9.2.1 to read as follows:]
The mailer must securely affix a completed COD Form 3816 (retail version, see forms at http:⁄⁄pe.usps.gov⁄) to each article. The form must be attached (or enclosed in an accessible clear envelope or pouch) either above the delivery address and to the right of the return address, or to the left of the delivery address on parcels. When a mailer uses a PS Form 3816 that does not provide detachable second and third copies, PS Form 3877 (firm sheets) or a USPS-approved privately printed version may be used as provided under 1.10. The mailer must submit firm sheets in duplicate and will receive one copy of the postmarked form as a mailing receipt (in lieu of Copy 3 of PS Form 3816) after the entries are verified by a postal employee. The acceptance Post Office retains the second copy.
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9.2.3 Nursery Stock
[Revise the introductory text of 9.2.3 to read as follows:]
A firm that mails nursery stock may use PS Form 3816 and include instructions for disposing of shipments not delivered immediately by printing instructions on the back of the delivery office part of the COD form (item a) and on the remittance coupon (item b) as follows:
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10.0 Special Handling
10.1 Basic Standards
10.1.1 Description
[Revise the first sentence of 10.1.1 to read as follows:]
Special Handling is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for eligibility.***
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13.0 Return Receipt for Merchandise
13.1 Basic Standards
13.1.1 Description
[Revise the first sentence of 13.1.1 to read as follows:]
Return Receipt for Merchandise is subject to the basic standards in 1.0; see 1.4 for eligibility.***
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505 Return Services
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3.0 Merchandise Return Service
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3.3 Additional Standards for MRS
The MRS permit holder may obtain extra and additional services with MRS as follows:
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[Add new item d. to read as follows and renumber current items d. through f. as new items e. through g.]
d. Return Receipt for Merchandise — The permit holder may obtain return receipt for merchandise service (503.13.0) with MRS.
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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, 9-29-16
