Effective January 21, 2018, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), part 503, to reflect the elimination of four extra service forms at certain retail offices.
On September 25, 2017, the Postal Service announced that it will leverage its existing technological capabilities at all Retail Systems Software (RSS) offices, to print certain extra service labels and receipts at the retail counter. The labels printed at the retail counter will have an Intelligent Mail® package barcode (IMpb®) that contains the appropriate service type code for the product and extra service purchased. Printing labels and receipts at the retail counter eliminates the need for pre-printed labels and receipts. As a result, the Postal Service will eliminate the following forms from all RSS offices and RSS business partner (BP)-equipped Contract Postal Units:
n PS Form 3813, Insured Mail Receipt — $500 and Under;
n PS Form 3813-P, Insured Mail Receipt — Over $500;
n PS Form 3804, Return Receipt for Merchandise; and
n PS Form 153, Signature Confirmation Receipt.
PS Forms 3813, 3813-P, 3804, and 153 will still be available for use at Non-RSS offices.
Additionally, the Postal Service will update Quick Service Guide (QSG) 503 to include these revisions and correct the insurance amounts in the DMM Forms Glossary for PS Forms 3813 and 3813-P.
Although we will not publish these revisions in the DMM until January 21, 2018, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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500 Additional Services
503 Extra and Additional Services
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4.0 Insured Mail
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4.3 Basic Standards
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4.3.4 Markings and Forms
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[Revise the text of items a. and b. to read as follows:]
a. Retail Systems Software (RSS) sites: A label and a receipt will be provided at the retail counter. The label printed at the retail counter will include postage and an Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) that contains the appropriate service type code for the product and extra service purchased.
b. Non-RSS sites:
1. For retail pieces insured for $500.00 or less, the mailer must affix a barcoded PS Form 3813 to each piece above the delivery address and to the right of the return address.
2. For retail pieces insured for more than $500.00, the mailer must affix a barcoded PS Form 3813-P to each piece above the delivery address and to the right of the return address.
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8.0 USPS Signature Services
8.1 Basic Standards
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8.1.2 Standards for Signature Confirmation
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d. Mailers must use one of the following labels:
[Add new item d1 and renumber current items d1 through d3 as new items d2 through d4.]
1. Retail Systems Software (RSS) sites: A label and a receipt will be provided at the retail counter. The label printed at the retail counter will include postage and an Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) that contains the appropriate service type code for the product and extra service purchased.
[Revise the text of renumbered item d2 to read as follows:]
2. Non-RSS sites: PS Form 153, obtained from the Post Office at no charge, may be used only with the retail option.
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[Revise the last sentence of renumbered item d4 to read as follows:]
4. ***See Parcel Labeling Guide or Publication 97 available on PostalPro.
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13.0 Return Receipt for Merchandise
13.1 Basic Standards
13.1.1 Description
[Revise the second sentence of 13.1.1 to read as follows:]
***Return receipt for merchandise is a form of return receipt service that provides the sender with a mailing receipt (separately printed at RSS offices or PS Form 3804 at Non-RSS offices) and a return receipt (PS Form 3811).***
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13.2 Mailing
13.2.1 How to Mail
[Revise the text of 13.2.1 to read as follows:]
Return receipt for merchandise mail must observe these procedures:
a. Retail Systems Software (RSS) sites: A label and a receipt will be provided at the retail counter. The label printed at the retail counter will include postage and an Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) that contains the appropriate service type code for the product and extra service purchased. Mailer must affix PS Form 3811 to the piece.
b. Non-RSS sites: Return receipt for merchandise mail must bear PS Forms 3804 and 3811.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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‘s mail receptacle or other secure location.
4. Affix the correct amount of postage and fees to the article.
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.
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Forms Glossary
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ID Title
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[Revise the text under the Title column for IDs 3813 and 3813-P to read as follows:]
3813 Insured Mail Receipt $500.00 and Under
3813-P Insured Mail Receipt Over $500.00
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next online update of the DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Marketing, 11-9-17
