DMM Revision: Domestic Competitive Products Pricing and Mailing Standards Changes

Effective January 24, 2021, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to reflect changes to prices and certain mailing standards for the following competitive products:

n Priority Mail Express®.

n Priority Mail®.

n First-Class Package Service®.

n Parcel Select®.

n USPS Retail Ground®.

n Extra Services.

n Return Services.

n Mailer Services.

n Recipient Services.

n Other.

This article describes competitive products’ new prices and product features established by the Governors of the United States Postal Service®. Information on new prices is available on the Postal Explorer® website at pe.usps.com.

These new prices and product features are effective January 24, 2021.

There are no product changes scheduled for the following competitive products:

n Priority Mail Express.

n Priority Mail.

n First-Class Package Service.

n Parcel Select.

n USPS Retail Ground.

n Extra Services.

n Return Services.

n Recipient Services.

Changes for other competitive products are identified by product as follows:

Mailer Services

USPS Premium Tracking Service

The Postal Service is renaming USPS Premium Tracking™ service as USPS Tracking Plus™ service.

Other

Oversize Item Charge

As provided in the October 17, 2018, Federal Register final rule (83 FR 52326–52330) for an overweight item, the Postal Service is introducing a similar charge for an item identified in the postal network as exceeding the 130-inch length plus girth maximum dimensional limit for Postal Service products. That item is nonmailable. Oversize items identified in the postal network will be assessed a $100 fee payable before release of the item, unless the item is discovered and picked up at the same facility where it was entered.

The Postal Service is also adding a commercial payment method, PostalOne!, for fee payment.

The Postal Service provides additional resources to inform customers about price changes for competitive products. These tools include price lists, downloadable price files, and Federal Register Notices, located on the Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com.

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

* * * * * 

500 Additional Mailing Services

* * * * * 

507 Mailer Services

* * * * * 

[Revise the title and text of 11.0 to read as follows:]

11.0 USPS Tracking Plus Service

USPS Tracking Plus service allows customers to request the Postal Service retain scan data, or scan and signature data for their packages, beyond the Postal Service’s standard data retention period, for up to 10 years. USPS Tracking Plus service is available for commercial packages shipped via Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select, and commercial packages with Adult Signature Services. For Scan and Signature Retention on products other than Priority Mail Express, the customer must have purchased an underlying signature service, such as Signature Confirmation service (see Notice 123 — Price List). Customers may request USPS Tracking Plus service online at usps.com or through a Shipping Services File.

* * * * * 

600 Basic Standards For All Mailing Services

601 Mailability

* * * * * 

[Revise the title and text of 1.2 to read as follows:]

1.2 Overweight or Oversize Items

1.2.1 Description

The Postal Service maximum mailpiece weight limit is 70 pounds (see 201.7.3) and the maximum dimension is 130 inches (length plus girth). Any item exceeding the 70-pound weight or 130-inch dimensional maximum limits is nonmailable, and if found in the postal network must be secured for pick-up by the mailer or addressee, and will be assessed a fee as provided under 1.2.3.

1.2.2 Products and Services

The standard in 1.2.1 applies to any item that exceeds the 70-pound maximum weight limit or 130-inch maximum dimensional limit, including return services, return to sender, and undeliverable as addressed. The standard in 1.2.1 for items exceeding the 70-pound weight or 130-inch dimensional maximum limits does not apply to the Competitive PO Box Street Addressing feature in 508.4.5.4.

1.2.3 Fee

Except for an overweight or oversize item discovered and picked up at the same facility where it was entered, the overweight/oversize item fee of $100 will be assessed and must be paid before release of the item. The $100 overweight/oversize item fee may be paid by any authorized retail payment method or through PostalOne!.

1.2.4 Pickup

Unless authorized, an overweight or oversize item not paid for and picked up within 14 calendar days will be considered abandoned and disposed of at the discretion of the Postal Service.

* * * * * 

The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.