new usps postage rates effective may 15, 2007 wsu mailing services office of university publishing

New USPSPostage Rates

effective May 15, 2007

WSU Mailing ServicesOffice of University Publishing

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USPS Fact Sheet

Delivers 212 billion pieces of mail annually to over 144 million homes

Delivers almost half of the world’s volume of mailSince 1971 all financial support from sales of postage

only1971 postage stamp cost 8 centsUse of technology allowed USPS to keep postage

increases below rate of inflation

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Pricing based upon shape instead of weight

Different shapes have different processing costs and are reflected in rates

Major Changes in Rate Structure

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The USPS assigns each mail piece to one of three shape categories based on its physical dimensions and characteristics, regardless of the placement or orientation of the delivery address on the piece.

Shape categories for mail pieces are letters/cards, flats, or parcels.

Determining Mail Shape Categories

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Additional automation compatible characteristics determine if piece is “machinable”

Pieces meeting machinability standards are less costly to process and rates reflect this.

Other Factors

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Machinability Machinable: the capability of a mail piece to be sorted by mail processing equipment

Non-machinable pieces may require additional postage due to shape and weight

Non-machinable pieces take longer for processing/delivery by the USPS

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Shape categories for rate determination and machinability characteristics only apply tofirst-class and presort standard mail rates.

Shape Categories

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Dimension Minimum Maximum

Height 3 ½ inches 4 ¼ inches

Length 5 inches 6 inches

Thickness .007 inches.016 inches

Must be rectangular Single piece of paper flat or doubled in height

with ½ to be torn off and returned to sender

Shape CategoryCard Size Mail

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Dimension Minimum Maximum*

Height 3 ½ inches 6 ⅛ inches

Length 5 inches 11 ½ inches

Thickness .007 inches.25 inches

Must be rectangular and have four square cornerswith parallel opposite sides

*If mail piece exceeds any of these maximums it may meet “flats eligibility”

Shape CategoryLetter Size Mail

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The location and orientation of the delivery address on a mail piece generally establish which dimensions of the piece are the length and the height.

The length is the dimension parallel to the address as read; the height is the dimension perpendicular to the length; the top and bottom of the piece are the upper and lower edges, respectively, when the address is positioned for normal reading.

Determining Length and Heightfor Letters and Cards

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Letter ShapedMachinable Characteristics

MACHINABLE LETTERS AND CARDS MUST:

Meet minimum and maximum size and thickness criteriaMeet shape criteria - rectangular, with four square corners and parallel opposite sidesBe free of all non-machinable characteristics

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Letter Shaped Non-machinable Characteristics

A letter-size piece is considered non-machinable if it has one or more of the following characteristics:

has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1.3 or more than 2.5

Is poly-bagged, poly-wrapped, or enclosed in any plastic material

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cont.

Has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices

Contains items such as pens, pencils, or loose keys or coins that cause the thickness of the mail piece to be uneven

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cont.

Is too rigid (does not bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn)

For pieces more than 4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long, the thickness is less than 0.009 inch

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cont.

Has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mail piece

Is a self-mailer with a folded edge parallel to the address if the piece is not folded and secured with one centered tab when the folded edge is at the bottom and secured with two tabs when folded edge is at the top

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cont.

Contact Mailing Services at 335-2104 for specific requirements for booklet type mail pieces.

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Dimension Minimum* Maximum

Height 6 ⅛ inches 12 inches

Length 11 ½ inches 15 inches

Thickness .25 inches .75 inches

*Must exceed at least one of these dimensions

Shape CategoryFlat Size Mail

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All pieces must be Rectangular Uniformly thick* Flexible**

Pieces not meeting these standards will be charged First-class Parcel rates or Presort Standard Non-Flat Machinable rates

Additional Flat Size Requirements

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Determining Length and Height for Flat Shaped Mail Pieces

Regardless of the location and orientation of the delivery address:

Length is the dimension parallel to the address as read

Height is the dimension perpendicular to the length

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Bumps, protrusions, or other irregularities maynot cause more than ¼ inch variance in thickness

Outer 1 inch edge excluded when determining varianceNonpaper contents must be secured to prevent

shifting of more than 2 inches within mail piece

*Uniform Thickness

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1. Place the piece with the length parallel to the edge of a flat surface and extend the piece halfway off the surface.

2. Press down on the piece at a point 1 inch from the outer edge, in the center of the piece’s length, exerting steady pressure.

**Flexibility Testing StandardsTest One

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The piece is not flexible if it cannot bend at least 1 inch vertically without being damaged.

The piece is flexible if it can bend at least 1 inch vertically without being damaged and it does not contain a rigid insert.

**Flexibility Testing StandardsTest One

cont.

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For flats 10 inches or longer in length that passed Test One but contains rigid insert:

1. Place the piece with the length perpendicular to the edge of a flat surface and extend the piece 5 inches off the surface.

**Flexibility Testing Standardsfor pieces with rigid insert

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2. Press down on the piece at a point 1 inch from the outer edge, in the center of the piece’s width, exerting steady pressure.

3. Turn the piece around and repeat last two steps. The piece is flexible if both ends can bend at least 2 inches vertically without being damaged.


cont.

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For flats less than 10 inches in length that passed Test One but contains rigid insert:

1. Place the piece with the length perpendicular to the edge of a flat surface and extend the piece one-half of its length off the surface.


cont.

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2. Press down on the piece at a point 1 inch from the outer edge, in the center of the piece’s width, exerting steady pressure.

3. Turn the piece around and repeat last two steps. The piece is flexible if both ends can bend at least 1 inch vertically without being damaged.


cont.

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Flats that weigh 1 ounce or less are subject to the non-machinable surcharge if any one of the following applies:

More than 6 ⅛ inches tall or more than 11 ½ inches long

More than ¼ inch thick The aspect ratio (length divided by height) is less

than 1.3 or more than 2.5

Flat Shaped Non-machinable Characteristics

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Not over:

*1 ounce .41 ( .39)

2 ounces .58 ( .63)

3 ounces .75 ( .87)

3.5 ounces .92 (1.11) over 3.5 ounces see rates for flats if applicable

*.17 surcharge applicable if one or more non-machinable criteria are met

current rates in parentheses

new lower rates in red text

First Class Letter Postage Rates

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Cards .26 (.24)


Card Rate

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Not over:

1 ounce .80 ( .52)

2 ounces .97 ( .63)

3 ounces 1.14 ( .87)

4 ounces 1.31 (1.11)

5 ounces 1.48 (1.35)

6 ounces 1.65 (1.59)


First Class Flat Postage Rates

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Not over:

7 ounces 1.82 (1.83)

8 ounces 1.99 (2.07)

9 ounces 2.16 (2.31)

10 ounces 2.33 (2.55)

11 ounces 2.50 (2.79)

12 ounces 2.67 (3.03)

Current rates in parentheses

New lower rates in red text

First Class Flat Postage Ratescont.

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Not over: 13 ounces 2.84 (3.27)

First Class flats cannot exceed 13 ounces.

First-class mail weighing more than 13 ounces is Priority Mail.



First Class Flat Postage Ratescont.

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Not Over:

1 ounce 1.13 ( .52)

2 ounces 1.30 ( .63)

3 ounces 1.47 ( .87)

4 ounces 1.64 (1.11)

5 ounces 1.81 (1.35)

6 ounces 1.98 (1.59)


First Class Parcel Rates

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Not Over:

7 ounces 2.15 (1.83)

8 ounces 2.32 (2.07)

9 ounces 2.49 (2.31)

10 ounces 2.66 (2.55)

11 ounces 2.83 (2.79)

12 ounces 3.00 (3.03) Current rates in parentheses


First Class Parcel Rates

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Not Over: 13 ounces 3.17 (3.27)

Current rates in parenthesesNew lower rates in red text

First Class Parcel Ratescont.

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Not over:

1/2 pound 16.25 (14.40)

1 pound 19.50 (18.80)

2 pounds 21.40 (18.80)

3 pounds 24.50 (22.20)

4 pounds 27.60 (25.50)

5 pounds 30.70 (28.75)

6 pounds 33.80 (32.05)Current rates in parentheses

Express Mail Postage Rates

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Not over 1 pound 4.60 (4.05)

Priority postage for parcels more than 1 pound based on weight + distance to destination


Priority Mail Postage Rates

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Not over:

1 pound 2.13 (1.59)

2 pounds 2.47 (2.07)

3 pounds 2.81 (2.55)

4 pounds 3.15 (3.03)

5 pounds 3.49 (3.51)

6 pounds 3.83 (3.99)



Media Mail Rates

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Not over:

1 pound 2.02 (1.51)

2 pounds 2.34 (1.97)

3 pounds 2.66 (2.43)

4 pounds 2.98 (2.89)

5 pounds 3.30 (3.35)

6 pounds 3.62 (3.81)

Current rates in parenthesesNew lower rates in red text

Library Mail Rates

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Parcel post rates based upon weight and distance to destination

New rates range from 4.38 to 4.50 for 1 pound itemCurrent rates range from 3.89 to 3.95 for same item

Parcel Post Rates

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Machinable Rates .164 (.170)

Non-machinable Rates .429 (.191)



Rates valid for letters up to 3.3 ounces

Presort Standard Non-profitRates - Letter Size

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Machinable Rates .389 (.237)

Pieces not meeting criteria for flats must use Not Flat Machinable

or Irregular Rates


Presort Standard Non-profitRates - Flat Size

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Not Flat Machinable Rates .952 (.237)

Parcels 1.053 (.237)


Presort Standard Non-profit Postage RatesOther Sized

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Special Services

Certified Mail 2.65 (2.40)

Registered Mail 9.50 (7.90)

Return Receipt 2.15 (1.85)

Delivery Confirm. .75 ( .60)


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Additional Assistance

For answers to specific mailing questions or mail pieces unique to your department, please contact Becky or Joy in Mailing Services at 335-2104.

new usps postage rates effective may 15, 2007 wsu mailing services office of university publishing

Documents

mail shape categories

usps slide

pieces of mail

mail pieces

nonmachinable characteristics

machinability machinable

lettersize piece

weight nonmachinable