The most recent United States Post
Office rate changes do more than increase postage costs. The USPS
has made a few larger changes, all of which can affect you both
as a sender and as a recipient. Many people - USPS employees and
customers alike - have many questions about these changes.
What has changed about mailing
letters?
A letter must be within a certain size and weight to fit the Letters
and Cards class. The requirements are:
Length: 5 inches to 11 1/2inches
Height: 3 1/2 inches to 6 1/8 inches
Thickness: 0.007 inch to 1/4 inch
Weight: 1 ounce to 3 1/2 ounces
The most that you'll have to pay to
mail a letter in this category is 92 cents (for the heaviest letter).
However: if your letter is not at least one ounce, you will have
to pay a 17-cent nonmachinable surcharge.
What is a nonmachinable surcharge?
If your mail is nonmachinable, it is subject to a 17-cent surcharge.
Mail is nonmachinable for nine reasons, all listed on the USPS Web
site. The most common reasons to classify mail as nonmachinable
are:
· The package or letter is
wrapped in some kind of plastic (Tyvek envelopes, for example)
· The clasp protrudes (buttons and string, for example, or
brads/clasps)
· The mail is too rigid.
How do I know if my mail is too
rigid?
According to the USPS Web site, a piece of mail is "too rigid"
if it "…(does not bend easily when subjected to a transport
belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn)."
("Physical Standards," 1.2)
Generally speaking: if you can easily
bend your letter or package with your hands, it is probably flexible
enough to avoid the nonmachinable surcharge. If you aren't sure,
you should ask a USPS employee.
What if my letter is too heavy
or too large to meet the Letters and Cards requirements?
If that's the case, your letter will probably ship as a Large Envelope
(Flat). The standards for this are:
Length: 11 1/2 inches to 15 inches
Height: 6 1/8 inches to 12 inches
Thickness: 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch
Weight: 1 ounce to 13 ounces
However: a Large Envelope is subject
to restrictions. You'll have to pay the Parcel Rate if your envelope
is too rigid, not rectangular or not the same thickness all over.
What about packages?
Packages are a little easier to understand. To qualify as a Package,
the length and girth added together cannot exceed 108 inches.
I think that a USPS employee got
something wrong. What do I do?
If you think that you're being charged the wrong rate for your mail,
you should politely ask the employee to consult the DMM. That's
the USPS rulebook, with all of the standards and regulations. If
the worker won't do that, you should speak with the Postmaster.
Remember to be courteous and understanding: these men and women
are just as confused as you are!
Where can I go to find more information?
The USPS Web site (usps.com) has charts and a more in-depth explanation
of the changes. You should visit that site and read the information.
You can also call the USPS hotline to ask questions.
You can also help yourself out by
creating your own template for letters and large envelopes. Find
a piece of cardboard and draw the lines for both the minimum and
maximum length and width requirements for each class. This will
take a few minutes to make, but it will be worth it. The next time
you aren't sure of which rate your letter or package should use,
just place it on the template for an instant answer.
Right now, these changes are hard
to figure out. Soon, though, everybody will be used to the improvements
and life at the Post Office will be back to normal. In the meantime:
don't hesitate to ask questions and read about the standards and
classifications. The more you know, the easier it will be to send
out your mail.
