March 30, 2006

DMM Advisory

Pricing and Classification — keeping you informed about the prices and mailing standards of the United States Postal Service

Parcel Return Service

We published a notice in today’s Federal Register to make Parcel Return Service a permanent mail classification, ending the former Parcel Return Services experiment. Parcel Return Service offers a cost-effective way for merchants to receive returns from their customers. The permanent offering includes a new option for consumers to buy a Certificate of Mailing, and Bound Printed Matter rates are no longer available.

The Postal Service Governors set April 2, 2006, as the effective date of the change. We will include the new standards in a special update to the DMM on April 3, 2006.

Mail Preparation Changes — Update

Several new mail preparation changes are on the horizon for July. We summarize these and all upcoming changes below, and we will incorporate them into the DMM when they are effective. Questions? Contact your local business mail entry unit for assistance.

The DMM and other mailing tools are always available on Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com.

Effective Date	Shape of Mail	Class of Mail	Mail Preparation Change
April 30, 2006	Flats Irregular Parcels	First-Class Mail Standard Mail Bound Printed Matter Media Mail Library Mail Periodicals	Mailers must use two bands to secure all bundles of presorted flat-size mail and irregular parcels when those bundles are not shrinkwrapped. See the March 2, 2006, Postal Bulletin for details.
May 11, 2006	Flats Irregular Parcels	Standard Mail Package Services Periodicals	We provide new preparation requirements for bundles of flats and irregular parcels on pallets. See the January 5, 2006, Postal Bulletin for details.
		Periodicals	Mailers have a new option to reallocate bundles of flats and irregular parcels on pallets to protect an ADC pallet. See the December 22, 2005, Postal Bulletin for details.
		Periodicals	Mailers must put a minimum of 24 pieces in most sacks, and we provide two new types of sacks. See the January 19, March 16, and March 30, 2006, Postal Bulletin for details.
July 6, 2006	Parcels	Parcel Select Bound Printed Matter	Mailers have a new option to drop-ship machinable parcels for certain ZIP Codes when entered at designated SCFs. See the March 16, 2006, Postal Bulletin for details and new labeling list L607.
		Bound Printed Matter	Mailers must place a new marking on machinable parcels consisting of multiple pieces secured with transparent shrinkwrap. See the March 30, 2006, Postal Bulletin for details.

The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is available on Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com).