1. New USPS Postage Rates effective May 15, 2007 WSU Mailing Services Office of University Publishing

2. 2 USPS Fact Sheet  Delivers 212 billion pieces of mail annually to over 144 million homes  Delivers almost half of the world’s volume of mail  Since 1971 all financial support from sales of postage only  1971 postage stamp cost 8 cents  Use of technology allowed USPS to keep postage increases below rate of inflation

3. 3  Pricing based upon shape instead of weight  Different shapes have different processing costs and are reflected in rates Major Changes in Rate Structure

4. 4 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

5. 5  Additional automation compatible characteristics determine if piece is “machinable”  Pieces meeting machinability standards are less costly to process and rates reflect this. Other Factors

6. 6 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

7. 7 Shape categories for rate determination and machinability characteristics only apply to first-class and presort standard mail rates. Shape Categories

8. 8 DimensionMinimumMaximum Height3 ½ inches4 ¼ inches Length5 inches6 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 Category Card Size Mail

9. 9 DimensionMinimumMaximum* Height3 ½ inches6 ⅛ inches Length5 inches11 ½ inches Thickness.007 inches.25 inches Must be rectangular and have four square corners with parallel opposite sides *If mail piece exceeds any of these maximums it may meet “flats eligibility” Shape Category Letter Size Mail

10. 10 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 Height for Letters and Cards

11. 11 Letter Shaped Machinable Characteristics MACHINABLE LETTERS AND CARDS MUST:  Meet minimum and maximum size and thickness criteria  Meet shape criteria - rectangular, with four square corners and parallel opposite sides  Be free of all non-machinable characteristics

12. 12 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

13. 13 Letter Shaped Non-machinable Characteristics 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

14. 14 Letter Shaped Non-machinable Characteristics 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

15. 15 Letter Shaped Non-machinable Characteristics 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

16. 16 Letter Shaped Non-machinable Characteristics cont. Contact Mailing Services at 335-2104 for specific requirements for booklet type mail pieces.

17. 17 DimensionMinimum*Maximum Height6 ⅛ inches12 inches Length11 ½ inches15 inches Thickness.25 inches.75 inches *Must exceed at least one of these dimensions Shape Category Flat Size Mail

18. 18 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

19. 19 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

20. 20  Bumps, protrusions, or other irregularities may not cause more than ¼ inch variance in thickness  Outer 1 inch edge excluded when determining variance  Nonpaper contents must be secured to prevent shifting of more than 2 inches within mail piece *Uniform Thickness

21. 21 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 Standards Test One

22. 22 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 Standards Test One cont.

23. 23 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 Standards for pieces with rigid insert

24. 24 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. **Flexibility Testing Standards for pieces with rigid insert cont.

25. 25 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. **Flexibility Testing Standards for pieces with rigid insert cont.

26. 26 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. **Flexibility Testing Standards for pieces with rigid insert cont.

27. 27 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

28. 28 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

29. 29 Cards.26(.24) current rates in parentheses Card Rate

30. 30 Not over: 1 ounce.80 (.52) 2 ounces.97 (.63) 3 ounces1.14 (.87) 4 ounces1.31 (1.11) 5 ounces1.48 (1.35) 6 ounces1.65 (1.59) current rates in parentheses First Class Flat Postage Rates

31. 31 Not over: 7 ounces1.82 (1.83) 8 ounces1.99 (2.07) 9 ounces2.16 (2.31) 10 ounces2.33 (2.55) 11 ounces2.50 (2.79) 12 ounces2.67 (3.03) Current rates in parentheses New lower rates in red text First Class Flat Postage Rates cont.

32. 32 Not over:13 ounces2.84(3.27) First Class flats cannot exceed 13 ounces. First-class mail weighing more than 13 ounces is Priority Mail. Current rates in parentheses New lower rates in red text First Class Flat Postage Rates cont.

33. 33 Not Over: 1 ounce1.13 (.52) 2 ounces1.30 (.63) 3 ounces1.47 (.87) 4 ounces1.64 (1.11) 5 ounces1.81 (1.35) 6 ounces1.98 (1.59) Current rates in parentheses First Class Parcel Rates

34. 34 Not Over: 7 ounces2.15 (1.83) 8 ounces2.32 (2.07) 9 ounces2.49 (2.31) 10 ounces2.66 (2.55) 11 ounces2.83 (2.79) 12 ounces3.00 (3.03) Current rates in parentheses New lower rates in red text First Class Parcel Rates

35. 35 Not Over: 13 ounces3.17 (3.27) Current rates in parentheses New lower rates in red text First Class Parcel Rates cont.

36. 36 Not over: 1/2 pound16.25 (14.40) 1 pound19.50(18.80) 2 pounds21.40(18.80) 3 pounds24.50(22.20) 4 pounds27.60(25.50) 5 pounds30.70(28.75) 6 pounds33.80(32.05) Current rates in parentheses Express Mail Postage Rates

37. 37 Not over 1 pound4.60 (4.05) Priority postage for parcels more than 1 pound based on weight + distance to destination Current rates in parentheses Priority Mail Postage Rates

38. 38 Not over: 1 pound2.13 (1.59) 2 pounds2.47(2.07) 3 pounds2.81(2.55) 4 pounds3.15(3.03) 5 pounds3.49(3.51) 6 pounds3.83(3.99) Current rates in parentheses New lower rates in red text Media Mail Rates

39. 39 Not over: 1 pound2.02 (1.51) 2 pounds2.34(1.97) 3 pounds2.66(2.43) 4 pounds2.98(2.89) 5 pounds3.30(3.35) 6 pounds3.62(3.81) Current rates in parentheses New lower rates in red text Library Mail Rates

40. 40  Parcel post rates based upon weight and distance to destination  New rates range from 4.38 to 4.50 for 1 pound item  Current rates range from 3.89 to 3.95 for same item Parcel Post Rates

41. 41 Machinable Rates.164(.170) Non-machinable Rates.429(.191) Current rates in parentheses New lower rates in red text Rates valid for letters up to 3.3 ounces Presort Standard Non-profit Rates - Letter Size

42. 42 Machinable Rates.389(.237) Pieces not meeting criteria for flats must use Not Flat Machinable or Irregular Rates Current rates in parentheses Presort Standard Non-profit Rates - Flat Size

43. 43 Not Flat Machinable Rates.952(.237) Parcels1.053(.237) Current rates in parentheses Presort Standard Non-profit Postage Rates Other Sized

44. 44 Special Services Certified Mail2.65(2.40) Registered Mail9.50(7.90) Return Receipt2.15(1.85) Delivery Confirm..75(.60) Current rates in parentheses

45. 45 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.