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Q: Mailability of checks, conditionally negotiable instruments at Standard Postage? ( No Answer,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Mailability of checks, conditionally negotiable instruments at Standard Postage?
Category: Business and Money > Advertising and Marketing
Asked by: richig-ga
List Price: $50.00
Posted: 23 Nov 2002 17:59 PST
Expires: 27 Nov 2002 14:29 PST
Question ID: 113433
Are checks mailable at Standard mail rates vs. First Class mail rates.
What criteria is required for a check - conditionally negotiable
instrutment to be used in a solication and mail at Standard Mail
(formerly 3rd class or bulk rate)?
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

The following answer was rejected by the asker (they received a refund for the question).
Subject: Re: Mailability of checks, conditionally negotiable instruments at Standard Postage?
Answered By: darrel-ga on 23 Nov 2002 18:48 PST
Rated:1 out of 5 stars
 
Hello--

I have carefully researched your question and have your answer.

Yes, you may mail checks, conditionally negotiable instruments, to be
used in a solicitation using the U.S. Postal Service's Standard Mail
rate instead of using the First-Class Mail rate service. There are
many criteria you need to be aware of for mailing checks (or any
items) using Standard Mail.

You must be mailing at least 200 pieces or at least 50 pounds of mail.
There are no single-piece Standard Mail rates. The rates for Standard
Mail mainly are determined by whether the pieces are letters or
non-letters. You may only use the Standard Mail service for pieces to
be delivered within the United States.

You may use other Postal Service services with Standard Mail, if
you're interested. These include electronic Delivery Confirmation,
bulk insurance, and return receipt for merchandise. The person
receiving your Standard Mail may not be forwarded nor may it be
returned, unless you request an ancillary service endorsement, which
may entail paying additional fees.

However, here's the catch. Your pieces must be 100% delivery point
barcoded, sorted and marked in certain ways. You must make sure all
pieces are automation compatible.

Your address and barcode quality must meet minimum standards. You may
read about these standards online. You may read about these standards
online. The links are http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/a800.htm and
http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/a950.htm

If your mailings weigh more than three ounces, your pieces must meet
other requirements. You may read about those requirements online. The
link is
http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/C810.htm#Raz11197

In order to be mailed Standard Mail, your pieces must be at least
"3-1/2 inches high, 5 inches long, and either 0.007 inch thick if not
more than 4-1/4 inches high and 6 inches long; or 0.009 inch thick if
more than 4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long, or both." They can't be
more than "6-1/8 inches high, 11-1/2 inches long, and 1/4 inch thick.

You must mark your pieces in a certain way. If they are for regular,
business, for-profit mail, they must be marked with "Presorted
Standard" or "PRSRT STD" in the postage area. If your group is a
not-for-profit organization, they must be marked with "Nonprofit
Organization" or "NONPROFIT ORG." or "NONPROFIT."

Your Standard Mail must be sorted in trays or in another acceptable
manner. You may read about the sorting guidelines at
http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/m810.htm

In addition, you may save money if your letters are extremely light.
The U.S. Postal Service writes, "Letters that weigh more than 3.3
ounces but not more than 3.5 ounces pay piece/pound postage but
receive a discount (see E640.1.4).
Annual $150.00 presort mailing fee (E610.6.1). Destination discounts
apply to mail prepared as prescribed by USPS and addressed for
delivery within service area of destination BMC/ASF or SCF (E650)."

There is a web page on the U.S. Postal Service web site on which you
may find out which forms and methods of mail are best for you. You may
use these forms when you take your mailings to your local Post Office
to more efficiently expedite your pieces. The link is
http://www.usps.com/businessmail101/decisiontree/decisionTree.htm

You may read some basic information about Standard Mail online. The
link is http://www.usps.com/businessmail101/classes/standard.htm

Some detailed Standard Mail requirements can be found online. The link
is http://pe.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/manuals/qsg/q640.pdf

To conduct this research, I visited the U.S. Postal Service web site
at www.usps.gov. From there, I searched the terms "standard mail."

I hope this helps! If you need any clarification, please don't
hesitate to ask.

darrel-ga

Clarification of Answer by darrel-ga on 24 Nov 2002 10:45 PST
Hello--

I'm sorry you weren't satisfied with my initial answer. When I
initially researched your question, I found references to letters
being completely satisfactory to mail via Standard Mail. I see what
you're clarification request states.

I found this regulation in the Domestic Mail Manual that discusses
computer-prepared material and material included in letters related
specifically to the addressee. It states that you may have specific
information to individual addressees in the mailings and it's still
considered Standard Mail, including if it's specific information about
a product or service being offered.

"2.3Computer-Prepared Material

Computer-prepared material is considered printed matter. Such material
is not considered to have the character of actual or personal
correspondence merely because it contains:

a. Specific information about a product offered for sale or lease
(e.g., size, color, price) or a service being offered (e.g., the name,
address, and telephone number of a company representative).

b. Information relating the addressee directly to an advertised
product or service.

c. Information such as the amount paid for a previous purchase,
pledge, or donation, when associated with a sales promotion or
solicitation for donations."

You may read this regulation directly from the Domestic Mail Manual.
The link is http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/e610.htm

Please let me know if this is what you're looking for. In the
meantime, I'll keep looking for something mentioning checks in
particular. But this does seem to address solicitations as such and
putting different names or check amounts inside a mailing.

darrel-ga

Clarification of Answer by darrel-ga on 24 Nov 2002 11:59 PST
Hello--

I have more information for you.

As I found in my initial clarification, the answer to this question
depends on how the checks are printed. If the checks are printed via a
computer that prints the background of the checks, along with the
amounts, then the mailing may be mailed as Standard Mail.

If the checks are blank checks that you fill out (whether with a
computer, pen, typewriter, or etc.), the checks must be sent via
first-class mail.

I found several links that refer to this method of direct marketing. I
searched the following search terms: "Domestic Mail Manual" "personal
correspondence" "standard mail" contents checks

In the initial clarification, you may read the link to the DMM, as it
pertains to direct marketing. It states that you may have specific
information related specifically to the individual addressee and still
have the larger group of mailings considered Standard Mail.

I found several points of confirmation that this is true. First, the
following I found on the Adams State University web site, regarding
this school's guidelines for Standard Mail,"
"Standard Mail
Basic Standards
Standard Mail consists of mailable matter that is: ...

An incidental First-Class attachment or enclosure may be a bill for
the product or publication, a statement of account for past products
or publications, or a personal message or greeting included with a
product, publication, or parcel.
Standard Mail includes matter formerly classified as third-class
mail....

Circulars, including printed letters that, according to internal
evidence, are sent in identical terms to more than one person are
Standard Mail. A circular does not lose its character as such if a
date and the individual names of the addressee and sender are written
(handwritten or typewritten) on the circular or written corrections of
typographical errors are made on the circular.
Printed matter weighing less than 16 ounces may be sent as Standard
Mail. For this standard, printed matter means paper on which words,
letters, characters, figures, or images (or any combination of them),
not having the character of a bill or statement of account or of
actual or personal correspondence, are reproduced by any process other
than handwriting or typewriting."

You may read this directly at
http://www.adams.edu/res_services/mail_room/guide2.htm#standard

Second, I found that UNLV has similar standards for First-Class Mail.
This states the checks, if they're blank checks and filled out, need
to be mailed first-class. Again, if the checks are printed (background
and all) by a computer, they may be considered Standard Mail.

"UNLV Mailroom Standards

First class is any mailable matter. The following materials are
considered
first class matter and must carry postage at first class or priority
mail rates.
1. Matter wholly or partially handwritten or typewritten (including
identical
copies prepared by an automatic typewriter), originals or carbons,
invoices (except when accompanying the matter to which they relate),
postal cards, and post cards.
2. Matter sealed and closed against postal inspection.
3. Bills and statements of accounts, regardless of method of
preparation or
quantity of identical pieces mailed, except authorized enclosures in
or
attachments to second, third, or fourth class mail.
4. Price lists with written-in figures changing items or prices.
5. Any Business Reply mail (unless enclosed in bulk mail)
6. Blank printed forms filled out in writing, including cancelled or
uncancelled checks.
7. The product of a computer may or may not be first class matter. It
depends on the content."

The link to this information is
http://www.unlv.edu/pubs_repro/subdocs/mail.pdf

Third, the University of Michigan states that Standard Mail may
include direct mail and printed matter, "Standard Mail (A) -Standard
Mail matter that weighs less than 16 ounces. It comprises the
subclasses of Regular Standard Mail, Nonprofit Standard Mail, Enhanced
Carrier Route Standard Mail, and Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route
Standard Mail. These subclasses include circulars, printed matter,
pamphlets, catalogs, newsletters, direct mail, and merchandise.
Standard Mail (A) may be sent at presorted rates and at automation
rates."

The link to this information is
www.mailservice.bf.umich.edu/pdf/PostalDefinitions.pdf

To further confirm this information I gathered some recent mail I
received from a long-distance telephone company. The mailing included
a check specifically made out to me. It was mailed via standard mail.
The check was printed on a computer. It was obviously not a blank
check that was simply filled out.

I have spoken with a local public information officer with my local
post office this afternoon. I've asked him to look into this, as well.

darrel-ga

Clarification of Answer by darrel-ga on 25 Nov 2002 08:07 PST
Hello--

I have had a couple conversations this morning about this issue.

The public information officer I spoke with yesterday called me back
and said that if the checks are completely printed (and not from blank
checks), and if you have a bulk mail permit, you may send them
Standard Mail.

Further, I called the national Post Office customer service number
(800) 275-8777. I explained to the representative the situation and
she asked me if I had a bulk mail permit. For the sake of argument, I
told her yes. She asked me for my zip code and gave me the phone
number for my regional bulk mail supervisor.

Do you happen to have a bulk mail permit?

darrel-ga
Reason this answer was rejected by richig-ga:
The answer received did not respond to the question; it only restated
general postal regulations for mailing at Standard Postal levels. I am
not at all satisfied with the response and will contact my credit card
company to stop payment!
richig-ga rated this answer:1 out of 5 stars
The answer received was a restatement of basic postal regulations for
Standard Class Mailings and did specifically refer to postal
regulations that restrict what is mailable in a check at Standard
Postage rates.

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