Services & Rates Manual
MAIL CLASSES AND RATES as of May 11, 2008

PRICES FOR SHIPPING SERVICES AS OF JANUARY 18, 2009 (This is the first time the Postal Service has adjusted prices for its shipping services on a different schedule from its mailing service price adjustments.)

For answers to many classification and rate questions visit the United States Postal Services website at

URL:http://www.usps.com

Rates, classifications, mailing requirements, zip codes, and a broad variety of information is kept current for you.

Campus Post Office

Services provided include all first-class, priority, parcel, accountable, and international mailings. Stamps in all denominations and shipping materials are available for purchase for personal or departmental use. Regular and commemorative stamps in large quantities are available for purchase with a check payable to the United States Postal Services.   Special services forms for insured, registered, certified, and customs needs are available on request.  Contact our staff at ext. 2888.

First Class Mail

First Class Mail Rates - single piece rates
First ounce Letter size mail *	$0.44
Each additional oz or fraction	$0.17/oz up to 3.5 oz.
First ounce Flat size mail **	$0.88
Each additional oz. or fraction	$0.17/oz. up to 13 oz.
First ounce Parcel ***	$1.22
Each additional oz. or fraction	$0.17 up to 13 oz.
Standard Postcard ****	$0.28

* Letters:  (min. dimension: 5"L, 3-1/2"H, 0.007"W;  max. dimension: 11-1/2" L, 6-1/8" H, 1/4" W, max. weight 3.5 oz.).  Letter size mail over 3.5 ounces, see flat-size prices.

** Flats: (min. dimension: 11-1/2" L, 6-1/8" H, 1/4" W; max. dimension: 15" L, 12"H, 3/4" W)

*** Packages:  Length + girth cannot exceed 108 inches (Parcel Post cannot exceed 130 inches)

**** Postcards: (min. dimension: 5" L, 3-1/2" H, 0.007"W; max. dimension: 6"L, 4-1/4" H, 0.016" W)

The United States Postal Service does not guarantee a specific time of delivery for first class mail. Letter size mail destined within 100 miles of Houston normally receives two-three day service.

Express, Priority, and Global Priority Mail (rates effective 1/18/09)

Express Mail provides overnight service for letters, business documents, and parcels. This method provides tracking using a unique shipping number. This method can be used for assured delivery internationally when private couriers will not deliver to that address. Contact the Campus Post Office (ext. 2538) for mailing supplies.  (delivery by 3 p. m. the following day to most locations) (Post Office to Addressee Service).  For rates go to www.usps.com

• up to 1/2 pound - $12.60 (local, Zone 1 & 2)
• Zone 3-8 and envelopes over 1 pound, prices are based on zones.  For rates go to www.usps.com
• Flat-Rate Envelope - $17.50 (regardless of weight or destination)  

Priority Mail is a quick method to send packages economically within the United States. Deliveries are made within 2-3 days of shipment. The shipments are not trackable; Delivery Confirmation can be used to notify you when a package has been received. Contact the Campus Post Office (ext. 2538) for supplies. First Class Maill automatically becomes Priority Mail if it is 13 oz. or more, up to a maximum weight of 70 pounds.  Priority Flat-Rate Envelopes are $4.80 to any U.S. destination regardless of the weight or destination. 

Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes are $9.80  to any U.S. destination regardless of the actual weight or destination.  They are available in two convenient sizes.  Delivery standards equal first class letter mail service. 

Priority Mail LARGE flat-rate boxes are $12.95, regardless of weight to domestic addresses, and $10.95 for material sent in a Priority Mail large flat-rate box to APO/FPO destination addresses.

• Rates are determined by weight, size and postal zone
• Maximum weight is 70 pounds
• Delivery standards equal first-class letter mail services
• Priority Mail packages that exceed 1 cubic foot and addressed to Zones 5-8 are subject to a new dimensional-weight price as of May 14, 2007. 
• Parcels addressed for delivery to zones 1-4 (including local) that weigh less than 20 pounds but measure more than 84 inches in combined length and girth (but not more than 108 inches) are charged the applicable price for a 20-pound parcel (balloon price).

International Products and Pricing as of May 11, 2008

On May 11, 2008 international mail products were realigned to make them clear-cut and easy to use.  The changes introduce the familiar and trusted USPS domestic product names - First-Class Mail®, Priority Mail®, and Express Mail® service - into the international product portfolio for retail customers.  Shaped-based pricing is introduced with separate prices for letters, large envelopes (flats) andpackages (small packets).  This change aligns the price structure with the domestic First-Class Mail structure implemented May 2007.  The weight limit for letters will be 3.5 ounces, and the weight limit for large envelopes and packages remains 64 ounces.  The nonmachinable surcharge increases to 20 cents and will now apply to all letters weighing up to 3.5 ounces (the same as domestic First-Class Mail letters).  The total number of country price groups expanded to nine - aligning the First-Class Main International price groups with the price groups for Priority Mail International and Express Main International.

Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) (formerly Global Express Guaranteed -documents, and Global Express Guaranteed - nondocuments) (rates effective 1/18/09) is an expedited service for documents and merchandise items that is the product of a business alliance between the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx Express.  GXG provides reliable, high-speed, date-certain service (1-3 business days) with money-back delivery gurantee to over 190 countires.  Insurance up to $100 per shipment is included.  Mailers may purchase additional insurance as limited  the destination country, content, or value.  GXP is not available through the Campus Post Office.  Customers need to visit a full-service Post Office.

Express Mail International (formerly Global Express Mail)  (rates effective 1/18/09)  provides reliable, 3-5 buiness day delivery to more than 190 countries with money-back delivery guarantee to select destinations. Tracking is available.   Specific average-days-for-delivery information to major destinatiaons is available via URL: http://www.usps.com/ as well as Post Offices. 

• Flat-Rate envelope to Canada and Mexico - $25.95
• Flat-rate envelopes to all other countries - $27.95

Priority Mail International (formerly Airmail Parcel Post, Economy Parcel Post, Global Priority Mail)  (rates effective 1/18/09) - available to more than 190 countries, 6-10 business day delivery and the same flat-rate packaging options as domestic Priority Mail Service. Maximum weight is 70 lbs.

• Flat-rate envelope to Canada and Mexico - $10.95*
• Flat-rate envelope to all other countries - $12.95*
• Small flat-rate box to Canada and Mexico - $10.95*
• Small flat-rate box to all other countries - $12.95*
• Regular flat-rate box to Canada and Mexico - $25.95**
• Regular flat-rate box to all other countries - $41.95**
• Large flat-rate box to Canada and Mexico - $32.95
• Large flat-rate box to all other countries - $53.95

      * maximum weight is 4 lbs.  May contain items that may be sent as First-Class Mail international

      ** maximum weight is 20 lbs. or the limit set by the individual country.  Merchandise is permitted, but written communications having the nature of current and personal correspondence are not permitted.

First-Class Mail International (formerly Airmail Letter Post, Economy Letter Post)  This service provides a reliable and econmical means of sending correspondence (e.g. letters and postcs), documents, and lightweight merchandise weighing up to 4 pounds.  Extra services, such as Registered Mail and Return Receipt, may be added on a country-specific basis. 

Contact the campus Post Office (ext. 2538) for additional information and mailing supplies.

Presorted First Class Domestic Mail

Letter mail, up to 2 oz., sent from the campus is processed as Presorted First Class mail. This process applies an 11-digit barcode to each piece and identifies recipients having a change of address registered with the United States Postal Service. The process of adding the barcoding and correcting addresses expedites the mail through the USPS distribution stream, frequently reducing several days in delivery.

All mail with an address change is returned to the department with the coding of COA and a different address on it. To resend such mail, place it in a fresh envelope directed to the new address and place it into the campus system.

Domestic Flat-size mail includes letter mail over 3.5 oz, and Flats.   This mail is processed in the most economical manner by Delivery Services staff. In most cases it is sent as first-class mail.

This mail can be sent as bound printed matter if the contents include a bound piece, defined as a permanently bound (stapled, spiral, glued) item. The piece is sent at parcel rate and takes approximately 3 days longer than first class mail. Maxiumum weight limit is 15 pounds.

International Mail

International mail is handled through an authorized USPS international consolidator. Letters are sent as International Priority Airmail (IPA). Flats are sent as International Surface Air Lift (ISAL). These pieces carry fixed US postage plus a poundage rate based on destination. The mail is airlifted to the destination country, deposited into that country's mail system, and handled as priority mail to its destination. All countries participate in the International Postal Services union, and this procedure is part of its service. This method should be used for mail directed to Latin America and developing Pacific Rim countries, as well as strife-torn countries.

International parcels are processed through the USPS directly. Each piece must bear customs forms if the package weighs 16 oz or more, regardless of contents. Contact the Campus Post Office at extension 2538 for specifics on which customs form is required.

Standard Mail

Standard Mail includes all large-volume mailings with 200 identical pieces and no personal correspondence. See section on Bulk Mailings for further information.

PACKAGE SERVICES

Parcel Post

This service should be used for parcels to domestic addresses. Parcels may be dropped into any collection box with appropriate postage affixed if the weight is under 16 oz. All packages weighing 16 oz or more MUST be presented to a postal clerk for packaging inspection and identity stamping. If such a package is placed in a collection box, it will be returned to the sender. ALL PARCELS MAY BE PLACED IN THE CAMPUS MAIL AND THE APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES WILL BE FOLLOWED.

Approximate Delivery Schedule
Distance	Delivery Time
100 Miles	3-4 Days
150 Miles	5 Days
300 Miles	6 Days
600 Miles	7 Days
1000 Miles	8 Days
1400 Miles	9 Days
1800 Miles	10 Days
Over 1800 Miles	11 Days

Parcels can weigh up to 70 pounds.  Parcels can measure up to 108 inches in combined lenght and girth.  Anything over 70 pounds or it exceedes 108 inches in combined length and girth, must pay oversized rates.  To compute Parcel Post rates, go to Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com and click on "Retail/Single Piece" under Rate Claculators in the left frame.  For zone charts click on "Zone Charts" in the left frame.

Two or more items may be mailed as a single piece if they are of the same shape and form and do not exceed the limitations when securely fastened together.  Parcel Post is split into these categories:  Parcel Post, Media Mail, Library Mail and Bound Printed Matter.

SPECIAL SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MAIL

Registered Mail

Registered mail should be used for the protection of monies, critical documents, jewelry, and other items of value. This service is available for domestic and international mail.

The shipper is required by law to declare the full value of each item presented for registration.

• Negotiable items - Full value
• Non-negotiable items - No value or replacement cost
• Money - Full value
• Jewelry, gems and precious metals - Market value or cost
• Merchandise - Market value or cost

The USPS provides indemnity of up to $25,000 in the event of loss or damage for an additional fee. Should the value of items exceed $25,000, contact the Campus Post Office.  The following fees are in addition to postage.

Certified Mail

Certified mail should be used for mailing important documents, notices and first class items of no monetary value. This is a domestic service only. Return receipts for Registered and Certified mail must have a department and mail stop number to assure they are returned to the originating department. 

	Extra Services
	Certificate of Mailing	$1.15
	Certified Mail	$2.80
	Delivery Confirmation First-Class Mail (parcels only)	$0.80
	Registered Mail Fee	$10.60on up (depending on declared value)
	Return Receipt (requested at time of mailing)	$2.30 (to whom, when and address)
	Return Receipt (receive electronically)	$1.10 (requested at time of mailing)
	Return Receipt for Merchandise (Form 3804)	$3.80 (requested at time of mailing)
	Return Receipt	$4.60 (requested after mailing (Form 3811-A)
	Restricted Delivery	$4.50
	Signature Confirmation First-Class Mail (parcels only) (retail)	$2.35
	Signature Confirmation Priority Mail (retail)	$2.35
	Signature Confirmation Package Services (parcels only)	$2.35

Insurance

Insured mail provides indemnity coverage for First Class, Parcel Post, and Priority Mail. Maximum coverage is $5,000. The mail pieces have the same delivery schedule as Priority Mail. Delivery Services maintains United States Postal Service Firm Mailing Books that include details on each item sent as registered, certified, or insured and processed through Delivery Services' normal procedures.