U.S. Post Office

Services & Rates Manual 

1st Class stamps - $.66 cents  (use "FOREVER" Stamps.  Their value is always the current postage).

Rice Univeristy Campus Post Office

A full-service post office is located in the Police Annex Building. We do not provide international shipping.

Monday - Friday 8 am to 4 pm

The office is closed on federal holidays, university holidays and winter recess.

Special services forms for registered, certified, and signature comfirmations are available on request.  Contact our staff at ext. 2538. We also provide free recycled boxes, packing peanuts and bubble wrap.  

First Class Mail

First class mail must be used for handwritten or personal correspondence (this includes all correspondence related to insurance, credit cards, investment or legal documents, invoices, checks and statements of account). This type of mail is sealed against postal inspection. 

First Class Mail Rates - single piece rates

First ounce Letter size mail *

$0.66

Each additional oz or fraction

$0.24 1/oz up to 3.5 oz.
First ounce Flat size mail ** $1.16
Each additional oz. or fraction $0.24 1/oz. up to 13 oz.
Parcel  up to 4 oz*** starts at $4.50

Standard Postcard ****

$0.51

A NON-MACHINABLE SURCHARGE IN THE AMOUNT OF 21 CENTS IS REQUIRED FOR LETTERS THAT ARE SQUARE AND UNEVEN, IN ADDITION TO THE POSTAGE.

* 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 (Retail Ground 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 one to two day service.

 Priority Mail Express provides overnight service for letters, business documents, and parcels.  Guranteed delivery by 6 pm.; and Sunday/Holiday delivery add $12.50.  This method provides tracking using a unique shipping number. This method can be used for assured delivery to domestic and international addresses.  Contact the Campus Post Office (ext. 2538) for mailing supplies.  (Post Office to Addressee Service).  $100 insurance included in the fee.  For rates go to www.usps.com

Domestic PRIORITY MAIL EXPRESS

  • Flat-Rate Envelope - $28.95 (12 1/2" x 9 1/2")  (up to 70 lbs. regardless of weight or destination)  
  • Legal size Flat Rate Envelope - $27.10 (up to 70 lbs. regardless of weight or destination) 
  • Padded Flat Rate Envelope: $27.50
  • Flat Rate Boxes eliminated as of 1/17/16
  • For Sunday/holiday delivery, add $12.50
  • International Products and Pricing.  A FOREVER stamp for international mail is now available.

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

Standard 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 13 oz. All packages weighing 13 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 Standard 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.  

Parcels can be mailed as  Media Mail.  Library Mail is avaible for departmental parcels if mailed to another university or school.

Bound Printed Matter can only be used for departmental mail.

 

SPECIAL SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MAIL

Delivery Service maintains U.S. Postal Service Firm Mailing Books that include details on each item that is sent through campus mail as insured, certified, or registered 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.  

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.