USPS Shuffles Mail Categories Like Bureaucratic Deck Chairs
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Notice
Summary
Starting around July 2025, the Postal Service will remove Bound Printed Matter Flats and Parcels from its main product list and raise weight limits for some Marketing Mail items. This affects businesses and mailers who use these services, giving them more mailing options and possibly saving money. The Postal Regulatory Commission wants your thoughts by February 7, 2025, so don’t miss the deadline!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Catalogs and Ads Can Move to Marketing Mail
Effective no earlier than July 2025, items that were mailed as Bound Printed Matter (BPM) containing catalogs, promotional material, or other advertising may be mailed as USPS Marketing Mail. This change gives businesses and mailers a new mailing option for advertising pieces that were previously BPM.
Books Cannot Be Sent as Marketing Mail
Effective no earlier than July 2025, BPM Flats and BPM Parcels that contain books may not be mailed as USPS Marketing Mail because Marketing Mail excludes order fulfillment. Such books must instead be mailed as Package Services Media Mail/Library Mail or using Competitive products like USPS Ground Advantage.
Marketing Mail Weight Limits Raised
Effective no earlier than July 2025, the Postal Service proposes raising USPS Marketing Mail weight limits: Parcels to 15 pounds; flat-shaped mailpieces in High Density and Saturation Flats/Parcels to 24 ounces; flat-shaped mailpieces in Carrier Route to 24 ounces; and Flats to 20 ounces. Letter-shaped Marketing Mail will remain under 16 ounces (15.999 ounces).
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