non rigid "Do Not Bend"

carrier789 · Feb 2, 2018

What is everyone doing as far as fighting to get the presorted standard "do not bends" counted as a parcel or as a flat. I see this going both ways depending on what office you are in. Our postmaster will not give parcel credit while I hear other PM's are giving parcel credit.

btdtret · Feb 2, 2018

carrier789 -- "What is everyone doing as far as fighting to get the presorted standard “do not bends” counted as a parcel or as a flat. I see this going both ways depending on what office you are in. Our postmaster will not give parcel credit while I hear other PM’s are giving parcel credit."

-- Just another good or bad example, depending on one's point of view, regarding post offices having their own way to doing things.

-- Used to be a measuring example / device that a counter could place on a flat surface with a portion of the device hanging over the edge. If the item in question sagged below the device, the item was not considered "rigid" and thus received no credit as a "no not bend" item.

-- So case ( cram ) the item in with the letters and flats in a slot. Hopefully a customer will call in to complain their "do not bend" item was bent! Only then might one get parcel credit for the item.

stonehenge98 · Feb 2, 2018

"Do not bend or fold" is not an official USPS endorsement. If it's standard, non-rigid, what's the basis for getting parcel credit?

MiddleOfNowhere · Feb 3, 2018

i used to have a po count propaganda sheet, that showed an item half overhanging a table. while holding it firmly in place, and using two fingers of the other hand, depressing the outer edge of the overhanging side. i think it said if the item deflected more than 3/8", it was not rigid. by this definition, a license plate, is flexible. customers would really bitch if you fold them, however.

carrier789 · Feb 5, 2018

stonehenge98 not sure what you mean by that... this is directly out of the mail count guide.

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(This in- cludes articles that have not been pre- pared in accordance with DMM 601.5.0, even though the mailer has endorsed them "Do Not Fold Or Bend.") These non-rigid articles should be carried and credited as parcels, provided that they do not fit in the letter or flat separation (where flat separa- tions are used) with other mail without damage to the article.

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Ref: Step 4 H7R-4M-C 29824

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btdtret · Feb 6, 2018

All -- to add to "carrier789's" posting:

-- Step 4 ( B00R-4B-C05098699 from 2005 ) cites the PO-603's ( JUNE 1991 ) Section 535.12.c.2 "Any non-rigid article that does not fit in the letter or flat separations with other mail is considered a parcel." The sorting cases used on the routes are<strong> 6 shelf case</strong>s. It would have been necessary to bend the articles in question to case them. The mail pieces were clearly marked "Do not bend". Therefore credit for the mail pieces in question will be changed from flats to parcels. ( apparently cases with 4 or 5 shelves are out of luck )

-- Page 116 of the current PO-603 addresses "Do Not Fold or Bend" articles:

In addition, any none rigid article that does not fit in the letter or flat separations ( where flat separations are used ) with other mail is considered a parcel. ( This includes articles that have not been prepared in accordance with DMM 601.5.0) even though the mailer has endorsed them “Do Not Fold Or Bend.” These non-rigid articles should be carried and credited as parcels, provided that they do not fit in the letter or flat separation (where flat separations are used) with other mail without damage to the article. ( NB -- no mention of the number of shelves. So save those items until last and cram away if manglement won't give "parcel credit". Maybe a few irate phone calls will change things! )

faceindawind · Feb 6, 2018

Policy has been if it's not 1st, Priority or Express class. The mailer is not paying for parcel service. Flat credit. Bend, fold, crease, cram.

Deer Smearer · Feb 6, 2018

From the latest postal bulletin 22486

DMM Revision: Ineligible Flat-size Mailpiece Clarification

Effective March 5, 2018, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various sections, to clarify the processing category of certain ineligible flat-sized pieces. The DMM currently states that mailers whose retail or commercial flat-sized pieces do not meet the flexibility or uniform thickness standards must pay the applicable parcel prices. Also, mailers whose flat-sized pieces do not meet polywrap covering standards must pay the applicable parcel prices. Mailers must prepare these ineligible flatsized pieces as parcels. The Postal Service will revise the following: Sections 101.2.5, 201.4.7, and 201.5.0 to clarify that the above ineligible flat-sized pieces are considered parcels.

Sections 233.4.0, 243.4.0, and 263.1.0 to remove redundant text. These revisions will provide clarity and consistency in the standards. Quick Service Guides (QSG) 201c, 207d, 207f, 230d, 240e, and 260a, to include the aforementioned revisions. QSG 270a to remove outdated flat-sized pieces text. Although we will not publish these revisions in the DMM until March 5, 2018, the standards are effective immediately.

The engineer study must not be treating the USPS nicely.

Of course what they call a parcel when charging the mailer isn't always the same as what they call it when paying a carrier to deliver it.

stonehenge98 · Feb 7, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>carrier789 said </strong>
stonehenge98 not sure what you mean by that... this is directly out of the mail count guide..... </blockquote>
Your original question didn't necessarily include the "doesn't fit" part. When you just talk about non-rigid, standard stuff with DNB on it, I'm thinking of the St. Joseph's Indian School packets, or those giant brown survey/political flats. You'd have a hard time to get those as parcels. If, however, we're talking about stuff like the PCS Stamp collection that puts fragile $200 collectible money/stamps in standard flats, then yeah.

dumbolehickfromms · Feb 7, 2018

They tried this crap in my office in the 2016 count. Photographers mail in "Do Not Bend" standard rate envelopes and some in First Class. They originally said not a parcel, so many asked one more time and were denied so they bent them and put in the case with other flats. Management went nuts. We said well if we're

not getting credit for holding it out and treating it as a parcel and you pay me as a flat, then it goes in the case with other mail.

They went to the phone and came back saying they were parcels.

So if a parcel treat as a parcel, if flat then cram it in the case like you do other important Bed Bath and Beyond, Harbor Frieght, Time and Newsweek magazines.