MAILING TERMS
3-DIGIT ZIP CODE: ZIP codes that share the same first three digits.
5-DIGIT ZIP CODE: ZIP codes that share the same first five digits.
A
ADDRESS: (1) The location to which the Postal Service is to deliver or return a mailpiece. It consists of certain elements such as recipient name, street name and house number, and city, state and ZIP Code. (2) The portion of an envelope or parcel which shows the delivery location of the recipient of the mailpiece.
ADDRESS CHANGE SERVICE (ACS): A process that centralizes, automates and improves the processing of address correction requests for participating mailers. The Postal Service transmits address correction information to a central point where the changes are consolidated electronically, by unique publication or mailer indentifier and transmitted to the mailer.
ADDRESS CORRECTION SERVICE: If mail cannot be delivered as addressed, this service allows the sender on request, using the appropiate ancillary service endorsement, to obtain the addressee's new (forwarding) address (if a change-of-address order was filed), or the reason the mail cannot be delivered as addressed.
ADVANCE DEPOSIT ACCOUNT: An account into which a mailer deposits funds that are maintained by the Postal Service which postage, per piece changes and other fees are deducted.
ADVERTISING MAIL: A sales product or promotional message mailed directly to customers or prospective clients. Also known as direct mail.
AREA DISTRIBUTION CENTER (ADC): A mail processing facility that receives mail and distributes mail destined for a wide range of specific ZIP Codes.
ASPECT RATIO: The dimension of a mailpiece expressed as a ratio of length (the direction parallel to the address) divided by the height. For example, a postcard 5-1/2" long by 3-1/2" high has an aspect ratio of 1.57. An aspect ratio between 1.3 and 2.5, inclusive, is required for letter mail automation compatibility. For First Class Mail letters that weigh less than one ounce, aspect ratio is used to determine whether a nonstandard surcharge applies.
AUTOMATED AREA DISTRIBUTION CENTER (AADC): An area distribution center that uses automation to process automation-compatible mail. Also See Area Distribution Center.
AUTOMATION DISCOUNT: A postage reduction offered to mailers who barcode their letters and flats and meet addressing, readability and other requirements for processing on automated equipment.
AUXILIARY SERVICE FACILITY (ASF): A mail processing facility that has its own service area and functions as a bulk mail center (BMC).
B
BANDED: Many mailpieces bound together by rubber bands (or string). They must be secured both ways (i.e., 2 rubber bands, 1 horizontally and 1 vertically.)
BARCODE (BC): A series of vertical bars and spaces that represent a numeric designation such as a ZIP Code or package identification code. The barcode facilitates automated processing by barcode readers and scanners.
BARCODE DISCOUNT: Available for certain types of mail that bear a specified type of barcode and meet minimum volume requirements.
BOUND PRINTED MATTER (BPM): A subclass of Package Services for material that weighs no more than 15 pounds and consists of permanently bound sheets, at least 90 percent of the sheets are printed with advertising, promotional, directory, editorial matter or a combination of these.
BULK MAILING: A bulk mailing can be First-Class Mail (at least 500 pieces) or Standard Mail (at least 200 pieces). It includes mailpieces going to certified addresses and presorted according to United States Postal Service (USPS) regulations. Bulk Mail is generally rated for postage partly by weight and partly by the number of pieces in the mailing. A rate discount is given based on the mail preparation work done by the mailer and the place of mail deposit.
BULK MAIL CENTER (BMC): A highly mechanized mail processing facility that is part of the National Bulk Mail System. This facility distributes Standard Mail and Periodicals in containerized form such as sacks and pallets and Package Services in both piece and containerized form.
BUSINESS MAIL: Any mail sent by any business, using any possible mailing method and service.
BUSINESS MAIL ENTRY UNIT (BMEU): The area of a postal facility where mailers present mailings for acceptance that require postal verification, such as presorted and permit imprint mailings.
BUSINESS REPLY MAIL (BRM): A service that allows a permit holder to receive First-Class Mail and Priority Mail back from customers and pay postage only for the returned pieces. These pieces must have a specific address and format. When the mail is delivered back to the permit holder, postage and per piece charges are collected, usually through an advance deposit account.
C
CARRIER ROUTE (CR): (1) The range of addresses assigned to one carrier for the delivery of mail. This can include city routes, rural routes and highway contract rules. (2) A discounted postage rate available for all pieces to the same city route, rural route, highway contract route, post office box section or general delivery unit.
CARRIER ROUTE SORTATION: The practice of sorting mail by carrier route to qualify for reduced postage rates. The term is a general descriptor of the available rates for this type of preparation, which include Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail, automation carrier route First-Class Mail, carrier route Periodicals and carrier route Bound Printed Matter.
CASS CERTIFICATION or CASS-CERTIFIED: CASS stands for Coding Accuracy Support System. The CASS certification process reviews address-matching software to make sure that it is accurate to the standards expected by USPS. The address quality of direct mailings affects the postal service’s ability to deliver, and hence, the overall cost of your direct mailing campaign. CASS certification ensures the highest address accuracy and quality standards available to bulk mailers. Also See Coding Accuracy Support System.
CERTIFICATE OF MAILING: An extra service that provides a receipt as evidence of mailing.
CERTIFIED MAIL: An extra service that provides the sender with a mailing receipt and delivery information. A record of delivery with the recipient's signature is kept by the Postal Service. Certifified Mail must be sent as First-Class Mail or Priority Mail and may be combined with return receipt and/or restricted delivery.
CLASSIFICATION: The grouping of mailable matter into mail classes and subclasses by rate categories, according to content, weight, size and preparation standards.
CLASSROOM RATE: A Periodicals rate that is available to an authorized mailer of educational, scientific or religious publications for scholastic or religious instruction.
CLICK-N-SHIP: A service at www.usps.com that allows customers to print shipping labels from their computers with or without postage for Express Mail and Priority Mail. Customers pay for postage online with a credit card and the labels will print with PC Postage indicia.
CODING ACCURACY SUPPORT SYSTEM (CASS): A service that improves the accuracy of delivery point barcodes, ZIP+4 Codes, 5 digit ZIP Codes and carrier route information on mailpieces. Also See CASS Certification or Cass-Certified.
COLLECTION BOX: A blue street mailbox with the Postal Service logo used by the public to deposit mail. Each box is equipped with a security lock. It has a uniform appearance and a nationwide identification system that distinguishes the type of service provided at each box.
COLLECT ON DELIVERY (COD): An extra service that permits a mailer to mail an article and have its price and the cost of postage plus a service fee collected from the recipient.
COMPUTERIZED FORWARDING SYSTEM (CFS): A centralized program that provides address correction information to mailers and forwards mail to customers who have moved and filed Form 3575, Change of Address Order.
COURTESY REPLY MAIL (CRM): A preaddressed return envelope or postcard that business mailers provide to a customer for returning a remittance, order or response. The customer pays the postage.
D
DELIVERY CONFIRMATION: An extra service that provides the date and time of delivery or, if delivery was attempted but not successful, the date and time of the delivery attempt.
DELIVERY POINT BARCODE (DPBC): A POSTNET barcode that represents the ZIP+4 Code generally and the last two digits of the primary street address number (or post office box, etc.) and a correction digit. The DPBC allows automated sortation of mail to the carrier level in walk sequence.
DELIVERY SEQUENCED MAIL: Mail that is arranged by a mailer in delivery order for a particular carrier route.
DELIVERY UNIT: The postal facility where the carrier cases the mail for delivery.
DESTINATION BULK MAIL CENTER (DBMC) RATE: A rate available for Standard Mail, Parcel Post and Bound Printed Matter that is properly prepared, transported and entered by the mailer at the BMC or other designated postal facility that servces the delivery address on the mail.
DESTINATION DELIVERY UNIT (DDU) RATE: A rate available for Periodicals, Standard Mail, Parcel Post and Bound Printed Matter that is properly prepared and entered by the mailer at the postal facility that serves the delivery address on the mail.
DESTINATION ENTRY: The process of transporting and depositing mail at the postal facilities that serve the addresses in the mailpieces in a mailing. The mailer receives additional discounts for destination entry mail.
DESTINATION SECTIONAL CENTER FACILITY (DSCF) RATE: A rate available for Periodicals, Standard Mail, Parcel Post and Bound Printed Matter that is properly prepared, transported and entered by the mailer at the SCF of other designated postal facility that serves the delivery address on the mail.
DIRECT MAIL: Another name for advertising mail sent to targeted markets to help renew, maintain or grow business.
DISCOUNT MAILING SERVICES: Services that allow mail to be sent at reduced rates, including First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Periodicals and Package Services. Discount Mailing Services, also called bulk mail, direct mail, advertising mail and presorted mail, usually involve higher volumes of mail and require sortation and special preparation.
DISCOUNT RATES: Reduced postage rates offered to mailers in exchange for higher standards of mail preparation, sortation and destination entry.
DOMESTIC MAIL MANUAL (DMM): Postal Service manual that contains the basic standards and rates for domestic mail services.
DROP DATE: This is the date upon which a direct mail campaign is set for launch. It’s called the “drop” date because it indicates the day that the bulk mailing will be delivered to, or dropped off with USPS. This term distinguishes from the delivery date, which indicates the day that consumers will begin to receive the direct mailers.
DROP SHIPMENT or DROP SHIP or DROP SHIPPING: Typically the movement of a mailer's product on provate transportation from the point of production to a postal facility closer to the destination of those pieces.
E
ELIGIBILITY: The qualification standards, such as content, shape and preparationm that a mailpiece must meet for specific rates or discounts.
ENDORSEMENT: An authorized marking on a mailpiece that shows handling instructions or extra services.
ENHANCED CARRIER ROUTE STANDARD MAIL: Mailpieces weighing less than 16 ounces and prepared in the sequence delivered by the letter carrier.
ENTRY FACILITY: The Postal Service mail processing facility that serves the post office at which the mail is entered by the mailer. Also called "origin facility."
EXPRESS MAIL: A mailing service that provides expedited delivery. This is the fatest mail service offered by the Postal Service. Global Express Mail service is available from the United States to most other countries.
EXTRA SERVICES: A mail service for a fee in addition to required postage, that provides proof of mailing and/or delivery, or security and insurance. Extra services include registered mail, certified mail, insured mail, certificate of mailing, restricted delivery, return receipt, return receipt for merchandise, Delivery Confirmation and collect on delivery. Also called "special services."
F
FIRST-CLASS MAIL (FCM): A mailing service that includes all matter wholly or partly in handwriting or typewriting, all actual and personal correspondence, all bills and statements of account and all matter sealed or otherwise closed against inspection.
FLAT: Flat-size mail. Flat-size mail exceeds at least one of the maximum dimensions for letter-size mail (11-1/2" long, 6-1/8" high, 1/4" thick) but does not exceed the maximum dimensions for flats (15" long, 12" high, 3/4" thick). Dimensions are different for automation rate flats. A flat may be unwrapped, sleeved, wrapped or enveloped.
G
GIRTH: The measurement around the thickest part of a mailpiece.
H
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL: Any article or subtance designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation as posing an unreasonable risk of health, safety and property during transportation.
I
INDICIA: Imprinted designations on mailpieces that indicate postage payment (e.g. metered postage or permit imprint). Instead of using stamps, direct mail professionals purchase the cost of bulk mailing postage online and label items of direct mail with indicia. Specialized indicia can be created to represent the unique nature of your mailer or you can use a basic standard design.
INSERT: A letter, card or other item placed inside another mailpiece.
INSURED MAIL: An extra service that provides indemnity coverage for a lost, rifled or damaged article, subject to the standards for the service and payment of the applicable fee. Insurance is available for merchandise sent as Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Standard Mail and Package Services.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS REPLY MAIL: An international mail service that allows envelopes and postcards to be distributed in certain foreign countries for return without postage prepayment to the original sender in the United States.
INTERNATIONAL MAIL MANUAL: The Postal Service manual containing standards and rates for mailing from the United States to other countries.
L
LENGTH: Generally, the measurement parallel to the direction of the address of a mailpiece as read. For parcels, length is the largest dimension.
LETTER: Letter-size mail. Mailpieces, including cards, that are at least 5" long, 3-1/2" high and 0.007" thick, but not more than 11-1/2" long, 6-1/8" high or 1/4" thick.
LETTERSHOP: See Mail Service Provider.
LIST CLEANING: This process involves confirming the accuracy of names and addresses on a direct mailing list. Incorrect addresses are removed or updated. Regular list cleansing is essential to the efficiency of a direct mail campaign. Old lists should be cleansed at the beginning of every new campaign. Even a list that is fresh to you might be worth cleaning out, depending on the quality of the list source.
M
MACHINABLE: The ability of a mailpiece to be sorted by mail processing equipment. (Compare with nonmachinable.)
MACHINABLE PARCEL: A parcel that can be safely sorted by mail processing machinery.
MAIL CLASS: The classification of domestic mail according to content (e.g. personal correspondence, which must be mailed as First-Class Priority Mail or Express Mail).
MAIL SERVICE PROVIDER: A private vendor that provides a wide range of mailing services such as printing, address quality and standardization, sorting, transporting and entering mail for a client.
MAILING: A group of mailpieces within the same mailing service and mail processing category that may be sorted together under the appropiate standards. Also, the action of depositing or presenting mail at a post office.
MAILING AGENCY: See Mail Service Provider.
MAILING FEE: An annual fee charged for mailers to use certain discount mail options.
MAILING PROCESS: Steps followed to prepare, pay postage and enter mail with the Postal Service. Each method of mailing has its own process.
MAILING SERVICE: Class of mail (that is, Express Mail, First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Periodicals and Package Services). The classification of domestic mail is based mainly on content (such as personal correspondence versus printed advertising).
MAILPIECE: A single addressed card, letter, flat or parcel.
MAILPIECE DESIGN ANALYST: Postal employees located in larger cities that specialize in helping customers with the design of their mailpieces.
MANIFEST MAILING SYSTEM: A postage payment system that enables the Postal Service to accept and verify the weight or rate of permit imprint mailings. Often used for non-identical weight pieces.
MEDIA MAIL: A subclass of Package Services that consists of books, sheet music, printed educational charts, film, videocassettes, CD-ROMs, DVDs or other computer-readable media.
MERCHANDISE RETURN SERVICE: An extra service that allows an authorized company to provide a customer with a special mailing label to return a shipment without the customer prepaying postage. The company pays the return postage.
MERGE/PURGE: In direct mailing, this refers to combining (or merging) two or more mailing lists and then eliminating (or purging) duplicate addresses; addresses that are no longer relevant and addresses that fail to meet your target demographics. The merge/purge process is valuable for those who want to save money by purchasing low-cost lists, but want to maintain high response rates with quality lists.
METER: See Postage Meter.
METER STAMP: Postage printed by a Postal Service-approved postage meter or PC Postage system directly on a mailpiece or a Postal Service-approved label.
METERED MAIL: Any class of mail except Periodicals with postage printed by a Postal Service-approved postage meter.
METERED REPLY MAIL (MRM): A preprinted return envelope or card provided as a courtesy to customers. The postage is prepaid by the meter license holder.
MILITARY MAIL: Mail that bears a U.S. Military delivery or return address and that, in some stage of its transmission, is in the possession of the Department of Defense.
MINIMUM SIZE STANDARD: The smallest dimensions allowable for all mailable matter. Except for keys and identification items, a mailpiece less than 1/4" thick must be rectangular and meet the minimum criteria listed below; otherwise, it is nonmailable and is returned to sender: (1) At least 5" long, (2) At least 3-1/2" high, and (3) At least .007" thick.
MOVE UPDATE: Addresses on all discounted First-Class Mail must be updated within 180 days before the mailing date with a Postal Service-approved method.
N
Nth NAME: Major direct mailing campaigns may often begin with a test campaign in which a random sampling of the mailing list receives the mailer to provide market research as to its effectiveness. Nth name refers to a method of pulling out a random sample of the mailing list by choosing a variable (i.e. every 7th name or every 30th name) based on the size of the test campaign. For example, if you wanted to run a test campaign on 5,000 addresses out of a 20,000 address list, you would pull every 4th name.
NATIONAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS (NCOA): An address correction service provided to mailers by the Postal Service through its licensees. The licensees match computerized mailing lists with change of address data, and NCOA provides current, standardized and ZIP+4 coded addresses for all residential and business movers before the mail enters the mailstream.
NETPOST SERVICES: Allows customers to create documents and address lists on a computer and transmit them electronically via the Postal Service website (www.usps.com) for printing by a third-party vendor and delivery by the Postal Service.
NEWS AGENT: A person or concern selling two or more Periodicals publications published by more than one publisher.
NONMACHINABLE: Mail that cannot be sorted on mail processing equipment because of size, shape, content or address legibility. Such mail is normally processed manually and could be subject to a surcharge.
NONMACHINABLE SURCHARGE: An additional charge on some First-Class Mail, Standard Mail and Parcel Post pieces that are nonmachinable.
NONMAILABLE MATTER: Items such as hazardous materials that are not permitted in the mailstream.
NONPROFIT PERIODICALS DISCOUNT RATE: A discount for authorized nonprofit Periodicals publishers.
NONPROFIT STANDARD MAIL: A subclass of Standard Mail that is available to qualified organizations specified by the U.S. statute and approved by the Postal Service.
O
ONLINE MAILING SERVICES: See NetPost Services and Click-N-Ship.
OVERSIZED RATE: Parcel Post rate for pieces exceeding 108" but not more than 130" in combined length and girth.
P
PACKAGE SERVICES: A class of mail that includes the subclasses Bound Printed Matter, Parcel Post and Media Mail.
PARCEL: Mail that does not meet the mail processing category of letter-size mail. It is usually enclosed in a mailing container such as a box.
PARCEL POST: A subclass of Package Services with rates generally based on weight and zone.
PARCEL SELECT: Parcel Post mail that qualifies for destination entry rates and is entered at a destination bulk mail center, sectional center facility or delivery unit.
PC POSTAGE TECHNOLOGY: Secure technology used to purchase and print postage using a personal computer or other device.
PERIODICALS: A class of mail consisting of authorized magazines, newspapers or other publications formed of printed sheets that are issued at least four times a year at regular, specific intervals from a known office of publication.
PERMIT: Any authorization required for specific types of services, preparation or postage payment.
PERMIT IMPRINT: Printed indicia, used in place of an adhesive postage stamp or meter stamp, that shows postage payment by an authorized mailer.
PIECE RATE: The postage charged for each piece in a mailing. For certain discount mail, a pound rate is charged in addition to the piece rate.
POSTAGE: Payment for delivery service that is affixed or imprinted onto a mailpiece, usually in the form of a postage stamp, permit imprint or meter impression.
POSTAGE EVIDENCING SYSTEM: See Postage Meter.
POSTAGE METER: A secure device that generates indicia imprinted on or affixed to mailpieces to show prepayment of postage. Postage meters are available for lease only from authorized manufacturers.
POSTAGE STAMP: A gummed or self-adhesive paper stamp affixed to mail as payment for postal services.
POSTAGE STATEMENT: Documentation provided by a mailer to the Postal Service that reports the volume of mail being presented and the postage payable or affixed, and that certifies that the mail meets the applicable eligibility and addressing standards for the rate claimed.
POUND RATE: A rate charged based on the weight of a mailing in addition to a piece rate.
PRECANCELED STAMP: Stamps canceled by printing across the face before they are sold to mailers for bulk mailings. Also, a stamp designated by the Postal Service as a precanceled stamp without cancellation marks. These stamps are used for Presorted First-Class Mail, Standard Mail and Nonprofit Standard Mail.
PRESORT: The process by which a mailer groups mail by ZIP Code to qualify for discount rates. This essential stage in the direct mailing process involves sorting mailers by triggers such as ZIP Code and carrier route. Since the efficiency of the Postal Service depends on this type of organization, bulk mail is subject to reduced rates depending on how well-sorted it is. Of course, that also means that small errors can cost you big time.
PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL: A nonautomation rate category for a mailing that consists of at least 500 addressed mailpieces and is sorted and prepared according to Postal Service standards. This mail is not required to include a barcode.
PRESORTED MAIL: A form of mail preparation, required to bypass certain postal operations, in which the mailer groups pieces in a mailing by ZIP Code or by carrier route or carrier walk sequence (or other Postal Service-recommended separation).
PRESORTED RATES: Discounted postage rates. In exchange for lower postage rates, mailers sort their mail using the ZIP Code destinations on the mailpieces.
PRINTED MATTER: 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 and personal correspondence, have been reproduced by any process other than handwriting or typewriting.
PRIORITY MAIL: First-Class Mail that weighs more than 13 ounces and, at the mailer's option, any other mail matter weighing 13 ounces or less. Any mailable matter may be sent as Priority Mail.
PROHIBITED MATTER: Any material that is illegal to mail because it can kill or injure an individual or damage other mail. This includes certain poisons and controlled substances and certain flammable or hazardous material.
Q
QUALIFIED BUSINESS REPLY MAIL (QBRM): Business reply mail that is automation compatible. QBRM pieces must meet certain design specifications and may be eligible for the lowest per piece fee available for BRM and for reduced automation First-Class Mail postage rates.
R
RATES: The postage cost per piece or pound to mail.
REGISTERED MAIL: Registered Mail is the most secure service offered by the Postal Service. Through a system of receipts, the Postal Service monitors the movement of a mailpiece from the point of acceptance. The sender receives a receipt at the time of mailing and a delivery record is maintained by the Postal Service. This service also provides optional indemnity in case of loss or damage.
REPLY MAIL: Refers collectively to Business Reply Mail, Meter Reply Mail and Courtesy Reply Mail.
RESIDUAL SHAPE SURCHARGE: A surcharge applied to Standard Mail parcels.
RESPONSE TRACKING: Direct mail is a print marketer’s favorite form of advertising because it is easy to track the response rate of direct mailers, thereby determining their success rate and a business’s ROI. Tracking response rates can be done in a number of ways – from having a promotion that consumers can directly respond to, to including a unique contact number or promotional code, or including a web address accessible only to those with access to the mailer. This is one of the most effective and inexpensive forms of market research.
RESTRICTED DELIVERY: A supplemental mail service that generally limits who may receive an item. This service is available for a fee when used with certified mail, collect on delivery, insured mail and registered mail.
RESTRICTED MATTER: Any item on which certain mailing restrictions have been imposed for legal reasons other than the risk of harm to persons or property involved in moving the mail and that require specific endorsements and markings. Examples include motor vehicle master keys, alcoholic beverages, firearms, odor-producing materials, certain liquids and powders and batteries.
RETAIL MAILING SERVICES: Services that allow any quantity of mail to be sent at single-piece postage rates, including Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail and Package Services. Retail mailing services generally do not require any sortation or special preparation.
RETURN RECEIPT: The mailing card (PS Form 3811) signed by the addressee of an article and mailed back to the sender as evidence of delivery. This extra service is available for a fee when using Express Mail, certified mail, collect on delivery, mail insured for more than $50, registered mail or return receipt for merchandise. A similar service is available for international mail.
RETURN RECEIPT FOR MERCHANDISE: An extra service that provides the sender with a mailing receipt and a return receipt. A delivery record is maintained by the Postal Service. It does not include insurance coverage and does not provide for restricted delivery.
S
SACK: A container generally used to transport flat-size mail, parcels and loose-piece mail.
SECTIONAL CENTER FACILITY (SCF): A postal facility that serves as the processing and distribution center for post offices in a designated geographical area, defined by the first three digits of the ZIP Codes of these offices. Some SCFs serve more than one 3-digit ZIP Code range.
SERVICE OPTIONS: The mailing services offered by the Postal Service, including Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Periodicals, Parcel Post, Library Mail, Media Mail and Bound Printed Matter.
SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION: An extra service that provides the recipient signature and the date and time of delivery or attempted delivery.
SIMPLIFIED ADDRESSING: An alternative addressing format used when delivery of identical mailpieces is requested to every customer on a rural route or highway contract route, or to all post office box customers at a post office without city carrier service. Instead of listing a name and address, the mailer may use "Postal Customer." Simplified address may also be used by government agencies for offficial mail sent to all stops on city routes and post office boxes at post offices with city delivery service.
SINGLE-PIECE MAIL: Mail sent using retail rates.
SINGLE-PIECE RATE: Retail postage rates available for individual pieces of Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail and Package Services. This type of rate contrasts with rates available for discount mail.
SORTATION: The distribution or separation of mail by ZIP Codes, range of ZIP Codes or carrier route,
SPAM: Email junk mail, also known as "Direct Mailing’s Best Friend." For years the stigma of junk mail has plagued the direct mailing industry. But today, the annoyance of spam in our e-mailboxes has shifted negative focus away from direct mailing and has actually made consumers more appreciative of the value of direct mail and all thanks to the extreme and almost bizarre low quality of spam.
SPECIAL HANDLING: An extra service that provides preferential handling in dispatch and transportation. The service does not itself insure the article against loss or damage. Special handling is available only for First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and Package Services.
STAMP: See Postage Stamp.
STANDARD MAIL: A mailing service (class of mail) that comprises the subclasses of Regular Standard Mail, Nonprofit Standard Mail, Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail and Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail. Circulars, printed matter, pamphlets, catalogs, newsletters, direct mail and merchandise can be sent Standard Mail.
SUBCLASS: A division of a mailing service (class of mail).
SURCHARGE: An additional fee for certain nonmachinable mailpieces.
T
TRAY: A container used by the Postal Service and mailers to hold letters and First-Class Mail flats. It is used as a basic unit of mail quantity for purposes of preparing mail to qualify for discounted postage rates.
W
WALK SEQUENCE: The order in which the letter carrier delivers mail for a route. This order is required for most Carrier Route presort mail.
WEIGHTED FEE: The fee charged the sender for Standard Mail pieces endorsed "Address Service Requested" that are returned as unforwardable or undeliverable.
Z
ZIP CODE: The system of 5-digit numeric codes that identifies the individual post office or delivery station associated with an address.
ZIP+4 CODE: The nine-digit numeric code that identifies the individual delivery station, sector and segment assigned with an address. Using a ZIP+4 instead of just a 5-digit ZIP code can make delivery of mailpieces faster.
ZONE: A number that expresses the distance that a zone rate mailpiece must travel from point of entry to point of delivery. It is based on the air mileage along a great circle line between three-digit ZIP Code prefix areas of dispatch and receipt. This mileage range is converted to a zone number. The Postal Service uses eight numbered postal zones for computing postage on mail.
ZONE CHART: A table that shows the zone number between 3-digit ZIP Code prefix areas.
ZONED RATE: A rate structure for certain Priority Mail, Periodicals (except nonadvertising portion), Parcel Post and Bound Printed Matter that is based on weight and distance.