A. Express Mail
B. First Class Mail
C. Priority Mail
D. Global Priority Mail
E. Business Reply Mail (BRM) and
Business Reply Accounting System (BRMAS)
F. Periodicals*
G. Standard A* Mail
H. Standard B* Mail
          Parcel Post
          Bound Printed Matter
          Special Standard Mail
          Library Rate

*New postal terms were established with the U.S. Postal Services' Reclassification Reform on July 1, 1995

A. EXPRESS MAIL

Express mail service is the most expensive type of mailing offered by the U.S. Postal Services.

Express mail service is a reliable, guaranteed 24 hour de- livery service of material able to be mailed up to 70 pounds to most major metropolitan areas.

• Domestic Express Mail postage rates are based on weights and start at $13.65 for a half-pound package (sent in an Express Mail flat rate envelope) and $17.85 for one and two pound packages.
• Global Express Mail rates for all countries start at $15.50 for a half-pound shipment. Globall Express Mail is subject to the weight and size limitations of individual countries.

UH Postal Services takes all outgoing Express mail to the U.S. Post Office at 3:30 p.m. Contact UH Postal Services for rates and any other questions regarding Express mail.

Please fill in only the "From" and "To" boxes on the Express Mail label. Do not check any of the other boxes on the form. They are reserved for the U.S.P.S. use only. Please do not remove any copies from the Express mail label. After UH Postal Services takes the item to the Post Office, a copy with the Post Office official round date stamp will be returned to you in the next morning delivery. Please keep this receipt until you are sure the item has been delivered. You need this receipt as proof of mailing if there is a problem. UH Postal Services does not keep a copy on file. You may track your Express Mail by using the U.S.P.S. World Wide Web site: www.usps.gov.

Express mail envelopes and forms are available upon request through UH Postal Services.

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B. First Class Mail

Any matter able to be mailed may be sent as First Class mail. First Class mail consists of handwritten and type- written matter, bills and statements of account. First Class mail is closed to postal inspection.

Please indicate the class in which mail is to be sent. Mail not marked with a class will be sent First Class.

Domestic mail is any mail transmitted within the United States, its territories and possessions, Army-Air Force (APO) and Navy (FPO) Post Offices.

Oversize/Underweight Mail: First Class mail weighing one ounce or less is non-standard if it exceeds any of the following:

11.5 inches in length or
6-1/8 inches in height or
1/4 inches in thickness or
Aspect ratio (length divided by height) does not
fall between 1 to 1.3 and 1 to 2.5 inclusive.

There is an additional charge on each piece of non-standard mail.

Note: The U.S. Post Office may open any mail other than First Class to determine whether the proper rate of postage has been paid.

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C. Priority Mail

All First Class mail exceeding 11 ounces and not exceeding 70 pounds is considered priority mail and, at the option of the mailer, any mail weighing 11 ounces or less. There is a size limit of 108 inches in combined length and girth (distance around parcel at the thickest part). The rate is determined by weight and distance. Priority envelopes are available free upon request from UH Postal Services.

D. Global Priority Mail

A mail service for international mail offered by the U.S.P.S. It functions similar to domestic priority mail and is less expensive than Express Mail. It is available to only certain countries at the present time. Please contact UH Postal Services for information and special envelopes.

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E. Business Reply Mail (BRM) (First Class Permit #1821)

Business Reply Mail Service enables mailers to receive mail back from individuals by paying postage and fees on only the mail that is returned from the original mailing. No special services (i.e., certified, registered, insured, etc) may be used in conjunction with the BRM. Rate: First Class mail postage plus a surcharge.

To ensure the proper printing of BRM mail pieces, UH Postal Services requests that you use the UH Printing Department. They have the correct template from the U.S. Postal Services to print mail pieces to meet BRMAS qualification and thereby receive the greatest discount on the reply mail. Improperly printed mail pieces will be charged the regular business reply rate.

Please contact UH Postal Services for more information before printing.

F. Periodicals

Periodicals (formerly Second Class Mail) is generally used by newspapers and other periodicals which meet the criteria established by the U.S. Postal Office. Further information can be obtained by contacting the UH Postal Services.

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G. Standard A Mail

Standard A Mail (Formerly Third Class) is an economical way to mail. This class includes circulars, newsletters and printed matter weighing 16 ounces or less which have been reproduced by any process other than handwriting or typewriting. No personal correspondence can be sent Standard A Mail. See the Mail Handling Tips Section for Standard A mail procedures.

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H. Standard B Mail

Standard B Mail (formerly Fourth Class)-USPS designation for parcels (non-letter mail) weighing 16 ounces or more. The following types of mail fall within the Standard B Class:

Parcel Post
Parcel Post generally is used by businesses for shipping merchandise. Parcel Post is matter that meets specific eligibility and preparation standards for a wide range of discounted rates. The items must weigh a minimum of one pound and a maximum of seventy pounds and not to exceed 108" in combined length and girth.

Bound Printed Matter
Bound Printed Matter is typically catalogs, books and other printed matter that weigh from one to fifteen pounds and not to exceed 108" in combined length and girth. Single pieces must be marked "Bound Printed Matter", catalogs must also be marked "Catalog or Catalog Rate". A bulk mailing of 200 pieces or more must be marked "Bound Printed Matter and "Bulk Rate or Blk Rt".

Special Standard Mail
Special Standard mail is essentially book rate for use in sending books (at least 8 pages, permanently bound) and educational materials including manuscripts, catalogs, inventory lists, and objective test materials. Special Standard mail materials can weigh less than 16 ounces, but are charged at the one pound minimum rate. This rate is less expensive than Standard B class mail. Each piece must be marked "Special Standard Mail" or "SPEC STD".

Library Rate
Library rate is the most economical Standard B postage rate and is intended primarily to serve libraries mailing books on loan. The rate, however, can be used by University departments for certain other limited educational materials such as films, recording tapes and other prescribed audio-visual materials, scientific instructional kits, and museum and herbarium materials. Each piece must be marked "Library Rate" or "Library Mail".

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