Marketing Parcel vs Parcel Select Lightweight
2.4.2 Marketing Parcels
Marketing parcels do not meet letters or flats standards and have the following characteristics:
a. Height not more than 9 inches high. Minimum height must be 3-1/2 inches if the parcel is 1/4 inch thick or less.
b. Length not more than 12 inches long. Minimum length must be 5 inches if the parcel is 1/4 inch thick or less.
c. Thickness at least 0.009 thick, but not more than 2 inches.
d. An alternative addressing format, according to 602.3.0.
e. Marketing parcels mailed as small Product Samples under 443 must be no larger than 6 inches long, 4 inches high and 1.5 inches thick. Product Samples that have any dimension larger than one of the maximum dimensions for a small Product Sample, up to the maximum size in 2.4.2b. are large Product Samples.
2.5 Parcel Select
These standards apply to Parcel Select:
a. Parcel Select pieces measuring over 108 inches in combined length and girth, but not more than 130 inches in combined length and girth, are mailable at the applicable oversized price.
b. An item weighing less than 20 pounds but measuring more than 84 inches (but not more than 108 inches) in combined length and girth is charged the price for a 20-pound parcel for the zone to which it is addressed (balloon price).
2.5.3 Parcel Select Lightweight
Parcel Select Lightweight pieces must weigh less than 16 ounces, cannot exceed 108 inches in combined length and girth, and must be large enough to accommodate postage and other required elements on the address side of the piece.
7.5.2 Criteria for Lightweight Machinable Parcels
A parcel that weighs less than 6 ounces (but not less than 3.5 ounces) is machinable if it meets all of the following conditions:
a. The mailpiece is rectangular and able to maintain its integrity during mail processing (see 601.4.0).
b. Mailpieces weighing at least 3.5 ounces but less than 5 ounces must be a paperboard or fiberboard box within the following dimensions:
1. At least 1.5 inches thick and no more than 3 inches thick.
2. At least 6 inches long and no more than 7 inches long.
3. At least 3.5 inches high and no more than 5 inches high.
7.5 Machinable Parcels
7.5.1 Criteria
A machinable parcel is any piece that is not a letter or a flat and that is (see Exhibit 7.5.1b):
a. Not less than 6 inches long, 3 inches high, 1/4 inch thick, and 6 ounces in weight, except under 7.5.2. A mailpiece exactly 1/4 inch thick is subject to the 3 1/2-inch height minimum.
b. Not more than 27 inches long, or 17 inches high, or 17 inches thick. Parcels cannot weigh more than 25 pounds, except Parcel Select and Parcel Return parcels which have a maximum weight of 35 pounds, except for those containing books or other printed matter (25 pound maximum).
