Information on mailing potentially hazardous material may be found in Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail on the Postal Explorer home page.

Section 451.22 of Pub 52 - Cremated Remains, are permitted to be mailed provided they are packaged as required in Packaging Instruction 10B. The identity of the contents should be marked on the address side. Mailpieces sent to domestic addresses must be sent via Priority Mail Express only.

If mailed to an international address, the individual country listing in the International Mail Manual (IMM) must show that cremated remains are permitted and Priority Mail Express International service must be available for that country.

Postage prices for international mail are based on weight, shape, dimensions, and destination country. Each country has different maximum weight and size dimensions.

The International Price Calculator is available in the upper left frame of the Postal Explorer home page. Select the country, follow the prompts and provide the information on your package, and the available options to the country you choose will be shown.

Notice 123 – Price List is also a handy reference tool for all domestic and international shipping.

Additionally, you can find other information about restrictions and extra services in the Individual Country Listings.

To determine customs requirements you can use the Customs Form Indicator which is also in the left frame of the Postal Explorer home page.

Notice 123 – Price List is a handy reference tool for all domestic and international shipping. On the Quick Reference pages are graphics showing the domestic and international minimum and maximum sizes for letters, flats, and packages. Along with the graphics are the accompanying prices.

Controlled substances and prescription drugs are mailable only by "registered distributors" with the Drug Enforcement Administration such as medical practitioners, pharmacists, etc. who may mail such substances to the patients under their care.

Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, section 453, Controlled Substances and Drugs, may be of some assistance to you.

It is worth noting that the majority of mail sent by the public is transported via commercial passenger airlines. You may have seen airline ramp agents loading tubs and sacks of U.S. Mail into the cargo hold of the passenger airline.

The sending of hazardous materials domestically is strictly limited in scope and quantity. Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, must be used to determine if (a) the item is mailable, (b) quantity limitations, (c) packaging and labeling requirements, and (d) if a specific class of mail must be used.

Many mailable hazardous materials must be shipped via ground transportation only – meaning it cannot fly on commercial airlines.

The mailing of hazardous materials internationally is even more restrictive because only commercial airlines are used. Only certain items in Hazard Classes 6.2, 7, and 9 are permitted, and the item has to be permitted by the destination country as well.

Again, only Publication 52 will provide the accurate descriptions and mailability of any potentially hazardous items.

While it is theoretically possible to send a suitcase through the postal system (as long as it meets the size requirements for a parcel) you cannot insure the suitcase, only the contents.

The suitcase would be subjected to the rigors of mail processing equipment here in the United States and overseas if sending internationally. If the suitcase has wheels and handles, it is possible that these could be damaged in equipment. The choice would be yours.

Anyone can use Media Mail, but the contents of Media Mail are restricted for all mailers. The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) requirements for Media Mail can be found in section 173.3.

Media Mail is often referred to as "book rate." It is generally used for books (at least eight pages), film (16 mm or narrower), printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, and computer-readable media. Advertising restrictions apply. Packages must measure 108 inches or less in combined length and girth. Mark each package "Media Mail" in the postage area. Media Mail has no minimum weight; the maximum weight is 70 pounds.

Please note that Media Mail packages may be opened for inspection at either the originating or destination Post Office.

International mail does not have Media Mail rate like domestic does; however, they do have a product call "M-bags" which are defined as direct sacks of printed matter sent to a single foreign addressee at a single address. The standards for M-bags can be found in Section 261 of the International Mail Manual.

The maximum weight of an M-bag is 66 pounds unless lower limits apply by country. Each M-bag that weighs 11 pounds or less is charged the applicable 11-pound price as the minimum charge.

The contents for M-bags are restricted and, regardless of physical closure, M-bags are not sealed against inspection.

The most current source of information about restrictions to APO/FPO/DPO destinations is found in the Postal Bulletin. Each issue has a section devoted to listing the current restrictions for Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail. It can be found under Pullout Information>>Other Information>>Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail.

It is important that every business use the right services for their needs. Send Postal Explorer an email and be sure to include the name, address, phone number, and contact person at the business and we'll make sure that a representative in your area contacts you at their earliest opportunity.

The Postal Service supports e-commerce Internet applications through Application Program Interface (APIs) for Rate Calculators and more.

For a Developers Tool Kit go to: www.usps.com/webtools and click on "Get Started with Price Calculator" under "View API Technical Documentation."

The APIs will automatically compute postage and zone information and return the result to your web shopping cart program.

That depends. With commercial mail you must meet volume requirements. First-Class Mail minimum volume is 500 pieces, and USPS Marketing Mail is 200 pieces for each mailing.

You must ask yourself some questions. How much work do you want to do? The finer you sort the mail, the bigger the discount. How many mailings will you do each year? Will the commercial mail application fee and the annual mailing fee, still enable you to realize a savings? Is it important to you to receive your mail back if it is undeliverable for any reason?

The Business Mail 101 internet site will provide basic information for preparing a commercial mailing including information about:

• Is commercial mail right for your business?
• The minimum volume required for a commercial mailing.
• The difference between First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail.
• How to sort commercial mail.
• How size and weight affects prices.
• How to pay for postage.
• How to apply for a mailing permit.
• And much more.

Business Mail 101 can be accessed from the Postal Explorer home page by selecting "Business Mail 101" in the top drop-down under Publications.

Quick Service Guides (QSG) provides a 2-page summary of the standards for each type of commercial mail. All of the Quick Service Guides are available on Postal Explorer.

After you have had an opportunity to explore Business Mail 101 you can then contact your local Business Mail Entry unit with any specific questions you might have. Be sure to ask Business Mail Entry for any commercial mail classes they may have scheduled for new mailers. A lookup tool for your local Business Mail Entry is available in the top drop-down of Postal Explorer under "Business Solutions."

Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a simplified mailing process that permits a mailer to reach potential customers in nearby neighborhoods based on a geographic ZIP Code area.

EDDM allows you to design flats-size mailpieces and deposit your mail at a local Post Office, using a simplified address format, for delivery to the carrier routes you choose.

If you wish to mail to areas outside your local Post Office delivery area there is a commercial version of this service that you can use with your mailing permit or you can hire a letter shop or mailing service to prepare and enter your mailings using their mailing permit

Learn more about EDDM mail at: www.usps.com/business/every-door-direct-mail.htm

Track a package at usps.com by clicking on Tracking in the left frame of the website and adding the tracking number. For other questions regarding tracking, contact the USPS Help Desk.

The current cost to mail a one-ounce letter can be found in Notice 123 – Price List. Click on the link for First-Class Mail International under International Retail Prices.

Customs officials use the shipment's declared value, along with the description of the items, to determine applicable duties and taxes. These charges are not assessed by the Postal Service and are dependent on the destination country's customs requirements.

The Forever Stamp will always equal the price of the current one-ounce First-Class Mail stamp regardless of its price when you purchased it. Additional stamps would only be needed if the letter exceeds one ounce

See the first page of the current Price List for First-Class Mail prices.

For a complete list of the non-denominated stamps along with corresponding pictures and their value, see Quick Service Guide 604a, Nondenominated Postage.

Postage meters may be purchased or leased through an approved USPS vendor. Quick Service Guide 604c, Postage Meters and PC Postage Systems, provides basic information. The lease/purchase terms and agreement are between you and the vendor, however, the use of the meter must comply with all Domestic Mail Manual requirements in section 604.4.

For specific delivery issues, please contact your local Post Office directly as they would be best suited to resolve any problems. If you are unable to do so, you may contact the USPS.com Help Desk at: www.usps.com/help/contact-us.htm

Packaging provided by the USPS must be used only for the class of mail stated. Regardless of how the packaging is reconfigured or how markings may be obliterated, any matter mailed in USPS-produced packaging is charged the appropriate Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail price. ( Domestic Mail Manual 125.1.1)

Additionally, only USPS-produced Flat Rate packaging is eligible for flat rate prices. Each envelope or box is charged a flat rate price regardless of the actual weight (up to 70 pounds). Lower weight limits apply to international destinations. ( Domestic Mail Manual 123.1.5)

Domestic mail is mail transmitted within, among, and between the United States of America, its territories and possessions, Army Post Offices (APOs), fleet Post Offices (FPOs), and the United Nations, NY. The current list of "territories and possessions" can be found in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) section 608.2

• American Samoa (Manua Island, Swain's Island, Tutuila Island)
• Guam
• Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth of the (Rota Island, Saipan Island, Tinian Island)
• Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of
• U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix Island, St. John Island, St. Thomas Island)
• Wake Atoll (Wake Island)

Although, most territories and possessions on the list do not require a customs form, Priority Mail weighing 16 ounces or more sent from the United States to certain ZIP Codes, must bear customs Form 2976-A. The current ZIP Code list can be found in DMM 608.2.4.1

Please contact the USPS.com Help Desk at: www.usps.com/help/contact-us.htm or for Click-N-Ship at 800-344-7779, option 3.

Please contact the Click-N-Ship Help Desk at: 1-800-344-7779 - option 3. The hours of operation are:

• Monday thru Friday: 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM ET
• Saturday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET
• Sundays/Holidays: Closed

In addition, there is a Click-N-Ship® email account that customers can use for questions, concerns, or issues. The Click-N-Ship® email account is: uspstechnicalsupport@mailps.custhelp.com. Your email will be responded to within 24-36 hours.

When sending an email to the Click-N-Ship email account, please be sure to include the following information:

• Account Number
• Label Number
• Transaction Number
• First/Last Name
• Brief explanation of the issue or concern
• Your preferred contact information

For domestic mail: if the appropriate time has passed (see chart below), go to www.usps.com/help/claims.htm to start the claims process.

For international mail: international claims require coordination with a foreign postal administration and are handled differently than domestic claims. The process begins with filing an inquiry that only the U.S. sender can initiate.

Inquiries can be initiated for Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) items, Priority Mail Express International items, registered items, and insured and ordinary parcels. Inquiries are not accepted for ordinary letters, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes, or M-bags. Customers must wait a reasonable amount of time for an international item to be delivered in the foreign country before initiating an inquiry.

Go to: www.usps.com/help/claims.htm and click on "International Shipments" to begin the inquiry process.

Go to the USPS.com Postal Store and click on Shipping Supplies.