Effective January 19, 2025, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), sections 507.5.1.2, 507.5.1.3, 507.5.2, and 507.5.3, to reflect that the Postal Service is expanding product eligibility of Package Intercept service.
The Postal Service is expanding the eligibility of Package Intercept service to allow USPS Ground Advantage® – and Parcel Select®-oversized-priced pieces (i.e., more than 108 inches in length and girth combined up to a required maximum of no more than 130 inches in length and girth) to be intercepted.
USPS Ground Advantage-oversized-priced pieces being redirected to the sender are not relabeled or subject to additional postage. USPS Ground Advantage-oversized-priced pieces being redirected to a new delivery address, or a Post Office® as Hold For Pickup, are relabeled and are handled as a USPS Ground Advantage piece subject to the applicable USPS Ground Advantage – Commercial-oversized-piece price based on the location where intercepted to the new destination.
Intercepted Parcel Select-oversized-priced pieces that are redirected to the sender, a new delivery address, or a Post Office as Hold For Pickup, are relabeled and handled as a USPS Ground Advantage piece subject to applicable USPS Ground Advantage – Commercial-oversized-piece prices based on the location where intercepted to the new destination.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until January 19, 2025, these standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
500 Additional Mailing Services
[Revise the text of 5.1.2 to read as follows:]
Except under 5.1.3, Package Intercept service is available for the following mailpieces with a tracking barcode (excluding COD Hold For Pickup mailpieces), addressed to, from, or between domestic destinations (608.2.0) that do not require a customs declarations label:
d. USPS Ground Advantage – Retail.
e. USPS Ground Advantage – Commercial.
[Delete item f. in its entirety.]
[Revise the title of 5.2 to read as follows:]
5.2 Postage, Fees, and Payment Methods
[Move the introductory text of 5.2 under new title 5.2.1 and revise to read as follows:]
The customer must pay a nonrefundable per-piece fee after USPS successfully intercepts the mailpiece. Payment of postage and additional fees is as follows:
a. Intercepted Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage pieces, including oversized-priced pieces (i.e., pieces measuring more than 108 inches in length and girth combined up to a maximum of no more than 130 inches in length and girth combined), being redirected to the sender are not relabeled or subject to additional postage.
b. Except for USPS Ground Advantage-oversized-priced pieces under 5.2.1c and Parcel Select-oversized-priced pieces under 5.2.1d, intercepted Parcel Select, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail and Library Mail pieces that are redirected to the sender, and all intercepted mailpieces that are redirected to a new delivery address or a Post Office as Hold For Pickup (3.0), are relabeled and handled as a new Priority Mail piece. Along with any applicable extra-services fees, the customer is charged Priority Mail commercial prices for the new Priority Mail piece based on the location where intercepted to the new destination and according to the piece’s dimensions, weight, and zone, or the customer is charged the flat-rate price, if applicable.
c. Intercepted USPS Ground Advantage-oversized-priced pieces that are redirected to a new delivery address, or a Post Office as Hold For Pickup (3.0), are relabeled and are handled as a USPS Ground Advantage piece. Along with any applicable extra-services fees, the customer is charged a USPS Ground Advantage – Commercial-oversized-piece price for the new USPS Ground Advantage-oversized-piece based on the location where intercepted to the new destination and according to the piece’s dimensions, weight, and zone.
d. Intercepted Parcel Select-oversized-priced pieces that are redirected to the sender, a new delivery address or a Post Office as Hold For Pickup (3.0), are relabeled and handled as a USPS Ground Advantage piece. Along with any applicable extra-services fees, the customer is charged a USPS Ground Advantage – Commercial-oversized-piece price for the new USPS Ground Advantage-oversized-piece based on the location where intercepted to the new destination and according to the piece’s dimensions, weight, and zone.
[Add new 5.2.2 to read as follows:]
Postage and fee payment methods are as follows:
a. Retail: For retail customers, the Package Intercept fee may be paid by credit or debit card at usps.com. Any applicable postage and fees for the new mailpiece will be charged and paid at the time of the intercept when possible, or otherwise collected from the recipient as postage due upon delivery.
b. Commercial: For commercial customers, payment of the Package Intercept fee and any applicable postage and fees for the new mailpiece must be processed through the mailer’s Enterprise Payment System (EPS) account.
[Revise the text of 5.3 to read as follows:]
Customers may request, and pay additional postage under 5.2, for extra services on the new Priority Mail piece. The relabeled item will be assigned a new Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) applicable to the extra service purchased. All available USPS scans for the extra service will be available to the customer at no charge. Only the following extra services may be added:
a. Redirected to sender: Registered Mail.
b. Redirected to a new address or a Post Office for Hold For Pickup:
2. Adult Signature Restricted Delivery.
3. Insurance (if the original shipment included insurance and only for the original value stated).
The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available on Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.