Latest Changes to
Postage $aver for Parcels

We've updated Postage $aver for Parcels to keep up with the latest postal changes, and made some software improvements. Here are the details. Note that each update includes all previous updates, so you only need to download and install the latest. Get the update.


Postal Updates - Parcel Category Simplification:

USPS has made major changes to the way it classifies parcels by size and shape. We have updated the software to reflect these changes, as follows:

• Parcel dimensions are now listed as length by width by height, instead of length x height x thickness. (What was height is now width. What was thickness is now height.)
  
  
• The "irregular" and "nonmachinable" categories have been combined into a new category called "nonstandard".
  
  
• There is now no minimum size for a parcel to be mailable, except that one surface must be large enough to hold the shipping label and any other required markings without going over the edge (except on rolls and tubes).
  
  That means that for the standard size parcel label, one surface must be at least 6" x 4". If you are currently shipping parcels that do not meet that minimum, please contact us to discuss alternatives.
  
  
• The minimum weight for a parcel to be machinable has been eliminated, except for Marketing Mail parcels which are nonstandard if they weigh less than 3.5 ounces.
  
  
• A Ground Advantage parcel or Parcel Select parcel is nonstandard if it weighs more than 25 pounds.
  
  
• Previously, machinable parcels weighing 6 ounces or less had different minimum size limits than heavier parcels. Those separate minimums have been eliminated.
  
  For an updated list of weight and size limits, please see our parcels help page.
  
  
• The kinds of unusual packages that are considered nonstandard were changed from the previous list of nonmachinable parcels. For details, please see our letters, flats and parcels help page.
  
  
• Bound Printed Matter irregular parcels weighing less than 10 pounds no longer require bundling before sacking.
  
  
• Previously, Marketing Mail Marketing Parcels were all prepared as irregular parcels if they weighed less than 6 ounces, and all prepared as machinable parcels if they weighed 6 ounces or more. Now they will be prepared based on their actual category as either machinable or nonstandard.
  

Other Postal Updates:

• USPS has removed the category "Dangerous Goods" from the customs declaration form. We have updated the Customs Information screen in the software to reflect that change, and added a selector on that screen to identify the type of hazardous goods being shipped if "Has hazardous materials" is checked on the Mail Categories screen.
  
  
• USPS changed the wording on sack tags for Parcel Select SCF sacks, and we made the corresponding change.
  
  
• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• For Bound Printed Matter, the software now supports mixed weight shipments of all sizes, shapes and quantities. Previously, mixed weight shipments requiring bundling were not supported, but bundling is no longer required for any Bound Printed Matter parcel shipments.
  
  
• For mailing tubes or bulky parcels where you can't set the maximum weight per sack low enough, you can now specify a maximum number of pieces per sack. Note that you should only set a maximum by piece if the lowest available maximum by pounds is too many pieces to fit.
  
  
• For shippers using "USPS Ship", payment by permit is not allowed. For those shippers, an eVS permit number is no longer required on the Shipping Label Information screen.
  
  
• On sack tags for Marketing Mail parcels, we updated the wording to read "MKT" instead of "STD". Either is acceptable but MKT is newer and reduces confusion with the new NONSTD marking for nonstandard parcels.
  
  
• We corrected a bug where a zip code entered like 12345- without the +4 portion could cause a crash when printing labels. The software also now automatically removes the extra dash when printing the label.
  
  
• We corrected a bug that could sometimes miscalculate the total savings amount on the Mail Preparation Instructions report.
  
  
• We corrected a bug that could cause a crash when printing the postage statement or the weight report when using mixed weights and email notification.
  
  
• We corrected a bug in the Mac version that could cause a crash if nonstandard characters (such as a slanted apostrophe) were included in the mailing list file.
  

Postal Updates:

• The USPS holiday season surcharges for Ground Advantage, effective October 6, are included in this update. The software will automatically apply the surcharges if the current date or the mailing date entered on the postage statement screen are October 6 or later.
  
  
• USPS has ended the "known mailer" exemption for international mail, including military mail. For the classes supported by this software, the effect is that Bound Printed Matter over one pound sent to military addresses (AA, AE or AP) will now require a customs label when it didn't in the past. The software will display a customs label to fill in as needed.
  
  
• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• You can now download USPS Confirmation/Error/Warning (CEW) reports through the software, without needing to go to the USPS Gateway manually. These reports are posted by USPS each time you submit a tracking file (Shipping Services File) to USPS.
  
  A CEW report is typically posted within 1-2 hours after you upload your tracking file. It confirms that the file has been received and gone through initial processing. It also shows the total number of records successfully processed and any errors or warnings detected.
  
  To download your CEW reports, go to the Tracking menu in Postage Saver for Parcels, and select "Get Confirmation Reports from USPS". You'll have several options for which reports you want to download.
  

Postal Updates:

• The USPS July rate changes, effective July 14, are included in this update.
  
  
• USPS now offers a new 1/10 cent discount per piece for catalogs sent as Marketing Mail or Bound Printed Matter. We have added support for that discount. We added a new checkbox on the Mail Categories screen to apply this discount to your mailing. See the link under that checkbox to see what USPS considers to be a catalog to qualify for this discount.
  
  
• USPS has issued new postage statement forms for use on and after July 14. We have updated the software to use the new forms.
  
  
• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• USPS now offers a free service to automatically send tracking notifications via email to your customers. We have added support for this new service to Postage $aver for Parcels.
  
  To have USPS send tracking notifications to your customers, you simply need to include a column with email addresses in your mailing list file. Check the "Send tracking emails to recipients" box on the Extra Shipping Services screen. Then identify the email address column on the Column Identification screen.
  
  Postage $aver for Parcels will include the email addresses from your file in the tracking file ("Shipper Services File") that it uploads to USPS, along with a code to instruct USPS to send tracking emails. You do not need to include an email for every address. Blank emails and mis-formatted emails will be filtered out without preventing the package from being accepted.
  
  To start using the Automatic Tracking Notification service, you must first sign up with USPS. Click the link under the "Send tracking emails ..." checkbox on the Extra Services Screen for instructions on how to sign up.
  
  Note that while this service is free, you must be using mail category that includes tracking for the service to work. Free tracking is included automatically with Ground Advantage, Parcel Select and Bound Printed Matter, but is included on Marketing Mail only if the shipper pays an extra charge.
  

Postal Updates:

• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• We corrected a bug where the 2D (square) barcode on the shipping labels was incorrect when the shipper was using a 6-digit Mailer ID.
  
  
• We corrected a bug where some shipping labels would not print.
  
  
• We corrected a bug where a crash could occur when preparing Bound Printed Matter with mixed weights selected and the average weight was below two pounds.
  
  
• For Mac users, we corrected a bug that could occur when preparing Bound Printed Matter where all pieces had identical weights.
  

Postal Updates:

• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• Postage $aver for Parcels now supports all Bound Printed Matter mixed-weight shipments, except mixed-weight shipments of 300 or more irregular-shaped parcels. This means you can now prepare shipments of machinable parcels for the lower presorted rates. You no longer need to separate your shipment by weight, as long as you include the weight of each piece (in ounces, not pounds) in a column in your mailing list file.
  
  Up until now, we supported mixed-weight shipments only if they had fewer than 300 pieces. We now support mixed-weight machinable parcel shipments of all quantities, and we continue to support mixed-weight irregular parcel shipments of fewer than 300 pieces. Shipments using typical rectangular cartons are usually considered to be machinable.
  
  
• When shipping Bound Printed Matter mixed-weight irregular parcels, the software no longer asks for the thickness measure, since it is not used.
  
  
• We fixed a bug that could cause addresses to be incorrectly rejected when preparing mixed-weight shipments using dBase (.dbf) files.
  
  
• We fixed a bug in the Windows version that could cause a crash when using Microsoft Access files and choosing not to save sorting or tracking information into the file.
  

Postal Updates:

• The USPS January rate changes, effective January 21, are included in this update.
  
  
• Effective January 21, USPS has merged the Parcel Select Lightweight category into Parcel Select, and the software now fully supports Parcel Select. Parcel Select is a low cost service for local and regional shipments up to 70 pounds, with a minimum shipment of 50 pieces. Parcel Select shipments can only include pieces addressed within the service area of the postal facility from which the shipment is sent, but offers very economical rates for those shipments.
  
  On the Mailer and Post Office screen (the second screen in the Preparation Wizard), we now provide a link to a help box with a list of all zip codes served by postal sorting facilities in your area, so that you can figure out if Parcel Select will work for your shipment. Click the "Click for More Details" link in the Post Office section.
  
  Unlike Parcel Select Lightweight, Parcel Select does NOT require NCOA or any other move update process, nor does it require addresses to be CASS certified. However, parcels refused or undeliverable will be returned at more expensive Ground Advantage rates unless an address correction option is specified on the shipping label that directs USPS to dispose of the piece, such as Change Service Requested. The software allows you to choose address correction instructions for the shipping label.
  
  Parcel Select can be used for pieces up to 130 inches in length plus girth. Like Ground Advantage, pieces are charged according to dimensional weight if that is more than the actual weight, and surcharges apply to pieces longer than 22" or larger than 2 cubic feet.
  
  We're happy to answer questions that you may have about Parcel Select. Just ask us.
  
  
• USPS has issued new postage statement forms for use on and after January 21, and those forms are included in this update. While these paper forms will no longer be submitted with shipments, the information and line numbers will continued to be used in electronic versions of the forms on the USPS Gateway.
  
  
• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• We have added a new "Package Type" question on the Mailing Categories screen (the first screen in the Preparation Wizard) for you to indicate the type of package you are shipping.
  
  
  
  
  
  This information, along with the package shape, is used to determine whether the piece can be processed on USPS automated equipment, and must be correctly indicated in the Shipping Services File (SSF) that the software uploads to USPS.
  
  If you are shipping anything other than a rectangular box, be sure you know the correct choice to make for this selection. More details about "unusual" pieces are provided in a help box when you click the link in the software. We're happy to help or connect you with the appropriate USPS personnel if you are not sure what to choose.
  
  
• We changed the "print reports" window to no longer show that the Postage Statement form should be provided to USPS.
  
  
• The software now correctly prevents Change Service Requested from being selected when it is not eligible, such as when including extra insurance coverage on a parcel.
  
  
• We fixed a bug in the Mac version where tabbing did not automatically select the information in the field tabbed into.
  

Postal Updates:

• USPS now requires the tariff number and country of origin to be provided for each item on a customs form, and we have made those fields required on the customs information screen (which only appears when you a shipping to a domestic address requiring a customs declaration, such as a military address or an address in US possessions or territories.)
  
  
• USPS has made routine changes to the postal routing lists. The revised lists are included in this update.
  

Software Improvements:

• For Mac users, this update now supports the Mac Sonoma operating system, as well as the three previous operating systems.
  
  
• We corrected an error that could occur when printing the scan form (Mac only).
  
  
• We corrected an error in the SSF file where the numeric barcode was incorrect in the customs declaration record.
  
  
• We fixed a bug where printing the sample label could cause a crash if "mixed weights" was indicated on the Mail Categories screen.
  
  
• We corrected a bug on the price qualification report that caused the entry location not to be printed when the entry point was a hub location.
  
  
• We corrected a missing column total on the last column of the Bound Printed Matter mixed weights report.
  

Questions? Ask us!

We hope you find these improvements helpful. Many of "our" best ideas come from our users, so please don't hesitate to let us know if you have suggestions or questions.

Thanks!