The Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals The Nuts

The Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals

The Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Dennis Farley ESPN & Chuck Tricamo USPS

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Mail Classification Act enacted in 1879 established the classes of mail including Second Class Four basic elements to qualify: Published in serial format § Established minimum frequency § Office of publication in United States § Formed up of printed sheets §

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Application Process § Application process and associated fees § Authorization categories PAID PUBLICATIONS: § Circulation and More than 50% paid circulation and no more than 75% advertising in half the issues in a restrictions 12 month period § Contents and REQUESTER: characteristics More than 50% either requested or paid and no more than 75% advertising in a single issue

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Application Process Why a review? § Original authorization for Periodicals mailing privileges § Periodic reviews to prove continuing eligibility § Change qualification category

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Applying for Periodicals Authorization § Form 3500, Application for Periodicals Mailing Privileges § DM-204, Applying for Periodicals Mailing Privileges § Only available via the WEB at pe. usps. com Additional links: Additional Publications: DM-204

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Alternative to USPS Review Certified Audit Bureaus § § For General and Requester Periodicals Initial Applications Reentry Applications Periodic Reviews

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Periodic Reviews § The USPS reviews Form 3526, Statement of Ownership Management and Circulation § Expect a review if paid or requested circulation is less than 60% of total circulation

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Two Forms 3526 § Requester publications – Form 3526 -R § All other – Form 3526

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Periodic Reviews 6, 430 5, 128 14, 954 1, 963 16, 917 57% 15, 083 1, 482 16, 565 66% October 12 Ollie Overton, Owner September 14, 2005

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals General Publications § Subscriber List § Exclude nonqualified recipients Newsstand copies § Other paid §

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Requester Publications § Run Separate Lists For: § Hard Copy Requests with Signatures and Dates along with paid subscriptions § Telemarketing or Internet Requests

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Other Records § § § Print order or invoice Orders for subscriptions and/or requests Records for “non-mail” sales (e. g. , newsstand) A record of disposition for returns Vending machine records if any

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Other Records § Records of sample copies distributed through the mails or otherwise § Non distributed copies § Records of spoils, stored copies, copies for office use only, and destroyed or recycled copies

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Other Records Copies of receipts for cash, checks, etc. § Records of deposits § Records for credit card payments § Records of payments received through a third party §

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Ordered Subscriptions Not Yet Paid § Count as paid for up to two or three billing cycles or 90 days after order (Promise to Pays)

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Membership Organizations § Membership application, dues payment, and membership renewal notices § Make sure they separate the amount paid for a subscription to the publication from other fees

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Subscription as Part of Membership § Be sure it is clear to the member that a specific amount is for the publication § Dues statement Annual Membership Dues of $100 includes $10 for a one year subscription to Airline Pilots International

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Request as Part of Membership § Membership organizations may adopt a resolution specifying that each member receive a copy of each issue Resolved that a copy of “Carpenters USA” shall be sent to each member of the National Carpenters Association of America

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals What if I use Telemarketing/Internet? § Three methods: § Audit Bureau Review § Form 3845 § Publisher Letter

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals How long will I have to wait for results? § The goal is to schedule reviews within 30 days of the receipt of an application at the Post Office § Reviews should take around 1 -3 days § Applications are sent to the PCSC § Decision made within ten days after the eligibility review

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals What if I fail the review? § You may have to re-file with a later issue § Pending money is not refunded § You have to prepare mail as either First-Class or Standard Mail OR § You may appeal the decision

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals How will the appeal work? § Appealed to Postal Service Headquarters through the PCSC § Evidence to refute the determination may allow the PCSC to reverse its decision § If not, Postal Service Headquarters may reverse or uphold the decision

Nuts and Bolts of Periodical Appeal You may file a petition for a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge § Must file within 15 days of receipt of the ruling § Must state the reasons why the publisher feels the ruling is incorrect §

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Paying Postage While Pending § Postage must be paid through an advance deposit account at or before the time of mailing (CAPS not available while Pending)

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals New Launch Publications § Apply prior to meeting circulation standards Publication’s circulation must be declared within 15 months Must have a updated business plan Pay applicable rates while pending Receive all other benefits of Periodicals § Complete application on issue you think will qualify § §

QUESTIONS?

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Question 1 True or False § A circulation review will encompass only the copies of a publication that are distributed by the mail.

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Question 1 True or False A circulation review will encompass only the copies of a publication that are distributed by the mail. Answer - FALSE §

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Question 2 True or False § Once approved, a publisher no longer has to maintain the publication’s circulation records needed to prove eligibility.

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Question 2 True or False Once approved, a publisher no longer has to maintain the publication’s circulation records needed to prove eligibility. Answer - FALSE §

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Question 3 True or False § A review of circulation is generally performed when the paid or requested circulation is under 60 percent.

Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Question 3 True or False § A review of circulation is generally performed when the paid or requested circulation is under 60 percent. Answer - TRUE

Thank You! Nuts and Bolts of Periodicals Dennis Farley ESPN & Chuck Tricamo USPS