New Postal Rates Decoded (soon to be a mystery thriller movie)

The minimum size for First-Class Mail is 5 inches long, 3-1/2 inches high, and 0.007 inch thick. All First-Class Mail nonmachinable letters are subject to the 17-cent nonmachinable surcharge.

1 Letter-rate pieces that meet one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics in DMM 101.1.2 are subject to the nonmachinable surcharge (see 133.1.10).
2 For weights over 3.5 ounces, see flat-size rates.

Flat-size pieces with certain characteristics (see 101.2.0) are subject to parcel rates.

Here's the page: http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm#wp1034246

1.2 Nonmachinable Criteria

A letter-size piece is nonmachinable (see 6.4) if it has one or more of the following characteristics (see 601.1.4 to determine the length, height, top, and bottom of a mailpiece):

a. Has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.

b. Is polybagged, polywrapped, or enclosed in any plastic material.

c. Has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices.

d. Contains items such as pens, pencils, or loose keys or coins that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven (see 601.11.18, Odd-Shaped Items in Paper Envelopes).

e. Is too rigid (does not bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn).

f. For pieces more than 4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long, the thickness is less than 0.009 inch.

g. Has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece.

h. Is a self-mailer with a folded edge perpendicular to the address if the piece is not folded and secured according to 201.3.13.1.

i. Booklet-type pieces with the bound edge (spine) along the shorter dimension of the piece or at the top, unless prepared according to 201.3.13.

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The piece is flexible if it can bend at least 1 inch vertically without being damaged and it does not contain a rigid insert. No further testing is necessary.
(a chip doesn't bend 1 inch does it?)

Uniform Thickness

Flat-size mailpieces must be uniformly thick so that any bumps, protrusions, or other irregularities do not cause more than 1/4-inch variance in thickness. Exclude the outside edges of a mailpiece (1 inch from the edge) when determining variance in thickness. Mailers must secure nonpaper contents to prevent shifting of more than 2 inches within the mailpiece.

Mailpieces that do not meet the standards in 2.1 through 2.3 are not eligible for flat-size rates and must pay applicable parcel rates.

(Therefore our chips in a jet pack are PARCELS? However...)

Physical Standards for Parcels:

Not less than 6 inches long, 3 inches high, 1/4 inch thick, and 6 ounces in weight. (A mailpiece exactly 1/4 inch thick is subject to the 3 1/2-inch height minimum under 601.1.2.)

(chips in a Jet Pack are not Parcels?)

OK everyone, have a good time. We can't mail chips according to the new regulations.