An Onsert is considered a "Periodicals Supplement" by the USPS

by Bernard Martin

​SampleMax has undertaken extensive research to assist our licensees in the use of onsert cards for their marketing purposes. One of the questions we have been asked a lot is " Does it cost more the mail?"  We worked with Leanne Herman from RR Donnelley and several folks at the United States Postal Service to get the answers. Here's the important part:

"As previously discussed, the entire carrier, including the boxlike areas above and below the product sample, is considered advertising space (even if blank).  Additionally, the carrier is eligible as a Periodicals supplement."

The sample we sent over for review sample consisted of a Periodicals publication poly-bagged with a plain white cardstock onsert product sample carrier:

• The onsert carrier was 10.5" by 9.25".
  
• The edge of the carrier along the publications’ spine was configured to form two box-like shapes and a recessed well.   
• The box-like shapes are separated vertically by the recessed well . 
• The recessed well is 4.75" long by 0.9375" high. 
• The box-like section to the left of the recessed well is 1.75" long by 0.9375" high
• The box-like section to the right of the recessed well is 4.875" long and 0.9375" high.  
• A sample foil packet containing 0.14 ounces (3.9 grams) of Lipton Teawas positioned within the recessed well. 
• A strip of poly is placed over the opening of the recessed well, covering the sample packet.

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Below is the excerpt from the United States Postal Service standards:

DMM Revision: Periodicals — Endorsements, Supplements to Bound and Unbound Publications

DMM Revision: Periodicals — Endorsements, Supplements to Bound and Unbound PublicationsIn response to customer needs, effective May 31, 2012, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 707.3.3.5 to modify the marking standards for supplements to bound publications. Supplements pre­pared with bound publications that are enclosed in a com­plete wrapper, polybag, or envelope may be mailed without the endorsement “Supplement to…” followed either by the title of the publication, the name of the publisher, or by “Periodicals Publication.” This change will unify bound and unbound supplement endorsement requirements and sim­plify preparation of preprinted advertising in bound publi­cations. 
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
* * * * * 
700 Special Standards
* * * * * 
707 Periodicals
* * * * * 
3.0 Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility
* * * * *
3.3 Permissible Mailpiece Components 
* * * * * 
3.3.5 Supplement 
[Revise the introductory text of 3.3.5 as follows:] 
A supplement is one or more pages (subject to 3.3.1) formed by one or more printed sheets that are not bound into a publication. A supplement may be devoted to a sin­gle topic and may contain material different from that in the host publication. A supplement may not be mailed at Peri­odicals prices by itself. The length and height of a supple­ment may not exceed those of the host publication except when the host publication and the supplement are con­tained in an envelope, polybag, or other complete wrapper or under 3.3d. Supplements are subject to these conditions as applicable: 
[Delete current items a and b in their entirety, and add new items a through d as follows:]
a. If a supplement to a bound publication is formed of more than one sheet, all sheets making up the sup­plement must be bound together.
b. A bound publication mailed with one or more supple­ments must be enclosed in a wrapper. 
c. A supplement to an unbound publication that is not prepared in a wrapper, polybag, or envelope must be combined with and inserted within the publication under 3.5.4.
d. A wrapper is not required when a loose addressed supplement is included within the same mailing as the host publication, bears a proper delivery address, contains at least 25% nonadvertising material, and includes on the front/cover page the endorsement “Periodicals Supplement to” followed by the exact ti­tle and issue date of the host publication. The exter­nal dimensions of such supplements may exceed those of the host publication provided they are of the same processing category as the host publication.