Idustry Eye: Shop Talk - Understanding Postal, Letter to the Editor

The rules affect retailers who mail store circulars via Standard mail as well. Catalog mailers should encourage their printers to find out if their designs are likely to pass the new droop test; if they don’t, the consequences in postage could be huge.

The USPS flats deflection test (aka, the “droop test”) has been in effect for several years. But earlier this year, the USPS revised the rules so catalogs and other flat-sized mail pieces now are required to be even less flimsy than before. The USPS says the change is designed to make the pieces run through its equipment more easily with less damage.