USPS SALES AND SERVICES ASSOCIATE MAIN
EXAMINATION SET QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2026 ALL RATED A+
✔✔What are maximum dimensions for a package? - ✔✔70 pounds. 108" length + girth.
Up to 130" length + girth for Standard.
21-4
✔✔What are the five mail processing categories? - ✔✔Letters, flats, machinable
parcels, irregular parcels, outside parcels.
21-4
✔✔What is the maximum size for a postcard? - ✔✔4 1/4" height, 6" length, .016"
thickness.
21-5
✔✔What would cause a flat-size piece to be excluded from flat pricing? - ✔✔Do not
meet flexibility standards, are not uniformly thick, are not rectangular in shape.
21-6
✔✔What is a machinable parcel? - ✔✔6 oz to 25 lbs; minimum size of 3" x 6" x ¼" to
maximum size of 17" x 17" x 27".
21-7
✔✔What is an irregular parcel? - ✔✔Has ONE of the following characteristics: less than
6" in length or 3" in height or 6 oz in weight; rolls/tubes 26" long or less; articles
enclosed in envelopes that are not letters, flats or machinable parcels.
21-8
✔✔What are outside parcels? Examples? - ✔✔Parcels that because of their size,
shape, density, container type, or the nature of their contents, cannot be processed in
postal sacks. Metal-strapped boxes, rolls/tubes more than 26" in length, liquid
containers, tires, trees.
21-9
✔✔What is a non-machinable surcharge? - ✔✔Charge applied to first-class letter-size
pieces that meet one or more non-machinable characteristics and are excluded from
automated processing.
21-10
✔✔What are some examples of why a letter would be non-machinable? -
✔✔Polybagged, polywrapped, or enclosed in plastic material; has clasps, strings,
buttons, or similar closure devices; contains items such as pens, pencils, keys or coins;
is too rigid; has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece.
, 21-10
✔✔A mailpiece that is too small, too large or too heavy is ________? - ✔✔Not mailable.
21-14
✔✔How can knowing the products you sell benefit customers and the USPS? -
✔✔Strengthens communication skills, boosts enthusiasm, assists in overcoming
concerns.
22-4
✔✔What is product knowledge? - ✔✔Being aware of what we have to offer, being
proficient at our jobs and making the effort to inform our customers.
22-5
✔✔Why is Product Knowledge important? - ✔✔Provides personal satisfaction in helping
a customer; increases customer knowledge; increases revenue; increases interaction
between the SSA and customer; empowers the SSA to be the expert; ensures loyal,
satisfied, returning customers.
22-5
✔✔What are the selling points of Priority Mail Express? - ✔✔Delivery 365 days a year;
no Saturday delivery charges; no residential surcharges; free tracking information; the
ONLY overnight delivery to mailbox and PO Box addresses; signature proof of delivery
available on request.
22-6
✔✔What are the selling points of Priority Mail? - ✔✔Nationwide delivery within 1-3 days;
fast and affordable; flat rate boxes (if it fits, it ships); delivery to every address in the US
including PO Boxes and military addresses (APO/FPO); Saturday and residential
deliveries at no extra cost; extra services (signature, insurance) available; tracking and
$50 of insurance coverage automatically included when purchased at retail; available
international.
22-7
✔✔What are the three ways to add insurance to a package? - ✔✔Purchase online,
purchase at a self-service kiosk, purchase at any post office.
22-7 & 22-8
✔✔Can insurance purchased online be combined with insurance purchased at the Post
Office? - ✔✔No.
22-7
✔✔What is the insurance amount automatically included with Priority Mail Express and
Priority Mail? - ✔✔Priority Mail Express has $100 of insurance coverage; Priority Mail
EXAMINATION SET QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2026 ALL RATED A+
✔✔What are maximum dimensions for a package? - ✔✔70 pounds. 108" length + girth.
Up to 130" length + girth for Standard.
21-4
✔✔What are the five mail processing categories? - ✔✔Letters, flats, machinable
parcels, irregular parcels, outside parcels.
21-4
✔✔What is the maximum size for a postcard? - ✔✔4 1/4" height, 6" length, .016"
thickness.
21-5
✔✔What would cause a flat-size piece to be excluded from flat pricing? - ✔✔Do not
meet flexibility standards, are not uniformly thick, are not rectangular in shape.
21-6
✔✔What is a machinable parcel? - ✔✔6 oz to 25 lbs; minimum size of 3" x 6" x ¼" to
maximum size of 17" x 17" x 27".
21-7
✔✔What is an irregular parcel? - ✔✔Has ONE of the following characteristics: less than
6" in length or 3" in height or 6 oz in weight; rolls/tubes 26" long or less; articles
enclosed in envelopes that are not letters, flats or machinable parcels.
21-8
✔✔What are outside parcels? Examples? - ✔✔Parcels that because of their size,
shape, density, container type, or the nature of their contents, cannot be processed in
postal sacks. Metal-strapped boxes, rolls/tubes more than 26" in length, liquid
containers, tires, trees.
21-9
✔✔What is a non-machinable surcharge? - ✔✔Charge applied to first-class letter-size
pieces that meet one or more non-machinable characteristics and are excluded from
automated processing.
21-10
✔✔What are some examples of why a letter would be non-machinable? -
✔✔Polybagged, polywrapped, or enclosed in plastic material; has clasps, strings,
buttons, or similar closure devices; contains items such as pens, pencils, keys or coins;
is too rigid; has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece.
, 21-10
✔✔A mailpiece that is too small, too large or too heavy is ________? - ✔✔Not mailable.
21-14
✔✔How can knowing the products you sell benefit customers and the USPS? -
✔✔Strengthens communication skills, boosts enthusiasm, assists in overcoming
concerns.
22-4
✔✔What is product knowledge? - ✔✔Being aware of what we have to offer, being
proficient at our jobs and making the effort to inform our customers.
22-5
✔✔Why is Product Knowledge important? - ✔✔Provides personal satisfaction in helping
a customer; increases customer knowledge; increases revenue; increases interaction
between the SSA and customer; empowers the SSA to be the expert; ensures loyal,
satisfied, returning customers.
22-5
✔✔What are the selling points of Priority Mail Express? - ✔✔Delivery 365 days a year;
no Saturday delivery charges; no residential surcharges; free tracking information; the
ONLY overnight delivery to mailbox and PO Box addresses; signature proof of delivery
available on request.
22-6
✔✔What are the selling points of Priority Mail? - ✔✔Nationwide delivery within 1-3 days;
fast and affordable; flat rate boxes (if it fits, it ships); delivery to every address in the US
including PO Boxes and military addresses (APO/FPO); Saturday and residential
deliveries at no extra cost; extra services (signature, insurance) available; tracking and
$50 of insurance coverage automatically included when purchased at retail; available
international.
22-7
✔✔What are the three ways to add insurance to a package? - ✔✔Purchase online,
purchase at a self-service kiosk, purchase at any post office.
22-7 & 22-8
✔✔Can insurance purchased online be combined with insurance purchased at the Post
Office? - ✔✔No.
22-7
✔✔What is the insurance amount automatically included with Priority Mail Express and
Priority Mail? - ✔✔Priority Mail Express has $100 of insurance coverage; Priority Mail
