USPS 421 Window Clerk Exam Questions and Answers (2022/2023)
1.GIST: Greeting Customers, Inquiring their needs, Suggesting options
best to the customers’ needs and Thanking them for coming to the US
Postal Service
2.Processing Categories: Letters, Flats, Machinable Parcels, Irregular
Parcels, and Outside Parcels.
3.Letter-Size Mail: Rectangular, Between 3.5″ to 6 1/8″ high, 5″ to 11.5″
long and
.007″ to .25″ thick. Max weight 3.5 oz
4.Postcards: Rectangular, between 3.5″ to 4.25″ high, 5″ to 6″ long and
.007 to
.016 thickness
5.Flat-Size Mail: Flexible, Uniformly thick, Rectangular, Minimum: 6 1/8″
high OR more than 11.5″ long, OR more than 1/4″ thick. Maximum 12″
high, 15″ long
and 3/4″ thick. One of the minimum flat-size dimensions MUST exceed
maximum letter-size dimensions.
6.Machinable Parcels: Must weigh at least 6 ounces but no more than
25 pounds. High density parcels maximum weight is 15 pounds.
(exception for lightweight parcels)
7.Irregular Parcels: Must have any one of the following characteristics:
Less than 6″ in length, or less than 3″ in height, or less than 6 ounces.
Rolls and tubes 26″ long or less. Unwrapped, paper-wrapped, or
sleeve-wrapped articles that are not letter size. And articles enclosed
in envelopes that are not letters, flats or machinable parcels.
8.Outside Parcels: Length more than 27″, or height than 17″, or
thickness more than 17″. Weight more than 25 pounds or 15 pounds if
identified as high density. Rolls and tubes longer than 26″. Maximum
weight for all parcels in 70 pounds. However length and girth
combined can be up to 130″ for Standard Post
9.Nonmachinable Surcharge: First-Class Mail letters that will receive
the sur- charge are considered if the following conditions exist: Too
rigid, contains pens, pencils, keys or coins that cause thickness of
the mailpiece to be uneven, is polybagged, polywrapped or has an
exterior not made of paper.
10.Priority Mail Express: Class of mail with the Guaranteed by End of
Day delivery(Next 1-day or 2-day), 365 days a year. Offers overnight
delivery to most locations or the customer gets their money back. Also
delivery on Sundays and holidays for additional fees. Also offers
tracking, proof of delivery, insurance up to
$100 at no cost.
11.Priority Mail: Nationwide delivery within one-three days in most
locations, Domestic can weigh up to 70 pounds. Automatically includes
USPS Tracking and
$50 of insurance coverage when purchased at retail. Can have Extra
Services such as Signature Confirmation, Insurance, etc.
12.P.O Boxes: A premier service available to customers at any Post
Office. Offers customers privacy, security, and flexibility with the
ability to get their mail when and where it is most convenient.
13.EDDM: Every Direct Door Mail
14.Dimensional Weight Pricing: Applies to Priority Mail packages that
are more than one cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) and are destined for
Zones 5-8. Maximum size for mailing a Priority Mail item is 108″
combined length and girth.
15.Balloon Price: Applies to: Priority Mail packages addressed for
delivery in local area and Zones 1-4 only. Standard Parcels are
applied this price as well. Parcels that weigh less than 20 pounds but
measure more than 84″ but no more than 108″ in combined length
and girth are charged for a 20-pound parcel.
16.First-Class Mail: Items that consist of handwritten or typewritten
personal correspondence such as bills, statements of account,
postcards, and BRM must be mailed First Class Mail, Priority, or
upgraded to Priority Mail Express
17.Periodicals: Authorized publications such as magazines and
newspapers whose primary purpose is transmitting information, Must
be published at least four times a year at a stated frequency
18.Standard Mail: Used to send printed matter, flyers, advertising,
catalogs, newsletters, and small packages. A single piece of Standard
Mail must weigh less than 16 ounces
19.Bound Printed Matter: Sheets must be permanently-bound by secure
fasten- ers such as staples, spiral binding, glue or stitching, can weigh
up to 15 pounds
20.Library Mail: Content is limited to books, sounds recordings,
academic theses and certain other items. Must be sent to, from or
between educational organiza- tions, museums and other qualified
organizations. Can weigh no more than 70 pounds
21.Media Mail: Limited to books, sound recordings, recorded video
tapes, printed music, recorded computer readable-media, such as
CDs, DVDs, and certain other items