How many mailpieces does it take to fail a tap test?

The correct answer is based on the specific criteria established for conducting a tap test in mail quality assurance. The tap test typically involves taking samples of mailpieces and assessing them for various quality metrics. To fail the tap test, the guidelines stipulate that there needs to be a certain number of failures within a sample size to trigger a failure status.

In this case, the requirement is that failing two pieces from the first sample of 10 indicates a quality issue, and if additional problems arise in the subsequent sample, that could reinforce the overall assessment of quality. This approach allows for a more balanced understanding of mail quality by considering a first sample's performance and evaluating subsequent samples to ascertain if the issue persists.

This understanding is crucial for ensuring high standards in mail delivery and processing, as it allows for pinpointing problems while still using a systematic sampling method.