Mailing Checklist from MarketPlace-Mail.com
Anything can be mailed. The question is - at what cost? Knowing postal regulations before printing can save you on your postage costs and speed delivery. Here are guidelines for a smooth mailing: On the other hand, failure to meet all the regulations can cost you plenty.
MarketPlace-Mail.com has become an expert in postal regulations. We want to save you money on your direct mail projects.
Before printing:
1. Make sure design allows a 2" x 4" white space to put in an address complete with barcode. Lower postage rates are a result of applying a barcode. Anything less than 4" across white space will result in significantly higher postage rates.
2. Put our indicia (mail permit) on the mailer. This saves the time and costs. We offer both first class and standard mail. We can also handle non-profit mailings if the paperwork is done for the Post Office.
3. We will tab your self-mailer - for instance, a trifold or bifold brochure. Self-mailers must be tabbed to go through the Post Office machinery. We strongly recommend the piece be designed so it opens from the top and the fold is on the bottom. This design requires only one tab. However, two tabs are required if the piece opens from the bottom.
4. Make sure the piece meets postal regulations for size and aspect ratio. The regulations can be confusing and vary according to classification.
5. LET US REVIEW THE PIECE BEFORE PRINTING!!!
We can often save you money with lower postage rates and less hassle if we can review your piece before printing. This is a free, no obligation service.
Have a response card or envelope? Even if the customer has to put a stamp on it, a courtesy reply card or envelope -- it must meet post office regulations for automation letters. That includes a barcode and Facing Identification Marks. Failure to comply can mean the difference between automated and non automated postage rates -- which is very significant!
Before mailing:
1. Give us the list in Excel, ASCII delimited or dBase format. Make sure that the address line (number and street name) is separate from the City, State & ZIP line. We prefer that there are separate fields for: First name, Last name, Title, Company, Street Address, Suite number, City, State, ZIP.
2. Give us a postage check for the complete amount. This check is made out to "Postmaster." We do not mail without complete payment of postage. We do not mark up postage.
After mailing:
1. We are prepared to send you a postage statement verifying the date, quantity and payment of the mailing. However, it usually takes the Post Office a few days before they send this back to us. If requested, we can have the Post Office send a copy of this statement directly to you. We can often do this within 24 hours of your mailing.