Your Postal Experts!
There are many ways to save money through using the USPS service, but you have to adhere to the rules. It can be confusing for the novice mailer because different classes have specific requirements. If not followed, extra postage erodes the expected profit.
The mail piece design, address quality, presorting, packing and delivery to the post office involves printing, addressing, tabbing and inserting. Customers and printers without the knowledge of the postal regulations are more likely to make costly mistakes to their company. At the grass roots of a campaign, consulting a postal expert can keep you from frustration down the line.
The USPS is a large organization searching for ways to cut costs, and they are asking the mailers to take on responsibility in entering mail so that it runs efficiently on their equipment. Each requirement creates another way misinformed mailers can lose postal savings.
Here are a Few Requirements
Letters
A mailpiece must range from 3 1/2 x 5 inches to 6 1/2 x 11 1/2. Included in this category are postcards, letters and newsletters.
Folded-Self mailer
A folded-self mailer is formed by two or more panels are created by one sheet of paper folded and sealed. Must have the spine or final fold at the bottom or on the leading edge.
Postcards
A postcard must have a minimum paper thickness of .007 and a maximum of .016.
Flats
Also referred to as a large envelope, flats must range between 6 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches and 12 x 15 to qualify as First Class Mail. The thickness must range between 1/4 and 3/4 inches. Letters weighing more than 3.5 ounces or that are thicker than 1/4 of an inch qualify as flats.
Parcels
If it doesn't qualify as a letter or flat, then your mailpiece qualifies as a parcel. Parcels provide great cost savings and come in three types:
1. Commercial Parcels - This type of parcel must be at least 3 x 6 inches and 1/4 inch thick.
2. Machinable Parcels - It cannot be more than 27 x 17 inches and more than 17 inches high and is prepared to process on USPS equipment.
3. Balloon and Over-Sized Parcels - This refers to anything that does not qualify as a commercial or machinable parcel.