Standard (Bulk) Mail
The U.S. Postal Service terms bulk mail "Standard Mail" and offers it at either the regular or the much lower nonprofit rate. Both are lower than First-Class rates. A minimum of 200 identical pieces or 50 pounds is required for a bulk mailing. The mail piece and the mailing as a whole must meet other specifications established by the Postal Service to qualify for the lower rates. We provide permit numbers, services, and advice to help your mail qualify for these rates.
The key to saving money on your mailings is to prepare them to be compatible with postal automation standards. Mail Services gets you the best possible US Postal Service (UPS) discounts by barcoding your mail pieces and ensuring that they meet addressing, readability, and other requirements for handling by USPS automated equipment. This also gives you maximum deliverability. Upon request, Mail Services will analyze your mailing list to identify ways that you can take full advantage of postal discounts. Automated permit mailings require numerous address manipulations and certifications to gain postage discounts. These processes can be handled efficiently at the data level within an authorized postal software package. You can easily upload your mail list to Mail Services so that they can perform the following functions:
- Merge/purge (duplicate elimination)
- Match addresses against USPS national data base for CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) certification
- ZIP code correction
- ZIP + 4 assignment
- NCOA (National Change of Address) and address standardization for First Class mailings
After verifying electronic addresses as described above, Mail Services inkjets the address and individual barcode on each mail piece. Postal barcodes use a binary identification system that is basically a numerical series of parallel bars which indicate how each piece should be sorted. As pieces move through the mail stream, postal optical character recognition (OCR) equipment scans the width of the bars and the sequence of numbers on properly formatted addresses and converts the data into electrical signals.
The best time to contact us is when you are planning your mail piece. We can recommend sizes, shapes, and weights that will help qualify the mailing for a discount. Our guidelines on preparing bulk mailings will help, too. If your mail piece is printed and ready to send, we can tell you whether it qualifies for a discount. It's especially useful if you send a sample of the mail piece so we can check its compatibility with our automated processing systems.
Addressing
We print addresses and bar codes onto mail pieces using ink-jet addressing. Just send us a copy of your updated list and we can process it to meet your needs.
Labeling
Some customers provide addresses printed on adhesive labels instead of onto mail pieces. We can apply these labels as an option, but we encourage you to use the direct, laser-jet printing method.
Sealing
Automatic sealing of standard #9 and #10 gummed envelopes is another service we offer. If you plan to use this, nest the envelopes together and stand them upright with the flaps open.
Tabbing
We use tabs to seal self mailers (mail pieces that are not in envelopes). Adding tabs can qualify mail pieces for savings on postage. Staples should never be used as closures because they damage equipment and injure workers.
Bulk Sort
Standard Mail needs to be in zip numerical zip code order (the lowest zip code in the beginning and the highest zip at the end) the containers also need to be marked accordingly. We will bulk sort and bundle your mailings according to USPS Standard Mail regulations to assure you get the lowest price and quickest service.