Mailing Services Continued…

Discount Mailing Services

If you send large volumes of mail, a discount service is probably your best bet. Discount, or bulk, mail offers a lower postage rate, but in order to qualify for it, you must have a minimum quantity, pay an annual fee, and do some of the preparation work that the Postal Service performs under retail mailing services.

Discount mailings services offer three different rates. First class mail is the fastest, but most expensive, of the three. Personal correspondence, handwritten or typewritten material, and bills or statements of account are required to be sent first class. Items that are not required to be sent First Class may be sent by Standard Mail. There is also a special Periodicals rate available with the authorization of the Postal Service. Express and Priority rates are not available for discount mailings. Postage for discount mailings may be purchased in any of four ways: metered postage, permit imprint, pre-canceled stamps and PC postage technology. Business must apply for a license or permit for whichever method they choose to employ.

Discount mailing rates are affected by the level of preparation and sorting you do. Mail is classified as machinable, non-machinable, and automation. A piece of mail is machinable if it can be sorted by Postal Service processing equipment. Non-machinable mail, such as oddly shaped or uneven packages, is subject to a processing fee. Automated mail is machinable mail with a pre-fixed barcode and is eligible for the lowest rates. In order to take advantage of lower rates, you may also be required to presort mail by zip code or, in a local area, carrier route. Presorting software can help with this task. Finally, you are required to send discount mailings from a post office for which you have a permit. There is an annual fee for each post office at which you have a permit.

Although discount mailings take more effort and require certain fees and permits, it is the most cost efficient choice for businesses with high volumes of mail and the proper technology to prepare and pre-sort mail.

Online Mailing Services

With online mailing services, it is possible to upload an address list, design a postcard or other mailing, and have it printed and delivered within one or two business days. First Class and Standard postage rates are available, although the total price varies according to the printing and delivery options you select.

Other Services

If your company is unable to prepare mailings according to the standards set by the US Postal Service for discount mailing services, a mail service provider company can help. There are several types of mail service providers. Presort bureaus and letter shops specialize in preparing mailings for customers and some will perform the whole mailing process, from printing your mailings to dropping them off at the post office. Address list vendors sell or rent address lists that target your intended audience and can correct and standardize your mailing lists. Parcel consolidators can help make shipping more cost effective for companies that ship many parcels. Print and publishing services often provide mailing services as well.

Depending on the size and capabilities of your company, mail service providers can be a good way to save money and make your mailings more cost effective. You won't have to invest in software or equipment for processing mailings, and you may not have to pay permit or annual fees. Some pre-sort bureaus can also combine your mailings with other customers' mail to take advantage of lower rates.

By Kerry Given