Bulk Mail Preparation

Basic Bulk Mail Preparation and Mailpiece Design

Presented By: Felicia Carter

Basic Bulk Mail Acceptance and Mailpiece Design

What is Bulk Mail?

Basic Mailpiece Design

Addressing Requirements

Preparation Requirements

What is Bulk Mail?

The term "bulk mail" refers to quantities of mail prepared for mailing at reduced postage rates.

“Bulk mail" means discounted First-Class Mail and advertising mail (called "Standard Mail" by the Postal Service).

The Postal Service uses the terms "bulk" and "presorted" interchangeably.

Bulk rates are discounted from "single-piece" rates. "Single-piece" means that you pay the full postage rate.

What is Bulk Mail?

Bulk mail is a “workshare” process

The Postal Service offers discounts for bulk mailings because you do some of the work that otherwise would have to be done by the Postal Service

Mailers make an investment in time and technology, and the Postal Service’s costs are reduced and you pay less postage.


What is Mailable?

Not everything. Some items cannot be mailed, for legal and safety reasons.

It is the mailer’s responsibility to ensure that they do not mail anything that can injure postal employees, postal equipment, or customers’ mail.

Some mailpieces are too small to be mailed -- they are likely to get lost or jammed in postal equipment.

Some mailpieces are too large to be mailed -- they are simply too big for the Postal Service to handle. Some things are not the right shape to be mailed.

Basis Mailpiece DesignLetter Size Pieces

3 1/2”Min.Height

5" Min. Length

Maximum WeightFirst-Class

3.3 oz. Machinable Presort

3.5 oz. Automation

Standard Presort

3.3 oz. Machinable Presort

3.5 oz. Automation

NOTE: Pieces exceeding 4 1/4” high or 6” long must be at least .009” thick.

Min. Max.Length 5” 11-1/2”Height 3-1/2” 6-1/8”Thickness 0.007” 1/4”

Basic Mailpiece Design – Nonmachinable CriteriaBasic Mailpiece Design

Aspect ratio (length divided by height) is less than 1.3 or greater than 2.5 5"

4"

4"

Acceptable4” ÷ 6” = 1.5

Unacceptable4” ÷ 5” = 1.25

6"

• Square

• Rectangular

Basic Mailpiece Design- Nonmachinable Criteria

Polybagged, polywrapped, or enclosed in any plastic material = Nonmachinable Mail

PLASTICS INCPO BOX 0000ANYWHERE IN 46206-0001

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT xxx

City State

POSTAL FORUM801 Mount Vernon Place NW

Washington DC 20001

Also not permitted on automation-rate letter-size mail.


Clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices = Nonmachinable Mail

Also not permitted on automation-rate letter-size mail.


Odd shaped items such as pens, pencils, or loose keys or coins that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven.

Also not permitted on automation-rate letter-size mail.Letters must be uniformly shaped.


If it is too rigid (does not bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn).

Automation-rate letter-size mail must be flexible.


Pieces exceeding 4 ¼” X 6” and less than .009” thick.

3.5” to4.25”High

5” to 6” Long

Thickness: .007”- up to .016” for postcards - up to .25” for letters

6” to 11.5” Long

Thickness: .009” to .025”

Automation letter rate pieces must meet the above dimensions.


Has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece.

Automation rates require that the delivery address be parallel to the longest dimension.

POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCIL 475 L’Enfant Plz Washington DC 20260-0846

POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCIL 475 L’Enfant Plz Washington DC 20260-0846

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT xxx

City State

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT xxx

City State


Booklet-type pieces having the bound edge (spine) along the shorter dimension of the piece or at the top, regardless of the use of tabs, wafer seals, or other fasteners.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT xxx

City State

SPINE

POSTAL FORUM 801 Mount Vernon Place NW Washington DC 20001-3614


Self-mailers with a folded edge perpendicular to the address if the piece is not folded and secured according to DMM 201.13.02.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT xxx

City StateFOLD

Automation rates require that self-mailers with the fold along the shorter dimension have the fold on the right or leading edge.

POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCIL 801 Mount Vernon Place NW Washington DC 20001-3614

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT xxx

City State

POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCIL 801 Mount Vernon Place NW Washington DC 20001-3614

FOLD


Flat Size Pieces

Must be flexible Uniform in thickness Rectangular in shape

Minimum* Maximum Length 11-1/2 inches 15 inches Height 6-1/8 inches 12 inches Thickness 1/4 inch 3/4 inch * Flats exceed at least one of these dimensions

Addressing

You’ve gone through a lot of time and expense to create a mailpiece that is attractive and effective. Now you need to make sure that it gets to your customer.

The Postal Service processes your mail on machines that read address information and translate it into a barcode. When a machine misreads an address, that mailpiece may get mis-sorted or delayed.

Believe it or not: over 42 million Americans move every year.

Addressing

Delivery Address

The delivery address is the most important information on your mailpiece.

Use the following format for your delivery addresses:

Name or attention line: JANE L MILLERCompany: MILLER ASSOCIATESDelivery address: 1960 W CHELSEA AVE STE 2006City, state, ZIP Code: ALLENTOWN PA 18104

Addressing

When is a Return Address Required?1. Mail of any class, when its return and/or address correction is

requested2. Official Mail3. Mail paid with precanceled stamps4. Matter bearing a company permit imprint5. Priority Mail6. Periodicals in envelopes or wrappers7. Package Services (except unendorsed Bound Printed Matter)8. Registered Mail9. Insured Mail10. Collect on Delivery (COD) Mail11. Certified Mail if a return receipt is requested12. Express Mail if a return receipt is requested. The return

address on the Express Mail label meets this standard

Addressing

Tips on Addressing

Always put the address and the postage on the same side of your mailpiece.

On a letter, the address should be parallel to the longest side.

All capital letters.

No punctuation.

At least 10-point type.

Addressing

Tips on Addressing

One space between city and state.

Two spaces between state and ZIP Code.

Simple type fonts.

Left justified.

Addressing

Tips on Addressing

Black ink on white or light paper.

No reverse type (white printing on a black background). If your address appears inside a window, make sure there is at

least 1/8-inch clearance around the address. Sometimes parts of the address slip out of view behind the window and mail processing machines can’t read the address.

If you are using address labels, make sure you don’t cut off any important information. Also make sure your labels are on straight. Mail processing machines have trouble reading crooked or slanted information.

Addressing

Automated mail processing machines read addresses on mailpieces from the bottom up and will first look for a city, state, and ZIP Code.

Then the machines look for a delivery address. If the machines can’t find either line, then your mailpiece could be delayed or misrouted.

Any information below the delivery address line (a logo, a slogan, or an attention line) could confuse the machines and misdirect your mail.

Addressing

Window envelopes must have 1/8” clearance between the address printing and any window edge throughout maximum insert shift.

1735 N LYNN STARLINGTON VA 22209-6030

National Postal Forum 810 Mount Vernon Pl NW Washington DC 20001-3614

1/8”

Min.

1/25” Min.

1/8”

Min.

Logos should be placed above address line

.

Addressing

Tap Test

2 taps on bottom Then 2 taps. on each end

How is the Tap Test Performed?2 Taps on the bottom, then 2 taps on each end

Addressing

Tabbing Requirements

FOLDEDSELF-MAILER

FOLDEDSELF-MAILER

FOLDEDSELF-

MAILERTabs 1 NeededFolded Edge Bottom Sheets MultipleBasis Weight 24 lbs.

Tabs 2 NeededFolded Edge Top or Bottom Sheets SingleBasis Weight 20 lbs.

Tabs 1 NeededFolded Edge Bottom Sheets SingleBasis Weight 28 lbs.

BOOKLETDOUBLE

POSTCARD

Tabs 2 NeededSpine BottomSheets Multiple with coverBasis Weight 20 lbs. (Cover)

Tabs 1 NeededFolded Edge Prefer Bottom,

Top Acceptable Sheets SingleBasis Weight 75 lbs.

Mail Preparation

Annual Fee - $175.00 200 pieces (or 50 lbs)

minimum Printed material or

merchandise < 1 lb Deposited at designated entry

point Sorted into bundles, trays

and/or sacks Postage paid on all pieces

ADRESS LABEL

LEAVE THIS AREA CLEAR FOR BARCODING

“SomeWhere Repertory TheatrePO BOX 1111

4-3/4”

5/8”

1/2”1/2”

BUD,

THIS IS APPROX WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT...LINE IN MIDDLE TELLS OCR NOT TO LOOK AT LEFT SIDE OF POSTCARD FOR ADDRESS INFORMATION. SPECIFICATIONS FOR BAR CODECLEAR ZONE AND PLACEMENT OF ADDRESS LABEL ALLOW US TO WORK THIS MAIL PIECE ON OUR AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT.

GOOD LUCK.

ADRESS LABEL


“SomeWhere Repertory TheatrePO BOX 1111SOME WHERE AR 72203-1111

4-3/4”

5/8”

1/2”1/2”

BUD,


GOOD LUCK.

ADRESS LABEL



4-3/4”

5/8”

1/2”1/2”

BUD,


GOOD LUCK.

US POSTAGEPAID

PMT #XXXSOME WHERE AR

ORSTAMP

ADRESS LABEL



4-3/4”

5/8”

1/2”1/2”

BUD,


GOOD LUCK.

US POSTAGEPAID

PMT #XXXSOME WHERE AR

ORSTAMP

ADRESS LABEL

“VIEWS OF EGYPT...”SPIRIDON SCARVELLI

ETC

SomeWhere Repertory TheatrePO BOX 1111SOME WHERE AR 72203-1111

4-3/4”

5/8”

1/2”1/2”

BUD,


SRT rep

Mail Preparation

Mailers who elect to presort their mailings must pay postage by: 1. Permit Imprint, 2. Postage Meter 3. Precanceled Stamps

An annual mailing fee must be paid once each 12-month period at each post office of mailing.

The fee may be paid in advance only for the next 12 months and only during the last 60 days of the current serviced period. The fee charged is that which is in effect on the date of payment.

***A mailer paying this fee may enter clients’ mail as well as the mailer’s own mail.***

Presorted mail 1. Cannot be deposited in collection boxes, mail boxes, or other mail receptacles 2. Cannot be given to a letter carrier 3. Must be brought to a business mail entry (BMEU), a detached mail unit (DMU), or to a designated

post office where it is accepted and verified by postal employees.

Mail Preparation

Payment Methods

NONPROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGEPAIDNEW YORK, NYPERMIT NO. 1

Permit PrecanceledStamp

Meter

NON PROFIT

U.S. POSTAGEPAIDNEW YORK, NYPERMIT NO. 3

BULK RATE

PRSRT STD

PRSR

T ST

D 0.235

NO

NPR

OFI

TO

RG

AN

IZA

TIO

N

O.16 9

PRSRT STD

3 Options

5¢

10¢

Mail Preparation- Machinable Mailing

3-DIGIT/ORIGIN AADC MIXED AADC (Optional) (Required) (Required)

Rate : AADC (1) Rate : AADC Rate :MXD ADC

(1) AADC Rate for Any 3-Digit/Origin Tray for the Origin SCF Containing Fewer Than 150 Pieces. * 3 digit origin trays required for FCM and optional for STD mail. Postcard-Size Pieces Always Banded; Other Pieces Banded Only If Placed in Less-Than-Full Tray or Overflow Trays.

SPRINGFIELD MA 010 STD LTRS 3D MACH

MILWAUKEE WI

AADC SPRINGFIELD 010 STD LTRS AADC MACH

MILWAUKEE WI

MXD MILWAUKEE WI 530 STD LTRS MACH WKG

MILWAUKEE WI

Rate .113 Rate .113 Rate .164


NP

STD

Mail Preparation

Machinable Tray Label

Barcoded Tray Label LINE 1(Destination

LINE 2(Content)

Label Barcode

Numeric Human-Readable of Barcode

LINE 3(Origin)

PITTSFIELD MA 012STD LTR 3D MACH

MILWAUKEE WI

0120155401

STD LTR 3D MACH STD LTR AADC MACHSTD LTR MACH WKG

Machinable

Mail Preparation- Nonmachinable Letter

More money and more work.

5-DIGIT 3-DIGIT ADC MIXED ADC (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required)Rate : 5D Rate : 3 digit /ADC Rate : ADC Rate: MXD ADC

Rate .369


Rate .286

Rate .195

Rate .398 Rate .520

5 3 A X

ADC MILWAUKEE WI 530 STD LTRS ADC MAN MILWAUKEE WI

MILWAUKEE WI 530 STD LTRS 3D MAN

MILWAUKEE WI

WEST BEND WI 53095 STD LTRS 5D MAN MILWAUKEE WI

MXD MILWAUKEE WI 530 STD LTRS MAN WKG

MILWAUKEE WI

NP

STD

Mail Preparation- Nonmachinable Mailing

Nonmachinable Tray Label

MILWAUKEE WI 530STD LTR 3D MANUAL

MILWAUKEE WI

5300155407

LINE 1(Destination

LINE 2(Content)

Label Barcode

Numeric Human-Readable Barcode

LINE 3(Origin)

STD LTR 5D MANUALSTD LTR ADC MANUALSTD LTR MANUAL WKG

Mail Preparation- Presorted Flats

5-DIGIT 3-DIGIT ADC MIXED ADC

(Required) (Required) (Required) (Required)Rate : 5 digit Rate : 3 digit Rate : ADC Rate: MXD ADC

PHILADELPHIA PA 19118 STD FLTS 5D NON BC

TOPEKA KS

PHILADELPHIA PA 191 STD FLTS 3D NON BC

TOPEKA KS

ADC PHILADELPHIA PA 190 STD FLTS ADC NON BC

TOPEKA KS

MXD KANSAS CITY KS 66340 STD FLTS NON BC WKG

TOPEKA KS

5 3 A X

Rate.195 Rate .259 Rate .293 Rate .389

Rate .321 Rate .385 Rate .419 Rate .515NP

STD

Helpful Information

WWW.USPS.COM/PRICES

http://pe.usps.com

http://ribbs.usps.gov

1-800-ASK-USPS

http://www.usps.com/PRICES

http://pe.usps.com/

http://pe.usps.com/

http://ribbs.usps.gov/

http://ribbs.usps.gov/

Basic Bulk Mail Preparation and Mailpiece Design

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