Address Mailing Services

 

HOW TO SEND YOUR LIST?

 

In an effort to make mailing lists easier for you to manage, we have created a way to upload your lists right in your manage order area. Now, after the order is placed, when you are in the manage order area, there is a bar labeled "Upload Maillist". An Uploads box will open. Just follow the 3 easy steps.

1. Optional, attach a message to the list with any information you think we might need.
2. Browse for the list(s). You can upload multiple lists, however remember, there is a $10.00 fee for each list after the second.
3. Click "Upload" at the bottom of the opened box, and you are finished.

You do not have to worry about emailing the list and remembering to include the order number. If you have any questions, please contact customer service and we will be glad to help with any difficulty. This will become mandatory starting May 1, 2015.

 

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR ADDRESS MAILING SERVICE PRICES?

 

Postcard Mailers:
CASS Certify data, inkjet address onto postcard with our pre-printed indicia (from 4.25"x6" to 6"x11" Postcard), sort bar coded list for either pre-sorted first-class or pre-sorted standard rates, tray and deliver to Columbia Station Post Office.

Self Mailers:
CASS certify data, inkjet address onto 8.5"x3.67" self mailer or 8.5"x5.5" self mailer with pre-printed indicia, affix one translucent wafer seal to open end at top, sort bar coded list for either pre-sorted first-class or pre-sorted standard rates, tray and deliver to Columbia Station Post Office.


Catalogs 8.5"x11" Finished Size:
CASS certify data, inkjet address onto 8.5"x11" flat size mailer with pre-printed indicia, sort bar-coded list for either pre-sorted first-class or pre-sorted standard rates, tray and deliver to Columbia Station Post Office.

Catalogs 8.5"x5.5" Finished Size
CASS certify data, inkjet address onto 8.5"x5.5" flat size mailer with pre-printed indicia, affix three (3) wafer seals to open end at top, sort bar coded list for either pre-sorted first-class or pre-sorted standard rates, tray and deliver to Columbia Station Post Office.

 

CLIENT SUPPLIED DATABASE FILES & PDFL "STANDARD" SERVICES AGREEMENT
Our posted pricing for "Address Mailing Services" includes as "STANDARD": inkjet addressing the fields that represent the business name and/or the recipients first and last name, street address, City, State and ZIP Code only.

Because we receive many types and kinds of database files from many sources to use for inkjet addressing mailers that contain additional data fields that are not being used for inkjet addressing, YOU MUST ADVISE IN YOUR ORDER TO HAVE OTHER SPECIFIC ADDITIONAL FIELDS INKJET ADDRESSED OUTSIDE OF THE ITEMS WE LIST ABOVE AS "STANDARD". PDFL is not responsible for items provided in a client supplied address data file, that fall outside what we declare as STANDARD fields to be inkjet addressed, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY ADVISED TO DO SO IN THE CLIENTS ORDER WHEN THE CLIENT PLACES THEIR ORDER.

 

WHAT IS OUR FAST FORWARDING DATA CORRECTION SERVICE & IS IT WORTH THE COST?
For a flat fee of $75 we will make sure that the mail list you provide or that we purchase for you, is updated with any resident who has registered a change of address with the USPS.  We will change the address for your immediate mailing and then we will provide you with a separate database list that has all of these changes in one file, so you can update your records.  This updates your list before the mailing goes out, thus raising your deliver ability rate for the direct mail campaign.  YES, it is worth the cost.  This feature is something that you need to request as a special option, and it will be billed separately.  If you have any questions please call 855-266-8870 x 225 and a customer service rep will answer any questions that you may have.

 

DO I NEED TO LEAVE BLANK SPACE ON THE POSTAGE SIDE OF MY DIRECT MAILING PIECE?
YES, it is a must to leave 4"x2" of open space on the Postage/Addressing side of your direct mail piece.  This area is the bottom right quadrant of your direct mail piece.  Please measure 4" from the right hand side of the direct mail piece going towards the left hand side of the mailer piece, and 2.625" from the bottom of the direct mail piece and measuring up towards the top of the mailer piece.  This open area is what the USPS requires for addressing and also bar coding information to ensure you are capturing maximum automated postage discounts. 

This 4"x2" open area can be a very light color background or screened back image, so long as it does not obstruct the address copy or bar coding information which is done in Black Inkjet Ink.

ADDRESS MAILING SERVICES
If your order contains Mailing Services your order will take an additional 1-2 days on average. Larger than average quantities, or orders with special bindery circumstances such as tabbing, etc., may take additional days.

 

WHAT IS A POSTAGE INDICIA?
A Postage Indicia is the square box with wording in it, located in the upper right hand corner of your direct mailer, that states the manner (First Class or Standard Presort/Bulk) in which your mailing is being sent, and also where it is being sent from.  All of our mail is delivered through our Direct Mail affiliate company.

 

HOW DO I DESIGN MY DIRECT MAILER TO ALLOW FOR THE POSTAGE INDICIA & BARCODING?
ALL Postage Indicia's are to be located in the upper right hand corner of ANY Direct Mailer  If your Direct Mailer is a self Mailer that includes folding, please make sure to design the Direct Mailer so that when it is folded to its finished size, the Postage Indicia is at the top of the Mailer on the open end, and opposite of the end that is folded.  The reason that this layout parameter must be followed, is because the bar coding that we inkjet onto your Direct Mailer must be located at the bottom of the piece, opposite of the Postage Indicia, so that it can be run through the USPS mailing equipment.  This is the only way to secure your maximum postage discounts, using bar coding to decrease your overall postage cost per piece. Wafer seals are mandatory on folded self mailers, so that it stays shut while being run through USPS mailing equipment.

POSTAGE
The most significant aspect of any mailing, is the postage costs involved with doing your mailing.  It is of utmost importance to use a reputable company to process your mail so as to minimize your postage costs, and have that company work hard at getting you the absolute best postage rates available. At PrintDirectforLess.com, we utilize the latest software technologies to capture and sort your data to GUARANTEE you are getting the best postage rates available. We can provide you with a Certified Postage statement, once the job is delivered to the post office, which details the itemized costs of your mailing, so you can see the actual cost of your mailing (only if requested), and that it went out when we said it was going to go out.

We are very proud to offer a full break down of our pricing for Printing, Mail Shop charges, and Postage charges individually, so you can see where your money is being spent, and that there are NO HIDDEN costs.

The cost for postage is determined by 1) the size & weight of the piece, and 2) the saturation/concentration of your mailing to ZIP CODES.  The more pieces you have going to similar ZIP CODES, the cheaper your mailing is going to be.  That is why a mailing of 5,000 pieces, which all goes to ZIP CODE 44136, is going to cost much less per piece than the same size and quantity mailing which is a "National Mailing" to thousands of different ZIP CODES across the USA.

 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIRST CLASS & STANDARD PRESORT/BULK POSTAGE?
If you are mailing postcards up to the size of 4.25"x6" First Class Automation

• Your postage price range per piece is going to be between $0.250 - $0.283 per piece.

If you are mailing postcards above 4.25"x6" & up to 6.125"x11" First Class Automation

• Your postage price range per piece is  going to be between $0.376 - $0.452 per piece.

If you are mailing postcards above 4.25"x6" & up to 6.125"x11" Standard Automation

• Your postage price range per piece is going to be between $0.255 - $0.291 per piece.

If you are mailing self mailers below 3.3 ounces Standard Automation

• Your postage price range per piece is going to be between $0.255- $0.291 per piece.

If you are mailing self mailers up to 2 ounces First Class Automation

• Your postage price range per piece is going to be between $0.376 - $0.452 per piece.

 

WHAT DETERMINES THE POSTAGE COSTS YOU PAY?
The USPS determines your postage costs based upon how many pieces you have going to saturated or non-saturated mailing ZIP CODES.  The USPS breaks down all mailings into 5 major categories for automated mailings:  Carrier Route, 5-Digit ZIP CODE, 3-Digit ZIP CODE, AADC and Mixed AADC.  Carrier Route is the lowest price and Mixed AADC is the highest price in the ranges shown above. 

You must have at least 150 pieces going to any one of the above 5 listed categories to qualify for that category's pricing structures.  Once your mailing is finished we will provide you with the final postage statement showing you the entire mailings breakdown for the postage categories listed above.  Please visit www.USPS.govfor terms and definitions and ALL other postal guidelines to ensure you are minimizing your postage costs and maximizing your Return On Investment.

DELIVERY TIMELINES - PER USPS DELIVERY GUIDELINES
- Presort First Class - 1-3 days delivery (Working Days Monday-Friday)
- Standard Presort/Bulk - 3-10 days delivery (Working Days Monday-Friday)

Once a job is delivered to the USPS, this completes our responsibility and completely fulfills our contractual obligation with your order.  Please review the USPS delivery schedules above for what the difference is between sending your mailing First Class or Standard Presort/Bulk.  This is also a significant part of your decision when deciding your budget, and deadline parameters. 

PrintDirectforLess.com is in no way liable for your mailing once it leaves our hands and the final destination delivery becomes the responsibility of the USPS.  If the final destination delivery of your "Direct Mail Campaign" is TIME SENSITIVE, we strongly recommend that you send your mailing FIRST CLASS.

It is very important that you plan ahead and understand the entire Direct Mail Process from design on the front end, to the USPS Delivery timelines on the back end, and everything in between.  If you need help in this planning process, please contact our Mailing Department at 855-266-8870 x 225 for help.

 

DIRECT MAIL - YOUR PLANNING & ORDERING PROCESS

1. Determine the proper design for your Direct Mail Postcard.
2. Determine if you are sending First Class or Standard Presort/Bulk delivery.
3. Place your order for Postcards from our web site.
4. ADD ON "Mail Shop" services for addressing your postcards from our web site.
5. Send us your Excel Database, or have PDFL purchase a list for you using our discounts.
6. PDFL will give you your estimated postage costs beforehand.
7. PDFL will give you your final USPS Postage Statement and reconcile your postage costs.
8. If any postage monies are leftover, we can keep for future use or refund this to you.

 

PAYING FOR POSTAGE
All postage monies are due to PrintDirectforLess.com before we deliver the job to the post office. All funds must clear our bank before we will release a job for delivery to the post office. Acceptable methods of payment are: credit card, wire transfer, certified/cashiers check, business check, or PAYPAL. If you desire a postage refund to be sent back to you, it will be sent via check, so as not to incur additional charges through credit card systems

 

CAN YOU USE OUR NONPROFIT MAILING INDICIA, AND WILL WE STILL RECEIVE THE SAME POSTAL DISCOUNTS IF MAILING THROUGH PDFL?
Yes, we can and Yes, you will. Any organization currently authorized to mail at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates at one post office may obtain authorization to mail at those rates at an additional mailing office. Click here for (PS Form 3623) (Application for Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates at Additional Mailing Office). Once approved by the USPS, you will get the same great postal discounts you are accustomed to.

Once you fill out PS Form 3623, please send to PDFL and we will submit to our local post office for approval. This process can take between 3 to 14 days, so please plan ahead. Once the approval has been given this will allow us to handle all your mailing needs and get you the same LOW DISCOUNTS you are accustomed to as a registered Nonprofit organization.

For your convenience, we have also included the following link for you to review (Non Profit Standard Mail Eligibility) from the USPS, that describes the eligibility requirements to becoming a Nonprofit Standard Mailing Indicia holder, thus giving your considerable postal discounts. If you have any doubts or are looking for Nonprofit discount status, please review this document supplied by the USPS.