Show Some Class–It Matters in Postal Mail!

I received a piece of mail from my college Alum association

Pitt Alumni mailer

Was surprised to see the permit was originally printed as First Class mail- which would have cost 66 cents ea

Saw they added Presorted, which brings postage down to approx 38 cents ea–that saved them approx $10,000 in postage (approx 100,000 mailed)

But, if they had prepared from the start as Nonprofit bulk mail
Pitt Alumni mailer if prepared as nonprofit mail
postage could have been as low as 9.3 cents ea and a savings of 26 cents ea or $26,000!!

It Pays to  Pay attention to the classification of mail and to properly design the mail piece for optimal postage savings!

Postal Rate Increase

Postal rates went up Jan 21st

The cost of a stamp is now 50 cents—it seems costs increase a penny in many categories. Presorting your first-class mail—bundling by zips per postal regulations—can save you over 50% for your letters weighing 3 to 3.5 ounces.

Nonprofit mailers can see a decrease in larger sized mail, mailed in higher densities—so if you want to mail an 8.5 x 11 newsletter to folks in your local vicinity, such as all households in 15217 (Squirrel Hill), you will see a 7% DECREASE—22.7 cents from 24.4 cents each.

The increases are highest for mailing packages weighing 7-15.99 ounces. The USPS is pretty much your only option and a bargain for packages—think padded envelopes—that weigh under 1 pound.

For instance, mailing a 7- ounce package now costs $3.05 up from $2.77—but still way less than using Fed Ex or UPS whose rates start at 1 pound, usually a min of $7 or Priority mail which is now a min of $6.70.

I pulled this information from an article by Adam Lewnberg, who did a wonderful summary in Mailing Systems Technology.

http://mailingsystemstechnology.com/print-article-4298-permanent.html

Adding Barcode to reply envelope saves postage

RMU reply env
Reply vehicles must be automation compatible in order to get lowest postage rate in your mailings

A client who was planning an event for prospective PhD students asked me to attain a list of people who had completed graduate school, worked in military or technical/professional professions, and lived in the DC area.

Upon reviewing their invitation package, I noticed the reply envelope did not have an automation barcode (which corresponds to the reply address) or the FIM bars.  I made a visit to the postal service website and obtained the barcode artwork and provided to the printer.

By adding the barcode to the reply envelope helped to save them approx $700 on a 35,000 piece mailing.

The difference is approx 2 cents if your reply envelope or card, is not automation compatible.

Postage savings equals mail prep

It wasn’t a typical client call–a distinguished attorney, asking for help to get a summons and complaint out to approx 1000 individuals.

Lasering the letter, outputting, the copies, inserting, addressing the envelopes–costs were gathered.

What is interesting is that the savings we as mail house could offer–1st Class Presorted, flat size, large envelope, with automation, 9 oz weight–was $400 vs go straight first class.  The postage savings was approx what the mail prep cost was.  No Brainer….