Mailing Services Guides and Tips for Direct Mail

Service Class Options

Instant Pricing and Ordering

As your one-stop shop for printing and mailing, you can price and order your direct mail piece right on our ordering pages for postcards, brochures, newsletters, catalogs and greeting cards.

To Price Your Order:

1. Enter your print Quantity in our InstaPrice^® calculator and select your print options.
2. Enter the quantity of pieces to be mailed and your preferred mail class in the Mailing Services section (shown in the box above).

U.S. Mail Layout Guides

Use our layout guides for help in preparing your postcard or brochure design to comply with Postal Service regulations. Mailing pieces require clear space (free of any design elements) to allow for barcoding, addressing and permit imprinting. This ensures both that the mail piece is eligible for your preferred mail service class and that any content in your piece isn't covered up in the addressing and mailing process.

Mailing Services FAQ

How can I design my mailing piece to ensure that it qualifies for the service class I need? What will you do with any duplicate or questionable addresses from my list (CASS Certification)? Can you send the questionable addresses or clean list back to me? Can you use my mail permit? What mailing list format should I send you? What's the best way to break out the address fields or column names when exporting or preparing a mailing list? Will you insert additional pieces into my envelope, flyer, etc.? Do you offer tabbing (also called wafer sealing)? Will aqueous coating interfere with addressing and mailing? Can I have you mail some of my order and ship the rest? Is there a fee for a Return Service Request? What happens to undeliverable mail? Can I request that it be returned to me? I'd like to keep my mailing list up to date. How long will it take to get my piece into the mail? Do you offer mailing lists? Can you mail to Canada or other non-U.S. addresses? What is NCOA (National Change of Address)?

How can I design my mailing piece to ensure that it qualifies for the service class I need?
The best way is to refer to our "U.S. Mail Layout Guides." They show where clear space (free of any design elements) is needed to facilitate barcoding, addressing and permit imprinting so that the mail piece is eligible for your preferred mail service class.

What will you do with any duplicate or questionable addresses from my list (CASS Certification)?
On every mailing order we remove duplicate listings and CASS Certify the list, which allows us to identify "undeliverable" or questionable addresses. We generally remove any addresses that are deemed Undeliverable As Addressed (UAA) as a result of the CASS certification process. Occasionally, we will retain some addresses that are deemed UAA but are still deliverable, such as universities or hospitals. Please call if you have any questions or special requests.

Can you send a clean list back to me?
We would be happy to email the "cleaned up" version of your list to you, or send you the list of the questionable addresses we removed at your request. Just call us at 1-800-930-2423 to let us know what file format you would like to receive.

Can you use my mail permit?
We are able to mail from our service location using our mail permit. Mailing permits are tied to local USPS offices and may only be used in the locality where they are issued. If you'd like us to address your material and ship it to you, you could use your own permit and mail it from your location.

What mailing list format should I send you?
The best file formats to send us for your mailing list are either Microsoft Excel or a tab or comma delimited text file. Please give us a call at 800-930-2423 if you're not sure what format you have or if we can use it. We can walk you through getting your address list into a viable file format and uploaded to us. The most common file formats and extensions for mailing lists are: Once you have your list prepared, you can upload it to us at fileupload.html.

What's the best way to break out the address fields or column names when exporting or preparing a mailing list?
The minimum required fields are: Name, Address1, City, State, Zip. Optional ones might be Business Name, Address2, Dept., etc. There is a limit of 5 lines for any address which in turn limits the number of different fields we can include.

Can you insert additional pieces into my envelope, flyer, etc.?
Yes we can do inserting. Please contact us to discuss your particular needs and to get an accurate price quote.

Do you offer tabbing (also called wafer sealing)?
Any mailing piece that requires tabbing is automatically tabbed according to postal regulations. There is no additional price for tabbing as this is automatically included in the price. If you need tabbing but you don't need us to mail your material for you, please call us for pricing.

Will aqueous coating interfere with addressing and mailing?
Not with our equipment! We can easily address aqueous-coated pieces. In fact, adding aqueous is a great way to avoid the scuffing which can occur during the sorting and delivering of your pieces in the mailing process. If you plan to have us print your products but have someone else address and mail them, please check to make sure the aqueous coating won't interfere with their process. Some bulk mailing services have problems working with aqueous coating.

Can I have you mail some of my order and ship the rest?
Simply set the full print quantity in the InstaPrice^® calculator and set the Mailing Services quantity to the number of addresses in your mailing list. We'll ship the quantity which is not mailed to the shipping address you provide on the order form.

Is there a fee for a Temp-Return Service Request?
No, for First Class mailing services. The use of most service endorsements for returning pieces and updating addresses when needed are included free for customers mailing via First Class and First Class Presort, as long the piece includes a return address. For Bulk Mail (Standard Mail or USPS Marketing Mail), we will add "Or Current Resident" after the primary name or business. Pieces will be delivered as addressed and since nothing is being returned, you'll incur no further charges or fees on the mailing. If this will not meet your mailing needs, please contact us for return service or change-of-address options and rates for bulk mail.

How long will it take to get my piece into the mail?
Add one additional day to the Production Speed you select when placing your order. For instance, if you choose our standard 4-day Production Speed, the mailing will be complete on or before the 5th business day after you approve your proof.

What happens to undeliverable mail? Can I request that it be returned to me? I'd like to keep my mailing list up to date.
Yes, in fact, we offer this service with First Class mailings at no charge. We add an endorsement line to tell the Post Office you are attempting to keep your list up to date. An endorsement line for this would say "Temp-Return Service Requested" and when printed on the mail piece ensures that it is returned to you with the new address or reason for non-delivery attached. Using and endorsement such as Temp-Return Service Requested is optional for customers using bulk mail, officially termed USPS Marketing Mail (formerly known as Standard Mail). If you'd like this option, you will be charged for all returned or updated addresses by the USPS, at first class rates. Please contact us at 800-930-2423 to arrange this optional service.

Do you offer mailing lists?
Yes! If you don't have a mailing list yet or would like to enhance the one you have, give us a call at 800-930-2423. Our mailing experts will work with you to find a targeted list that meets your needs.
Lists can be rented for single use, two times use, or unlimited use for one year. Renting your mailing list through us assures you'll get the highest quality addresses to minimize undeliverable pieces and maximize your direct mail campaign results. See our Terms and Conditions for mailing list rentals.

Can you mail to Canada or other non-U.S. addresses?
We would be happy to mail to your foreign addresses. If you have a mail piece that folds, most countries require that it be sealed on all sides or placed in an envelope. Stamps are used for quantities under 200 pieces. Please call 800-930-2423 to get a price for your mailing.

What is NCOA (National Change of Address)?
Over 40 million Americans change their address every year. The National Change of Address (NCOA) system uses the USPS database to check for people and businesses that have filed a change of address with the USPS within the last 48 months. Performing this update on a list saves you money on printing and postage by updating a list. Studies have shown that this service can save users a significant cost of their mailings (in many cases up to 15% or more) plus help increase response rates. NOTE: The post office does not forward bulk mail to the new address - they just recycle it.

NCOA - How it Works
We compare your list with the change orders given to the post office. which automatically updates your list with that person or business' new address. We provide you with this a list of the names with changes and their new address (some change to valid addresses, others change to non-updateable addresses). There is no cost to perform an NCOA clean up. We do charge $25 setup and .01 per name for NCOA list scrubbing only orders. Please call 800-930-2423 if you would like us to perform an NCOA update on your list.

Mailing Services Glossary of Terms

CASS Certification
Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) improves delivery of your mail piece and maximizes postage savings by adding Zip+4 codes to your mailing list where possible. The CASS Certification process also helps determine certain address problems and standardizes addresses to Postal Service formatting. The correct Zip+4 allows us to apply postal barcodes to your mail pieces, qualifying your mail for Mail Class discounts.

Zip+4
The standard ZIP Code is a system of 5 digit codes that identify the individual post office or area delivery station associated with the address. The additional 4 digits identify a specific range of delivery addresses.

Barcodes
Barcodes are small vertical lines printed in the bottom right corner of the piece to be mailed - we call this area the clear space. Much like a grocery scanner, barcodes represent the numbers which make up the address and Zip+4 codes. These codes make it possible for the mail processing equipment to quickly process these pieces, lowering mail-processing and delivery costs. The savings are passed on to consumers through lower postage rates.

Clear Space
Area in lower right of a mailing piece where the address and barcode is printed. This area must be blank or with less than 10% ink density, to ensure machine readability and therefore be eligible for your desired mail service class. Refer to our "U.S. Mail Layout Guides" for more information and help in preparing your layout.

Ancillery Service Endorsements (such as Service Requests)
These are usually imprinted directions on a mail piece to tell the Post Office what to do with the piece if it becomes undeliverable, such as: Change Service Requested, Forwarding Service Requested, Return Service Requested and Address Service Requested. These are normally required on a First Class Presorted pieces.

Ink Jet Addressing
We use state of the art, high-speed, ink jet technology for accurate addressing and bar coding that meets or exceeds USPS addressing regulations. In addition our addressing equipment can print on aqueous coating. This scuff-resistant gloss coating enables your piece to resist scratches and marks as it travels through the postal system to have a better chance of arriving at its destination looking clean and sharp. Many mailing services cannot print on aqueous-coated stocks.

NCOA (National Change of Address)
Over 40 million Americans change their address every year. The National Change of Address (NCOA) system uses the USPS database to check for people and businesses that have filed a change of address with the USPS within the last 48 months. Performing this update on a list saves you money on printing and postage by updating a list. Studies have shown that this service can save users a significant cost of their mailings (in many cases up to 15% or more) plus help increase response rates. NOTE: The post office does not forward bulk mail to the new address - they just recycle it.