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Is Your Mailpiece Machinable? Take Our Quick Test
Return to News Items January 9, 2012Let's face it. These days, every penny counts in your direct mail campaign. So why pay the post office any more postage than you absolutely have to?
Here is a short quiz to take BEFORE your designer gets to work that will ensure you're paying the least amount of postage possible.
If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions, your letter is nonmachinable, and will either have to mail as a flat (which isn't always possible) or incur a hefty surcharge.
1. Is the aspect ratio less than 1.3 or greater than 2.5? (A square envelopes is an automatic yes.) To figure aspect ratio, divide the length of your mailpiece by the height.
2. Is your mailer in a polybag or plastic envelope? Double-check that it's USPS-certified (we can help you with this). Is the mailpiece itself made from something other than paper? Plastic cards and laminated flyers look cool, but will be much more costly to mail.
3. Is your mailpiece closed with clasps, strings, buttons, or something similar?
4. Have you included a lumpy bumpy item like a pen, pencil, key or coin?
5. Is your mailer too stiff? This typically applies to companies mailing CDs and DVDs.
6. Is the thickness less than .009 for pieces more than 4.25 x 6?
7. Is your self mailer tabbed properly?
8. Is your delivery address parallel to the SHORT dimension?
9. Is your booklet (multiple pages secured by a binding) designed so the bound edge is on top?
If you've answered yes to any of these, don't panic, and give us a call. We may be able to suggest a solution or work-around that can save you hundreds of dollars of postage, or even reprinting costs.
Post Haste Mailing Services 858-513-7740
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