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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is included in Mailing Services?
Mailing Services Include:
List Preparation (single file)
CASS Certification
Address Ink Jetting
NCOA
Postal Pre-sorting
De-duplication
Drop-off at Local USPS Office
Mailing service fees start at $75.00
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2.
How do I estimate the arrival date of my mail
piece?
Mailing preparation could add 2-3 Business Days
to your selected print production turnaround.
Estimated USPS Delivery Time is based on Postage
class selected. We do however specialize in quick turn
times. Your mail may go out the same day depending on volume
and requested postmark date.
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3. What are the postage options?
USPS Postage Rates and Estimated
Times-in-transit*
Size USPS Postage In Transit - Southern
California In Transit - Nationwide
4.25x6" First Class $0.23 1-2 Business Days 2-3
Business Days
4.75x6.25" to 6x11" First Class $0.382 1-2
Business Days 2-3 Business Days
4.75 to 6x11"
Standard Bulk $0.27 3-5 Business Days 5-14
Business Days
*USPS delivery times are estimates. We cannot
guarantee the arrival of mail pieces by a
certain date. Seasonal volume and adverse
weather conditions may affect the timeliness of
delivery.
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4.
How much can I save mailing in
bulk?(Postage price only)
There are cost benefits to
bulk mailing. How much you save depends on
how much you are mailing and what you are
mailing. Below is an example of a common
cost savings that our clients receive. Cost analysis for mailing 5000 4x6 postcards:
|
First class rate: |
27 cents
(estimated) |
For 5000 4
x 6 postcards
|
$1350 |
|
Bulk mail first class rate |
20 cents
(estimated) |
For 5000 4
x 6 postcards
|
$1000 |
 |
| |
|
Savings
|
$350 |
To
find out how much you can save for your specific
needs please contact us at: 949-279-3592.
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5. What USPS guidelines should I follow when
setting up my file?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has very
strict guidelines in order for a mail piece to
be qualified for discounted postage rates.
Indicia - Leave 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" white space on
the upper right hand corner for the postal
Indicia. For folded pieces, the Indicia should
be on the upper right hand corner of the same
side as the fold opening.
Address Area – Leave at least a 2" high x 4"
wide white space on the mailing side for
printing the recipient's address and the
barcode. There should be no mailable address
(City, State and ZIP Code) on the bottom 2" of
the mailing side.
Size - Minimum size 4.25 x 5.5", Maximum size
6 x 11"
Aspect Ratio - When selecting a custom size
postcard for mailing, make sure the aspect ratio
is between 1.3 – 2.5. (The aspect ratio of an
image is its width divided by its height.)
Folding – Folded mail pieces should be tabbed if
they are self-mailed or enclosed in an envelope.
Weight – Maximum mailable weight for folded mail
pieces between 4 x 6" and 6 x 11" is 3.0 oz.
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6. What is the required format for the mailing
list?
Having a properly set up list is the beginning
of a successful mailing campaign. The
recommended fields are:
Company
First Name
Last Name
Street Address
Street Address2
City,
State ,
ZIP Code
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7. Which formats do you accept for mailing lists?
We accept Excel files and comma delimited text
files (.xls, .xlsx, .csv, .txt). Once you place
your order, simply upload your mailing list
through the website and complete the
questionnaire so we can ensure that we do your
list per your specifications.
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8. Do you offer List Services?
If you do not have your own list to use, simply
contact us and we will help you purchase a list
that is focused on the audience who will likely
find interest in your products or services.
Pinpoint prospects by demographics, location or
even distance from your business.
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9. What is NCOA?
USPS requires that lists for all mailing
of discounted First Class and
Standard presort rates be updated within 95 days
before the mailing date using the USPS
approved method NCOA (National
Change of Address).
NCOA is the process of updating your mailing
list based on all Change of Address requests
filed by relocating postal customers in the last
18 months. This reduces undeliverable mail,
prevents wasted postage and lets you reach the
right people the first time.
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10. How
should I design my artwork for mailing?
Your art/design should include the minimum space
requirements needed to inkjet the address on your piece
(minimum 4” wide x 2” tall in the bottom right
corner of the mailing panel for postcards and
brochure mailers). The inkjet area must be
completely unprinted and no borders are
allowed on the bottom or right edge of the
mailing panel. If you are mailing a booklet,
other USPS requirements may apply - please check
with us prior to final design so we can confirm
your design meets requirements to mail at the
lowest applicable rate.
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11. Which postage rate should I choose?
Consider the class that best suits your budget
requirements and expected delivery time of your
project. First Class mail delivers within 2-5
business days and automatically includes returns
for undeliverable addresses. If delivery time is
not as specific for your project, you may want
to consider mailing via Standard Presort, which
has a general delivery timeframe of 7 to 15
business days. Note that USPS does not guarantee
a delivery date or timeframe for Standard or
Non-Profit Standard mail. Items that may
not be sent standard class are as follows:
personal mail, handwritten mail, no bills or
payments coupons.
Calculate Your Pre-sort Postage
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12. Can I include my mailing permit in my artwork?
You have the option to print the appropriate
indicia when you print your piece or it can be
done during the addressing process.
We mail jobs through our local USPS business
mail entry unit using our mailing permit. If you
have your own permit this can also be used.
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13. What does mailing list processing, or CASS
Certification, include?
When you purchase mailing services, we will
review your mailing lists in order to remove
duplicate contacts (if requested) and remove any
undeliverable addresses through the CASS
certification process. There is no additional
charge for reviewing your mailing list to remove
these items, but it is an optional service that
must be specified within the Upload List
process. If you request removal of duplicates,
keep in mind that the software only looks for
EXACT matches, so "John Smith" versus "Jonathon
Smith" will not be recognized as a duplicate
record.
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14.
What is the turn time from my
mailing being dropped off at Mike's Mailing to
the time it gets dropped off at USPS?
Mailing Services adds two business days to your
print turnaround time, thus your job will
deliver to USPS 2 business days after being
received at Mike's Mailing. Note that we
specialize in fast turn times and your job may
get out the same day it comes in. Also
note a postage check is required before the mail
will be delivered to the post office.
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15. Can you mail to a foreign
address?
If you have foreign addresses in your mailing
list, we can mail those for you. Contact us for
more information regarding international
mailing.
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