Bulk Mail

 

 

 

Postcards are an inexpensive way to get an immediate message to customers. When they arrive in the mail, there’s the message – no envelope to open! First-Class Mail postcards are a great value, too. With First-Class Mail postcards, you pay a low price and get all of the benefits, like forwarding and return that come with First-Class Mail.

You may think that your mailpiece is a “postcard,” because it is a single sheet of paper. But to qualify for mailing at the First-Class Mail postcard price, it must be:

• Rectangular
• At least 3 1/2 inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick
• No more than 4 1/2 inches high x 6 inches long x 0.016 inch thick

If your mailpiece does not meet the dimensions above, then the Postal Service considers it a letter and letter-size postage is charged. With Standard Mail, there is a little more Flexibility – there is no separate (lower) price for postcards, so you don’t have to worry about your postcard being to big – because you’re paying letter prices anyway. But make sure that your postcard is no larger than 6-1/8” x 11-1/2 x 1/4" thick. Mailpieces larger than any of those dimensions and you’ll have to pay flats (large envelope) postage prices.

You probably have a picture in your mind of what a “letter” is. Possibly you’re using a standard no. 10 for your letter, so that’s easy to picture. However, if you decide to create a mailpiece with its own special envelope or if you are designing a piece that will be folded to letter-size, be sure to keep in mind the following size requirements for letters.

• Rectangular
• At least 3-1/2 inches height x 5 inches length x 0.007 inch thickness
• No more than 6-1/8 inches height x 11-1/2 inches length x 0.007 inch thickness

You can fold sheets of paper to form letter-size pieces or newsletters. Folded pieces, or folded self-mailers, can save time and money because you’re not paying for or stuffing envelopes. Folded self-mailers must be sealed or they will be subject to the nonmachineable surcharge. We recommend that you use wafer seals or tabs to close the open sides of folded mailpieces.

The Postal Service uses the word “flats’ to refer to large envelopes, newsletters, and magazines. The words large envelopes and flats are used interchangeably. Whatever you call them, flats must:

• Have one dimension that is greater than 6-1/8 inches high or 11-1/2 inches long or 1/4 inch thick.
• Be no more than 12 inches high x 15 inches long x 3/4 inch thick.

The maximum size for a flat provides plenty of room to put lots of material in the envelope. But keep in mind that weight usually affects price –the higher the weight the higher the postage, especially for First-Class Mail.

 Domestic Rate Reference

What percentage of the budget is set aside for mailing your project?  Is your mail time-sensitive?  Does the size, shape, or weight of your mail create any restrictions on how it can or cannot be sent?  Is it important for you to keep track of returned mail and change of address notifications?  These questions will help you to determine the most effective way to send your mail.

 

1. Solicitations and advertisements may not be included on any area of the mailing – requests for funds, volunteering, petitions, or attendance are not considered solicitations.
2. Vanderbilt University, must appear on the first or second line by itself in order to get Non-Profit Status: 

 

On a letter-size piece, the recommended address placement is within the optical character reader read area, which is a space on the address side of the mailpiece defined by these boundaries:

• Recommended size 2 x 4
• Left: 1/2 inch from the left edge of the pieces
• Right: 1/2 inch for the right edge of the piece
• Top: 2-3/4 inches from the bottom edge of the piece
• Bottom: 5/8 inch from the bottom edge of the piece

The incorrect placement of the address (due to design) may render a piece non-automated or nonmachinable please be sure when designing your mailpiece we have a correct clearance for printing.

If your mailed piece contains any of the following characteristics, it will be sent as Non-Automated:

• Size, shape, and/or weight exceed Automated mail requirements

• Aspect ratio that is less than 1.3 or exceeds 2.5

• Rigidity and/or uniformity do not comply with Automated mail requirements

• Mail is wrapped or bagged Mail contains clasps, ribbons, buttons, etc.

• Delivery address is parallel to the shorter edge

• Downsize and Save! Remember these tips for your next mailing:
  1) Folding a flat and mailing it in an envelope as a letter can help you save almost half in Standard mail.
  2) Focus on Shape! Rectangular pieces with an aspect ratio of 1.3 to 2.5 will mail less expensively and more efficiently. 
• 3) Make sure your mailpiece meets the minimum thickness requirement. Thin, flimsy pieces tend to get caught in mail processing equipment.

MAILING LISTS 101

Correctly prepare your mailing list to decrease processing time, ensure delivery, and maintain privacy.

• Lists must contain a header, identifying the corresponding information in each column.
• Separate lists by delivery location – Station B, 17, Peabody, and US Mail delivery.
• Never include Social Security numbers!
• Remember that, generally, the maximum number of lines for window envelopes is 5.

MAILING LIST DO’S

Acceptable information to include in your xls/cvs, dbf, or txt file:

First	Last	Address 1	Address 2	City	State	Zip
Alexander		123 Belle Road		Austin	TX	11111
Benjamin	Smith	4567 Harding Place	Apt. 8	Nashville	TN	22222
Amy	Reynolds	890 26th Avenue	D-121	Birmingham	AL	33333

 

In addition to the above, you may choose to include Department, Title, Company, ID Number, or relevant Campus Mail Information.  Please include instructions for variable data printing placement:

MAILING LIST DON’TS

To protect your mail recipients’ privacy, all submitted lists will be reviewed for unidentified fields and unnecessary personal information.

First	Last	Address 1	Address 2	City	State	Zip	Phone	Birthdate
Alexander	Baily	123 Belle Road		Austin	TX	11111	(123)456-7890	1/2/2003
Benjamin	Smith	4567 Harding Place	Apt. 8	Nashville	TN	22222	(234)567-8901	2/3/2004
Amy	Reynolds	890 26th Avenue	D-121	Birmingham	AL	33333	(345)678-9012	3/4/2005

Please do not send lists that contain collapsed/hidden columns, as Vanderbilt Printing Services expands all fields during processing – personal information must be DELETED off data before we receive files.

First	Last	Address 1	Address 2	City	State	Zip	P
Alexander	Bailey	123 Belle Road		Austin	TX	11111
Benjamin	Smith	4567 Harding Place	Apt. 8	Nashville	TN	22222
Amy	Reynolds	890 26th Avenue	D-121	Birmingham	AL	33333

Using a complete and correct address is the best way to get it there fast. The full address, including full country name must be included. Here’s an example

• Name of Addressee
• Street address or post office box number
• City or town name, other principal subdivision ( such as Province, State, or country) and Postal code ( if known)
• Full country name

Name
Department
Box Number

No other information (building name, street address, etc.) is necessary.

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For further information, please call 936-4544 or send us an email at printingservices@vanderbilt.edu.

For additional information on Vanderbilt’s campus mail system, please visit the University’s Mail Services website or theMedical Center’s Post Office website.