Direct Mail Services
Tab Sealing
Tabs, sometimes called wafer seals, are a USPS requirement that must be applied to all self-mailers. Tabs prevent the open edge of your mailer from jamming the Postal Service's high-speed processing equipment. Our mailing services department can apply one or two tab seals easily as part of our mail processing capabilities.
Mailing Permit (indicia)
Items mailed at discounted rate require a mail permit. Futch Printing & Mailing will allow the use of our company permit for organizations that do not maintain their own permit, for any mailing projects handled by us. Please contact us prior to designing and/or printing your mailpiece.
Inserting
Whether a simple, one-page sales letter in an envelope or a multi-piece marketing kit (letter, several brochures, reply form, etc.), Futch Printing & Mailing can put it all together for you accurately and fast. Our high-speed automatic inserters allow us to handle very large mailings. We've also perfected a fast and accurate method of hand insertion for those projects which cannot be done by machine.
Address Correction Endorsements
Endorsements are instructions that are printed on the front of your mail piece to give the USPS instructions on how to handle your mail if it is undeliverable as addressed. Some of the more commonly used endorsements are: Address Service Requested, Return Service Requested, Forward Service Requested, and Change Service Requested. Most endorsements are the same for all classes of mail, but the treatment and cost differ by class of mail.
CASS Certification
CASS is a United States Postal Service (USPS) acronym for Coding Accuracy Support System. The term CASS is widely used by the USPS when they refer to the verification status of an address list. In order for an address list to receive CASS certification, it must be checked against the USPS Address Matching System (AMS) and the 11-digit delivery point ZIP code and corresponding barcode must be added. Only addresses with the delivery point ZIP code and barcode are eligible for "automation" bulk mailing rates. A mailing list must undergo address verification every six months (every three months for carrier route mailings) and is particularly important to mailers because of the difference between the "automation" and "non-automation" mailing rates, which is about $.05 per piece. For a 10,000 piece mailing, CASS certification of the address list could save the mailer approximately $500.
Our mailing services department uses the latest CASS certification technology (in-house) to help our customers keep the cost of their mailings as low as possible and to ensure a high percentage of delivery success.
Print-Then-Distribute
Ever feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to do? You're busy enough already. The last thing you need to worry about is finding the time to swing by your printer, pick up your mail pieces, and deliver them to the post office for distribution. Let us handle that for you. The folks in our mailing services department work closely with the Postal Service. We know all the ins-and-outs and can make sure your materials go out when you want them to... without any hassles, headaches, or delays. So relax. We have you covered.
Postal Presorting
Our mail presorting services save you money on postage and speed delivery time.
Our advanced mail presort technology lets us barcode and presort your mail according to 3 and 5 digit ZIP code. Presorted mail is easier and faster for the USPS to process. The ease of processing allows the Postal Service to charge us, and you, less postage. Whether it's first-class or standard mail, we get you the best possible postage rates. In order to accurately process mail and integrate it into the mail stream, we use high-speed sorting machines and recognition systems that are very similar to the ones used by the Postal Service. We can CASS certify your mail, print barcodes (if necessary), and sort mail into the most accurate 'final destination' ZIP code. Once properly prepared, we will even deliver the mail to the USPS to be mailed at a discounted rate on your behalf.
Post Office Delivery
When your mailing is completed, you are welcome to pick it up at our office, or we can deliver it directly to the post office for you. We are experts at completing USPS paperwork (which is often complicated and confusing), and we have a lot of experience working with the bulk mail department at the post office. We strongly suggest you allow us to work with the post office on your behalf. There is a small cost for our service, but we can save you a lot of time and possible frustration. Allowing us to handle your mailing project from concept to post office delivery is a smooth, one-step process that saves you time, money, and stress.
Postage Discounts
The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers significant discounts for volume business mailings and nonprofit organizations. These discounts apply to basically all types of business mail and can significantly reduce the cost of postage at your company.
When you work with a mailing services specialist at Futch Printing & Mailing, you can be sure you'll receive the lowest postage rate and the best possible delivery times.
Unlike traditional mailing houses, we're unique because we have the ability to take your mailing piece from design through delivery to the post office. We specialize in mailing services project management. Why would you want to have your mailing project designed at one place, printed at another, and then mailed at a third place? We can save you significant time—and hassles—when you let us manage the entire print and mail process for you.
Qualifying for discounts
To qualify for mailing discounts, your mailer must meet certain guidelines set by the USPS. Generally speaking, your piece must meet size restrictions (length, width, and thickness), weight restrictions, and design/layout requirements.
Nonprofit mail
A qualified nonprofit organization is entitled to significant mailing discounts over standard mailing rates.
Presorting - DPBC (Delivery Point Barcode)
Presorted mail that is sorted by ZIP code and imprinted with a barcode prior to delivery to the post office can save you money. The USPS gives discounts to companies who participate in their "revenue sharing program" (that's really what they call it). In order to receive these discounts, your mail must be CASS certified, sorted, trayed, tagged, sleeved, and strapped... all services provided by Futch Printing & Mailing.
To learn more about postage discounts and designing an effective mailer, visit the USPS's helpful Business Mail 101 resource page.