A & B Bulk Mailers will design each job to take advantage of the best postal rates. We’ll show where clear space (free of any design elements) is needed to facilitate bar-coding, addressing and permit imprinting so that the mail piece is eligible for your preferred mail service class..

A & B Bulk Mailers will go on your secured website and we will download each file for the particular project and begin data processing the job. On every mailing order we remove duplicate listings and CASS Certify the list, which allows us to identify "undeliverable" or questionable addresses. We can either mail to these bad addresses or delete them from your list.

It’s not always the case that addresses considered "undeliverable" in the USPS database won't reach their destination. Some of the addresses deemed questionable might be delivered successfully because the local mail carrier knows the particular neighborhood and where to deliver the mail piece. Since questionable addresses may actually work, you may want to include them in a mass mailing where "getting the word out" matters more than meeting a tight budget.

We would be happy to email the "cleaned up" version of your list to you, or send you the list of the questionable addresses at your request. We quality control each list and receive an internal report for the data quality of each file.

The best file formats to send us for your mailing list are either Microsoft Excel or a tab or comma delimited text file.

• We 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:

- .CSV Comma Delimited

- .ASC ASCII text file

- .TXT ASCII text file

- .XLS Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

- .MDB Microsoft Access

The minimum required fields are: Name, Addressl, City, State, and 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.

For Standard or Bulk mail the piece will be returned to you and you will be charged a First Class rate plus a nominal amount (determined by a complicated set of variables....). Return service is free with First Class and First Class Presort Services.

We then output the list to the right piece of mailing equipment for the particular mailing project.

Simultaneously, we are hand or machine inserting the right materials from inventory for the number of kits needed for the mailing.

We will fax a copy of the mailing list and the sample for a representative’s approval before mailing.

We will insert fold, staple tab, glue or provide whatever fulfillment is needed for each individual mailing project quality controlling each project.

We will tag tie and bundle each mailing job individually with the appropriate mailing requirements paperwork and deliver the job to the post office.

We cut a check and deposit the appropriate amount of money into the post office account to assure that each mailing has enough postage to meet postal requirements.

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.

We will produce the jobs at the contract rate and meet the deadlines of each mailing.

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.

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.