Is March 29, 2009 Marked on Your Calendar?

If you generate flat mail that currently qualifies for discounted rates you should…

What is so special about March 29, 2009? That is the day when the new address placement requirements for most large discounted envelopes (Flats) will be made effective. First Class Flats are not required to make the change yet. If you don’t comply your mail could be refused or additional postage could be required.

What are the new requirements?

New address placement standards apply to all Periodicals, Standard Mail and Package Services flats mailed at presort, carrier route and automation prices (Optional for First-Class Mail). The delivery address must be in the top half of the mail piece.

The new requirements affect Automation and Presorted First-Class Mail as well as flat-size Standard Mail. The minimum qualifications for these classes remain the same; 500 pieces for First Class Automation and Presort, and 200 pieces or 50 pounds for Standard Mail.

Where is the top half?

There are several options. For enveloped or poly wrapped pieces, and all saturation Carrier Route pieces, the “top” of the mailpiece is either of the shorter edges. For pieces that are not enclosed in envelopes or poly wrap, the “top” is the upper edge when the bound edge (or the final fold) is vertical and on the right side of the piece.

Once you choose a top edge, measure halfway down the piece, and that’s the top half. Your address (recipient lines, delivery address lines, and city/state/ZIP Code line) must be entirely within the top half. If you have a shorter mailpiece, the address can run into the bottom half if you place it within an inch of the top edge.

You can place the delivery address on the front or the back of the mailpiece, but it must be on the same side as the postage. The address may be parallel or perpendicular to the top edge, but not upside-down as read in relation to the top edge. A perpendicular address can face to the left or the right.

Solutions from San Diego Postal and Shipping Equipment

Try a 6” by 9” envelope and fold your contents in half. You can use a Hasler folder inserter or a Hasler folder and hand stuff the envelopes. You will save money on postage as they go at the letter rate, and you will save time and money because you can automate what presently may be a manual job.

If you would like to see these machines in action, call us for an appointment and we will be sure to have qualified people available to help you, and don’t forget to bring the samples of your mailing so we can determine if they are suitable for automation. (Most are)

Call us; ask one of our Mail Quality Control certified Account Representatives

We can be reached at (800) 545 – 0437 or at sales@sdpostal.com

More information regarding the changes in addressing standards for flats click here..

(SDP Home)