 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Class Presort Prices |
|
Bulkmail.Info |
|
The USPS is now referring to postage "prices" instead of postage rates. All prices/rates on this page have been updated for the May 12, 2008, postal rate increase. Most "bulk mail" is mailed at Standard Class prices. But if you want your mail delivered as quickly as normal First Class mail, or if you are mailing pieces that are different for every recipient, you must use presorted First Class to receive discounted postage prices. Each mailing at presorted First Class prices must consist of at least 500 pieces. Unlike Standard presort, presorted First Class may contain personalized information, and may be used for bills, statements and other material where each recipient receives a different piece of mail. Nonprofit mailers do not receive any additional discounts over other mailers when using presorted First Class. Nor are there any extra discounts for depositing your mail at a sectional center or bulk mail center. Mail must be within the following weight limits in order to be eligible for presorted First Class prices: For nonbarcoded, machinable letters, each piece may not weigh more than 3.3 ounces. For nonbarcoded flats. each piece may not weigh more than 13 ounces. For barcoded letters, each piece may not weigh more than 3.5 ounces. For barcoded flats, each piece may not weigh more than 13 ounces. |
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 If you buy a permit imprint number, you can print an "indicia" box like this on your mail instead of putting a stamp on each piece. That saves a lot of work! |
|
The most common way to pay your postage is to maintain an account at the post office. Every time you bring in a mailing, the bulk mail acceptance crew will verify your postage calculations and then make sure you have enough in your account to pay for it. When you open an account, you'll get a permit number that you include in the "indicia" box you print on your mail pieces. Since the indicia is not really postage, you can have it printed as part of the printing on your mail piece, just like your return address. There is no need to print the indicia on each piece with your computer when you are printing addresses. While it is possible to put stamps on your bulk mail, or to use a meter, the wide range of prices even within a single mailing means you'll probably owe some money even after you stamp the mail. So, unless you are really trying to get people to think what you are sending is not bulk mail, stamping each piece is a lot of unnecessary work. And guess what? You're not fooling anybody! |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
First Class presort mail has different price categories depending on the size and shape of your mail piece. See our page on letters vs. flats if you are not sure what category your mail piece fits into. There is also a special price for postcards, which is included below. Note that the category is determined by the size of the mail piece, not by its content. Prices for nonbarcoded letters: Weight up to:
Pieces are subject to a 20¢ surcharge if they are of nonstandard shape. Price for nonbarcoded postcards: 24.2¢ To be eligible for the postcard price, the card must be: shaped like a rectangle, AND, not less than 3 1/2" high or more than 4 1/4" high, AND, not less than 5" long or more than 6" long, AND, not less than .007" thick or more than .016" thick. Prices for barcoded letters: Weight up to 1 ounce:
Prices for barcoded postcards:
To be eligible for the postcard price, the card must be: shaped like a rectangle, AND, not less than 3 1/2" high or more than 4 1/4" high, AND, not less than 5" long or more than 6" long, AND, not less than .007" thick or more than .016" thick. Prices for barcoded flats: Weight up to 1 ounce:
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Presorted First Class Prices
