Standard Postage . . .
    Presorted Standard Mail refers to mailings of at least 200 addressed pieces of mail sorted and prepared according to postal standards. The Postal Service refers to Presorted Standard Mail as a "work share" program. As a result, the Postal Service saves time and money and these savings are passed on in the form of discounted postage rates.

The presorted standard mail rate is for advertising mail such as sales flyers, form letters. Unlike First Class mailings where mail is forward, or returned with address corrections, Standard Mail must must endorsements to achieve the same service. Along with Service endorsements are additional costs. Some types of mail correspondences, bills, invoices, and handwritten matter- cannot be mailed as Standard Mail. By law, these items must be mailed as First Class Mail.
 
Postage Rates for Presorted Standard Mail
Regular Letters Weighing 3.3 oz or less
Entry Point Discount Non-Automation Automation  
Basic 3/5 Mixed AADC AADC 3-Digit 5-Digit
NONE 0.268 0.248 0.219 0.212 0.203 0.190
DBMC 0.247 0.227 0.198 0.191 0.182 0.169
DSCF 0.242 0.222 --- 0.186 0.177 0.164
  Automation verses Non-Automation:

Automation compatible mail pieces qualify for a lower postage rates. On average an automation mail piece's postage rate can be 20% less than a non-automation mail piece.

If the mail piece is automation compatible it can be processed by postal processing machinery (such as optical character readers). A non-automation compatible mail piece will be processed manually. Using machinery to process mail pieces is less costly and time consuming resulting in savings in the form of a lower postage rates.

A 20% savings in postage can be substantial; there for it is important to have a Professional mailer process your mailing to meet the postal requirements necessary to be automation compatible. Key requirements for automation compatible mail pieces are listed below:
  1. Minimum mailing size of 200 pieces
  2. Must be 100% delivery point bar-coded
  3. Must meet physical size and shape requirements
  4. Documentation must be prepared using certified software
  5. All addresses must be 100% CASS certified within 180 days of the mail date
  Entry Point Discounts:

The entry point discounts apply to mail prepared as prescribed by the Postal Service and addressed for delivery within the service area of that bulk mail facility.
 
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