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Your business has designed, ordered, and received high-quality print materials from an expert print partner, and now it’s time to deliver to your audience. As your team weighs all of the direct mail delivery options, consider the cost-effective benefits of bulk mail.

Often referred to as 'pre-sort' mail, bulk mail delivers a lower cost to put your materials in the audience's mailboxes, mail carts, and hands, saving your business time and money. This direct mail method sends larger quantities of mail with reduced postage, streamlining USPS processing steps and ensuring proper sorting and verification.

Most corporate uses of bulk mail center around direct mail marketing, non-profit annual appeals, event invitations, and announcements, all centered around the budget-friendly alignment of automation, proper accounting, address verification, sorting, and reporting.

Here are some of the basics:

Common Bulk Mail Uses

• Statements/Bills
• Stock Disclosure Statements
• Class Action Lawsuit Announcements
• Catalogs
• Direct Mail
• Non-Profit Appeals
• Event Invitations
• Newsletters

Steps for Bulk Mail Preparation

• Obtain Mailing Permit or Confirm Use of Xperient’s Mailing Permit
• Distribution, Shipping, and Fulfillment
• CASS Certification
• Apply Postage or Permit
• Ensure Artwork is USPS Compliant
• Pre-Sort by Postal Code
• Assembly into USPS-accepted Trays/Bags
• Completing USPS Approved Forms
• Postage Pre-Payment

Minimum Bulk Mail Quantities

• 500 pieces for First-Class Mail
• 200 pieces (or 50 pounds of mail) for USPS Marketing Mail
• 50 pieces for Parcel Select
• 300 pieces for Pre-Sorted or Carrier Route Bound Printed Matter

Bulk and Pre-sort Savings Examples

• Normal Letter, pre-sort, first class $0.69 (versus $0.73)
• Normal Letter, pre-sort, bulk $0.38 (versus $0.73)
• Normal Letter, pre-sort, non-profit, bulk $0.20 (versus $0.73)

In addition to reducing postage costs, simplifying the address verification process can yield additional savings. Features like 'de-duping' and removing bad addresses will ensure that you are only paying for mail that is deliverable.

While saving money on postage is attractive to most, bulk mail processing is not for everyone. Not meeting the minimum quantity, missing one of the required steps, or needing the mail to arrive on a specific timeline can rule out the value of this method.

Please reach out if you have any questions or need assistance delivering your materials to your audience. We are happy to consult on best mail practices and all other print-related communication!

Xperient is Central Florida's locally owned premier printer, employing a wide variety of bulk and presort methods to deliver your printed materials.