MAILING GUIDELINES

Mailing First Class vs. Standard (Bulk) Rate

When your mailing is time sensitive, First-Class Mail is your best choice. It is generally delivered in 3-5 days nationally and 1-3 days in California and the Southwest. Also, the USPS provides free forwarding/return of your mail if the mailing address is outdated.

U.S. Bulk Rate, known as Standard Mail, offers lower postage rates but has a longer delivery time. Typically you can expect delivery in 10-14 days nationally and 4-6 days in California and the Southwest U.S. The USPS will not forward or return mail if the mailing address is incorrect.

Standard Mailers Take Note! While the USPS sets delivery expectations, it does not guarantee delivery times for Standard Mail. This class of mail can take considerably longer at peak mailing periods, and we do not recommend using it for time-sensitive programs, such as events.

Other Benefits to Using First Class mail

First Class offers a lower Postcard rate that applies to our Standard size card. Our Deluxe and Sumo size® cards mail at the regular First Class letter rate. One other benefit is that First Class automatically includes the forwarding or return of mail if the recipient has moved. Bulk mail is not forwarded unless you use an Ancillary Service Endorsement and pay additional fees for those forwarded and returned pieces.

Standard Size Postcards at Bulk Rate Prices

It is rarely cost-effective to do so and may actually cost more than mailing this size card at the First Class postcard rate. Bulk rate only offers discounts from the higher letter rate and does not offer lower postage for Postcard size pieces.

Lower Postage Rates for Non Profit Organizations

Non Profit groups can apply to the U.S. Postal Service for approval to mail at special Non Profit postage rates. This class of mail is a lower priced Bulk Mail rate with the same delivery timeframes. We will mail your cards at this lower postage rate only after you have sent us the proper documentation. This includes a completed Postal Service Form 3623 plus a request for additional entry on company letterhead signed by a responsible organization official. We will then forward these documents to our local Post Office for their approval.

Actual Postage Rates

For postcard mailings, postage is based upon the geographic concentration & quantity of actual postcards mailed. Example: 15,000 postcards mailed to a concentrated area in your own city will pay a much lower rate than 550 postcards mailed to a list of widely scattered rural areas.

One of the major factors in receiving discounted postage rates comes from preparing your postcards for mailing. For instance, sorting the postcards by Zip Code and delivering the cards to a specific postal facility reduces the amount of work necessary from the Post Office. The Postal Service's costs are lowered, and so are your rates.

Different Classes of Mail also Help to Determine your Postage Rates

These rates are:

First Class

First-Class Mail is your best choice for time-sensitive mail. It is generally delivered in 3-5 days nationally and 1-3 days in California and the Southwest. Additionally, First Class delivery is consistent throughout the year while Bulk rate can take considerably longer at peak mailing periods such as the holidays.

First Class Postage rates from our postcard presorted mailings average between $0.20 - $0.22 each for Standard Size postcards and $0.32 - $0.36 for Deluxe and Sumo Size® postcards.

Bulk

U.S. Bulk rate, also known as Standard Mail, offers lower postage rates but with a longer delivery time. You can expect delivery in 10-14 days nationally and 4-6 days in California and the Southwest U.S. Bulk rate only offers discounts from the higher letter rate and does not offer lower postage for Postcard size pieces.

Standard (Bulk) rates from our postcard presorted mailings average between $0.23 - $0.26 each for Deluxe and Sumo Size® postcards.

Non Profit

Non Profit groups can apply to the U.S. Postal Service for approval to mail at special Non Profit postage rates. This class of mail is a lower priced Bulk Mail rate with the same delivery timeframes. Once this approval has been received, Modern Postcard can mail for your organization at this postage rate once you have sent us the proper documentation. This includes a completed Postal Service Form 3623 plus a request for additional entry on company letterhead signed by a responsible organization official. We will forward these documents to our local Post Office for their approval.

Non Profit rates from our postcard presorted mailings average between $0.13 - $0.16 each for Deluxe and Sumo Size® postcards.