Mail Services

What is Bulk Mail?

The term "bulk mail" (often refered to as "presorted" mail) refers to larger quantities of mail prepared for mailing at reduced postage. There are two types of bulk mailings; Standard and Non-Profit Presort. Standard Presort applies to advertising or mailings giving general information, whereas Non-Profit Presort is generally used by entities trying to raise money for a not-for-profit organization.

Click here for a printable bulk mailing checklist!

How do I know if my mailing qualifies as “Bulk”?

• Is your mailing at least 200 pieces total?
• Is your mailing mass produced with no personal messages included?
• Is your mailing going to addresses only within the USA?
• Does an individual piece in your mailing weigh less than 16 ounces?
• Does your mailing have a complete return address printed on it?
• Does your mailing have an ancillary endorsement below the return address (Return Service Requested or Address Service Requested)?

If you replied "yes" all of these questions, then your mailing qualifies to be sent Bulk Rate!

Preparing a Bulk Mailing

When preparing your bulk mailing, there are a couple different choices you must make before mailing them out.

Choice #1: To Meter or Not to Meter?

• To Meter

If you chose to have your mail metered at Mail Services, please contact us after you have designed your mail piece. We can look it over for you to ensure your design has sufficient room for the type of stamp we must print. Remember: the "rule of thumb" with bulk mailings is that they should take less time for any mailing entity to process; hence the incentive for a discounted rate (Also refer to "Mail Piece Design" for more help).

•Not to Meter (aka "Imprint") 

This type of mail has a PRESORTED STANDARD OR imprint in the upper right hand corner. Mail Services requires an exact piece count on all mailings, so if one is available, then we would appreciate the information. All pieces must be identical in weight and contents.

Choice #2: Ancillary Endorsements

What are Ancillary Endorsements for?

Ancillary service endorsements are used by mailers to request an addressee’s new address and to provide the USPS with instructions on how to handle undeliverable-as-addressed pieces.

The two endorsements most commonly used by WOU are “Return Service Requested” and "Address Service Requested”. One of these endorsements is required to be on all imprinted bulk mailings. If the endorsement is not on a bulk mailing being metered, then Mail Services will stamp it with the “Address Service Requested” endorsement.

What’s the difference?

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The mail piece will be returned to you with the corrected address. The return charge is according to weight. A 1 ounce piece will be $0.46, 2 ounce $0.66 and so on. You will then pay additional postage to mail the piece out once the address has been corrected.

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED OPTION!

The mail piece will be forwarded to the addressee and you will receive a copy of the pieces with the corrected address, which will cost you $0.55. If you have used a non-existent address or mailed to a person who has vacated the address over 12 months prior you will be charged the weighted fee. This can be as much as $1.56 on a 2 ounce piece.  

How do I prepare my Bulk Mailing?

• Prepare mailing as necessary (fold and stuff into envelopes if applicable), and put one piece aside as an example for Mail Services.
• It is not necessary to seal envelopes, but it will make your mailing process faster.
• Ensure that all of the envelopes are facing the same way (forward and up!).
• Separate the mailing into “Oregon” and “Out of State” categories.
• Out of state should be rubber banded and set aside in a tray separate from “Oregon” mail.
• Oregon mail must be sorted by the FIRST THREE DIGITS of the zip code (we refer to this procedure as “first three”).
• Ex. All letters going to 971 would be together, all letters for 972, 973… and so on.
• After sorting all Oregon mail, rubber band each category separately and securely place sticky notes on each one indicating which “first three” zip code it falls under.
• Place bundles in a box or tray, facing the same direction and securely attach a note with the index number you would like to be charged and bring to Mail Services or call 88-383 to request a pick up.
• If your mailing list has been CASS/NCOA certified, please enclose the certification slip along with the mailing.

Contact

WOU Mail Services (503) 838-8383 | or e-mail: balesa@wou.edu