Mailing Lettershop Terms

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Addressing—a direct mail piece can include hand addressing, typing, ink jet or laser printing, labeling via hand or machine, and heat transfer methods. Ask your distributor to recommend the methods that will convey the image you desire.

CASS—coding accuracy support system is a process designed to improve the accuracy of ZIP+4, 5-digit ZIP codes, and carrier route codes that appear on mail pieces. This is done by providing a common platform (NDI—National Deliverable Index) to service bureaus, lettershops and software vendors. The NDI is used to measure the quality of address matching software. You can reduce postage by 20% to 27% if you use a CASS-certified method. If you provide preprinted labels, envelopes, etc., to your distributor or lettershop, and the postage is based on a discounted rate, you must also provide the necessary paperwork.

Co-mingled Mail—promotional mail from two or more customers that is sorted, bundled and/or stacked together in accordance with USPS regulations prior to entering the postal system. The mailer (lettershop) usually arranges this in return for discounted postal rates.

Co-op Mailing—a direct or promotional mailing where several advertisers, usually of non-competing products or services, place their literature in the same outgoing envelope or package. Costs, including postage, carrier envelope, and inserting are shared by the participating advertisers.

Fulfillment—the service of handling inbound inquiries or orders and responding with literature or products. Some lettershops offer these services and others offer lock box arrangements that forward inquiries and orders to customers.

Inserting—This is normally done by equipment that automatically places one or more direct mail pieces into a single envelope. The number of allowable inserts will depend on the equipment available. Standard inserting equipment can accommodate up to six inserts.

Mailing Lists—compilations of names, addresses, titles, companies, and other statistical information. Lists usually contain names of persons sharing a similar characteristic, i.e., subscribers to a particular magazine or credit card holders. Mailing lists can be generated from your database, purchased from Greenway, or leased for one-time use.

Poly Bag Inserting—specialized service of providing an outer mailing carrier made of polyethylene in which advertising materials are mailed.

Presort Services—the sorting, affixing of postage, bundling, and stacking or traying of flats of mail in accordance with USPS specifications. This service can usually earn a postal discount rate. A typical presort service would be ZIP code + 4 sorting, or affixing a bar code of the ZIP + 4.

Tipping/Affixing—attachment of at least one separate piece to another with an adhesive. For example, a plastic card can be affixed to a letter or carrier.