Mail Room: Ask Sandra
I print a lot of reply mail envelopes for customers now. What do I need to know about the new USPS timelines and regulations to be ahead of the curve?
Sandra Long, vice president, Printer Market and Customer Development, Pitney Bowes, answers readers’ questions about mailing. Send your questions to her at Sandra.Long@pitneybowes.com.
Q: I print a lot of reply mail envelopes for customers now. What do I need to know about the new USPS timelines and regulations to be ahead of the curve?
A:
The options include Courtesy Reply mail (CRM), Meter Reply mail (MRM), Permit Reply mail (PRM), and Business Reply Mail (BRM), which consists of these segments: Basic BRM, High Volume BRM, and Qualified BRM. You should consider anticipated number of returns, the postage costs, the annual permit fee, and the accounting fees (if applicable). Each program has specific benefits and costs you will want to understand and compare. Detailed information regarding reply mail options can be found at QSG 505. Reply mail costs can be found in Notice 123, page 51.
This is also an opportunity to recommend to your customer that they make sure the proper Intelligent Mail barcode is on the reply envelope. The Postnet code is being discontinued as of January 2013. After this date, automation mail that includes pre-printed QBRM or BRM response pieces must contain an IMB on the enclosed envelopes. Continuing to print Postnet codes on these reply envelopes could leave your clients with unusable inventory next January. Turn this into an opportunity to give your clients some great advice, and generate more printing!
For more information visit www.MyPrintResource.com/10007238
