Mailing Services

There are many different aspects to keep in mind when creating an item for mailing. We can help you get things straight. By keeping your project with us from prepress through its completion, we can make certain it gets out on time and is developed as economically as possible. We offer professional, state-of-the-art mailing services with data input, specific mailing list access, list management, and machine insertion.

Mailing Specifications
There are many ways to have us process your mailing. We prepare and deliver your finished job to the Post Office, while making sure every requirement is met. Cards, letters, and self-mailers all must meet weight & size requirements. Return addresses and self-mailers must have the mail panels set up correctly.

1. Addressing
Labels can be hand applied, or inkjet applied.

High Speed Addressing
Alliance Printing and Mailing Services has an inkjet printer, for high-speed direct addressing. The inkjet printer prints addresses and bar codes.

Setting up Addresses
A format like the example shown below should be followed.

3. Stamp Adhering
Stamp adhering, or pre-cancelled stamps, are available in bulk or first class postage. Customers may prefer this for a more formal mailing. Certain stamps requested by customers can be applied to mailers by our mail staff, depending on availability.

4. Inserting
Our inserting machine can handle up to 4 pieces for machine inserting in a single mailing. Individual pieces can be up to 9" x 12". Accordion folded pieces will not go through the inserter. Mailers with over 4 pieces in a mailing are done by hand. 4" x 1" is the standard size of mailing labels used on mailers. Sometimes 4.5" x 1" labels are used, when mailing information has too many characters for the standard size.

5. Mail Lists
No matter where the address files are coming from, it is advised to order them before the mailing date, to give our staff time to assemble them.

List Management
Our mail center has up-to-date area lists, and can tailor lists to customer needs. The list management we perform involves discarding outdated addresses, updating the address lists, verifying that address formats meet US Postal regulations, and can qualify for available discounts.

6. Standard Mailer Sizes
The placement of the address establishes height and length. The maximum size for Third-Class carrier mail is 11.75" x 14".

Postcard
Rectangular cardstock mailpiece not contained in an envelope. Size: 5" x 3.5" minimum to 6" x 4.25" maximum.

Letter
Small rectangular mailpiece contained in an envelope. Maximum thickness 0.25".
Size: 5" x 3.5" minimum to 11.25" x 6.125" maximum.

Large Envelope
Flat rectangular mailpiece.
Maximum thickness 0.75"
Size: 11.5 x 6.125" minimum.

7. Mailpiece Clear Zones
Below is an example of the clear zones for a #10 envelope at 9.5" long.
However, these mailpiece clear zone specs apply to pieces up to 10.5" long.

Alliance Printing & Mailing Services is CASS Certified!

We are CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) certified by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The USPS offers CASS certification as a way to ensure that companies using data quality software programs can correct, match, and verify addresses to rigorous USPS standards.

Our CASS certification allows us the following benefits which we can pass on to you as savings:

Reduced postage costs
Adding ZIP+4 codes and associated delivery point barcodes to address records can result in postage discounts and can facilitate identification of duplicate addresses.

Accurate address lists
Matching address records with the appropriate ZIP+4 codes will help identify incomplete or inaccurate addresses. Making corrections will reduce the amount of undeliverable-as-addressed pieces, which will in turn result in more efficient mail processing and delivery.

Improved demographic information
ZIP+4 codes can enhance the ability to identify a particular block, building, apartment, or business location. Instead of sending mail to all customers in a 5-digit ZIP code or carrier route area, mailers can target a specific market area.

More efficient mail room operations
ZIP+4 Codes can be used to improve internal mail-sorting operations. High-quality incoming mail volume may qualify an organization for two or more unique 4-digit add-on codes. These add-ons can be used to identify specific departments or functions within a company or, for example, to separate payments from other correspondence as incoming mail is sorted.

Improved mail service and reduced postage rates
Use of ZIP+4 coded addresses and the automated DPBCs produced by CASS-certified software maximizes USPS automated equipment sortation, which improves delivery, reduces mail processing costs, and fosters rate stability.