Please email postalaffairs@taylor.com with any questions
Length
5" min.
Letters or cards exceeding any of the dimensions above move to the FLATS category of mail 11-1/2" max.
Non-machinable Characteristics: See DMM 100.1.2 and 601.3.3 for ref.
* Aspect ratio less than 1.3 or more than 2.5
* Sealed with clasps, strings, buttons
* Delivery address parallel to shorter dimension
* Self-mailer or booklet that is not prepared or sealed according to DMM 201.3.14
* Polybagged, polywrapped
* Not uniform in thickness
* Is too rigid / not flexible
Effective 1/22/2023 through 7/9/2023
CAUTION: Flats exceeding any of the maximum dimensions above move to the PARCELS category of mail
Subtract $0.001 for each flat that complies with the Seamless Acceptance option requirements.
This document provides summarized information that Folded Self-Mailers (FSM) and specific unenveloped mailpiece designs must meet to receive automation letter discounts. This information is only a summarized reference tool; please refer to the Federal Register (FR) Final DMM section 201.3.14 for official language to revised standards and 201.3.15 for the specific unenveloped mailpiece design standards.
A folded self-mailer is formed of panels created when a single or multiple unbound sheet(s) of paper are folded together and sealed to form a letter-size mailpiece.
Standards for paper are based on Book Grade (Offset, Text) as represented in Exhibit 3.2 located in DMM section 201.3.2.
Extended portion of the address side panel as the final fold over and secured to nonaddress side panel. Flaps are used for closure of mailpiece.
• Horizontal folded pieces: external flap must extend from top on non-address side; minimum 1.5”L at the longest point, but extend to no closer than 1” from bottom.
• Vertical folded pieces: external flap must extend on non-address side from lead to trail edge; minimum 5”L at the longest point, but extend no closer than 1” from trail edge.
• Die-cut shape external flaps are allowed. Edge along contour must be well sealed to panel using tabs, glue spots or elongated glue line. However, a 1/8” continuous glue line to seal along the contour of the die-cut pattern’s edge is highly recommended.
Non-addressed side flaps as shown: Lead edge is to the left, trail edge is to the right:
• All letter-rate mail must be within an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of 1.3 to 2.5.
• Minimum foldover postcard, self-mailer and letter dimension 3.5" x 5.0".
• Maximum foldover postcard, dimension 6.0" x 10.5"; maximum letter dimension 6.125" x 11.5."
Bi-fold: Single sheet folded once in half forming two panels. Tri-fold: Single sheet folded twice forming three panels. Quarter-fold: Single sheet folded at least two times, with the second fold at a right angle (perpendicular) to the preceding fold. One sheet of paper quarter-folded produces four panels.
Oblong: Mailpiece with fold(s) vertical to length of letter. Final fold must be on lead edge. When a folded self-mailer is made of multiple sheets, multiply the number of sheets by the number of panels created when folding a single sheet to determine the number of panels in the finished multi-sheet folded self-mailer; e.g., (3) sheets of paper folded once in half (2 panels) = (6) total panels. Both sides of a panel count as “one and the same” panel.
Folded self-mailers must be sealed using tabs or glue under the following conditions (also see 3.14.5 for specific sealing standards). Glue: Adhesive or cohesive applied as a continuous line (preferred), glue spots or elongated glue lines placed within 1/4" of edge(s). Continuous Glue Line: 1/8" wide to within ¼" of each edge. Glue Spots: 3/8" diameter, 3-4 spots based on mailpiece design/weight. Elongated Glue Lines: 1/8"W x ½"L or ¼"W x ½"L or 1/8"W x 1"L, 3-4 lines based on mailpiece design/weight. Tabs must meet the standards for tabs in DMM section 201.3.11. The size and number of tabs required is determined by the weight of the mailpiece and optional design elements. Non-perforated wafer seals or tabs are applied to top or lead and trail edge to securely close a folded self-mailer letter. Non-Perforated Tabs: 2-3 tabs required based on mailpiece design. Placement: Either at top or on lead and trail edge within 1" of adjacent edge(s). Lower lead edge tab placed within ½" of bottom edge.
Address side shown:
Trail edge is to the left, lead edge is to the right.
1.5" min flap No closer than 1" to bottom edge No closer than 1" to trail edge 5" min flap die-cut
Monday, January 2* .......................................................... New Year’s Day
Monday, January 16 ......................................................... Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
Monday, February 20 ....................................................... President’s Day
Monday, May 29 Memorial Day
Monday, June 19 ............................................................... Juneteenth (observed)
Tuesday, July 4 ................................................................... Independence Day
Monday, September 4 ...................................................... Labor Day
Monday, October 9........................................................... Columbus Day
Saturday, November 11 ................................................... Veterans Day
Thursday, November 23 .................................................. Thanksgiving Day
Monday, December 25 .................................................... Christmas Day (observed)
* If a holiday falls on a Sunday, for most USPS employees, the following Monday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, for most USPS employees, the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes.
Successful direct mail campaigns require a customized plan leveraging the best delivery solutions to maximize postage savings, meet key in-home dates and bring visibility to mail-piece delivery. Taylor will present a mail plan before mailing listing options and savings.
When we drop ship your standard mail campaigns, we utilize LTL carriers to deliver your mail pieces directly to postal facilities closest to the recipient eliminating multiple stops throughout the USPS logistics system and maximizing postage discounts.
Commingling is the process of combining your First Class and/or Standard Marketing Mail pieces with millions of others into one mailing before it even reaches the U.S. Postal system. Taylor partners with Pitney Bowes Presort Services and has daily pickups at all our mail facilities.
Letter Trays takes the physical trays of mail, which have already been addressed, presorted and trayed, and puts them onto pallets along with other trayed mail of separate jobs. This allows mailers to obtain deeper drop ship discounts.
• Maximize postage savings by leveraging multiple postage optimization solutions.
• Predictable in-home dates allowing you to control the number of call center volume or walk in traffic.
• Data analysis to compare shipping costs vs. postage savings.
• Significant postage savings on pieces that typically require higher postage.
• Guaranteed postage costs.
• 99% of mail is delivered directly to the NDC/SCF.
• Commingling can be utilized as a standalone solution or combined with other cost saving solutions.
• Improve postage savings.
• Consistent delivery in home by pushing mail further into the USPS processing network.
• Production efficiencies gained by the origin mailer.
• Co-Pal can be utilized as a standalone solution or combined with other cost saving solutions.
• Postage savings by reducing work the USPS must complete.
• Mail jumps over three steps in the delivery process.
• Expedited delivery by skipping many time-consuming steps.
• PVDS can be utilized as a standalone solution or combined with other cost-saving solutions.
Use the Postal Service’s Informed Visibility® data to get valuable insight into your mail. Taylor utilizes GRAYHAIR software to track mail pieces through the postal stream to “the last mile” of delivery to homes. Clients are able to view tracking results from the mailer’s dashboard and customized reporting is available.
• Provides real-time status of a single mailpieces’ location.
• Every mailpiece is scanned at a USPS machine; receive status updates as the mail is being processed.
• Projected in-home delivery dates supplied in a shareable format and customized reports.
• Track the percentage of how much mail for the campaign has been delivered.
