The Right
Weight
If a piece weighs more than a pound it is
processed differently by U.S. Postal service and have
different regulations. Since most magazines weigh less
than a pound we will review the policy of these
regulations.
Any magazine that weighs less than 3.3 ounces, the
mailing rates are fixed but determined by how the mail
is sorted. This is where knowing the ins and outs of
the regulations can save you some money. (For
reference generally 3.3 oz's consist of a 32 page
magazine on a 60# paper.)
If your publication weighs more than 3.3 ounces,
the postal cost will increase as the weight increases.
The Right
Size
The Post Office's term for a magazine is a
"flats" (because they lie flat!) Flats should be no
larger than 12 by 15 inches in size (the standard
newsstand magazine in the USA is 8 3/8 x 10 3/4). An
option for mailing flats is it can also be mailed in a
clear plastic envelope (otherwise referred to as
polybagged) with labels. Most magazines are sent as
printed and labeled either by ink jet or with a
Cheshire label.
The Right
Mailing Location
Where your mail makes a difference. The
basic rule is: the closer to the final destination
your mail is put into the postal system the less
expensive it will be. Sorting mail is the key to
selective proper magazine mailing. The most precise
sorts available are through the BCC "Mail manager
Z010" postal software. With this all mail is sorted to
what is grandly termed the "enhanced carrier route
line of travel sort" in other words, how the mail
carrier actually travels to deliver the mail. The more
closely your mail can be sorted to agree with the
route the mail carrier travels, generally, the cheaper
the cost to you.
The Right
Method
The are three major methods magazines can
be mailed; First-Class Mail (fast and expensive),
Standard or Bulk Mail (slow and cheap) and Periodical
(fast and cheap but difficult to achieve). There is an
application fee associated with a periodical permit
and several audits will be conducted annually to
varify periodical standards are being met (subscriber
limitations, percent advertising and other circulation
requirements apply). A Periodical Permit's mailing
costs are based on advertising percentages within each
issue.
Indica
The indica is a special "postage stamp" that tells
the Post office the method that your magazine is
being mailed and who to charge for that mailing. It
is printed either right on the magazine, on its
mailing label or to the outside of the package the
magazine rides in. There are very strict
requirements about indica content, placement
locations, size and design.
Nothing remains the same particularly postal
regulations. That's why we encourage you to review the
Domestic Mail Manual available from the Post Office or
on line at www.usps.com.
