Become a Post Office Pro

Having been in the art of pretty stationery for a long time, that often goes hand in hand with mailing things. I know we don’t look it, being so young and fabulous and all, but decades of mailing things has actually made the post office feel like a home away from home at times. Why just put your paper goods in the mail, when with a little knowledge and prep you can give your paper goods their best chance at a flawless delivery.  So whether you are a client sending things out yourself or a new reader trying to navigate the ins and outs of the US Postal Service (USPS), let our expertise help you maximize your mailing.

Hand-Stamping

Since the beginning of the postal service, paying for postage has been required.  Back in the day, all mail was hand-canceled. What does that mean? A used stamp includes a mark, block of text or the name of the city the mail was sent from showing that the stamp cannot legally be used again. As the country progressed, so came automated machines to cancel postage which can leave inky residue and may impair the mailing.

Something to know is that all post offices in the US are capable of hand-stamping cancellations, meaning your envelope may bypass the machines all together avoiding damage or messy marks. All you have to do is politely make the request! A postal worker can choose not to hand cancel for many reasons including the time of day or the number of people waiting in line. So remember that a little kindness goes a long way when making your hand stamping request!

Do you have multiple cards in your envelope? Make sure you weigh your entire assembled mailing to account for correct postage!

Weighing Your Envelope

This a reminder or lesson in budgeting for postage: the amount of postage required depends on the weight and shape of your mailing! Of course we believe that special occasions call for special stationery, just make sure you check the postage rates based on size and shape.

The thicker the card stock, the heavier the entire suite will be; it could be worth asking for samples at various weights to see what works for your budget. USPS will add a surcharge per invitation if you are mailing a square envelope. This is because any envelope that is not a standard rectangular shape can't be processed by an automatic sorter, meaning it takes more time to process, thus the price increase.

Postage Value

You should always check the current USPS postage rates when planning for your mailing. But don’t just go slapping two forever stamps on something; you could be wasting money!

If your mailing requires additional postage, you have options when it comes to arranging stamps. Forever stamps can be combined with additional postage in the exact amount required to mail. Or you can piece together vintage stamps along with today’s postage. Stamp values may be available in the exact amount of your mailing, not just the First Class Mail letter standard pricing. The best bet is to know your exact mailing weight, then ask a postal worker for the correct way to account for postage.

Correct Addressing

Taking the time to double check your addresses is worth the time. If you are using a mail merge, make sure none of the zero’s in house numbers or zip codes were dropped. Read through your list one more time considering recipients who might have moved or check apartment numbers.  You might be thinking of unique ways to design the outer envelope, and CWD is here for it. But did you know: if the address is written parallel to the shorter side of the envelope instead of the long side, the USPS sorting machine probably can’t read the address and will kick it out. These issues and others can delay mailing because USPS will return rejected pieces to you, not to mention the time it will then take to get back out to the correct recipient.

Save time and money. Checking addresses for correct information and placement on the envelope can save you time and money when it comes to delivering your mail.