Important Mailing Services Information

RI Marketing & Advertising would like you to have the most successful direct mail campaign possible. We have complied information from all industry experts to provide you the most accurate information about postal regulations, and mailing list submissions. 

Postcard Mailing Postal Regulations

RI Marketing & Advertising is a leader in postcard printing and postcard mailing services. To help make our mailing services easier to understand, we have added the following page to clarify the regulations set forth by the United States Postal Service for all postcard mailing projects. These regulations will ensure that your post card mailing is properly handled by the US Post Office. If your postcard mailing does not comply with proper layout requirements, you may incur additional postage charges and delays.

First Class and Standard Mail (formerly Bulk Rate)

First-Class Mail is the best choice for post card mailing projects of a time sensitive nature. It is generally delivered in 1-5 days nationally and 1-3 days in the North Eastern United States. U.S. Bulk Rate, which is now known as Standard Mail, and usually costs less, but takes longer to deliver. You can expect delivery of Standard Mail in 10-14 days nationally and 4-8 days in the North Eastern United States. Additionally, First Class delivery is consistent throughout the year while Standard Mail can have large variations in delivery times. These fluctuations are beyond the control of RI Marketing & Advertising or any printing company, and occur based on the time of year, volume of mail being processed etc. For example, standard rate mailings take considerably longer to deliver at peak times, such as holidays. If your post card mailing project from RI Marketing & Advertising is of a time sensitive nature, please consider planning ahead and mailing early or upgrading your mailing to first class. Average First Class Postal Rate is .342 cents and the average Standard Mail (Bulk Rate) is about .245 cents for a 6”x9” postcard of quantities over 1,000 mailings. But please not that the final order combination will determine the complete total of the mailing order.

What are the benefits to using First Class mail?

First Class offers a lower postcard rate that applies to our Standard Size card (4.25" x 6"). Our 6" x 9" postcards mail at the regular First Class letter rate. Also, First Class automatically includes return of mail if the recipient has moved. (Please note that in order for undelivered mail to be returned to you it MUST include a return address. Undeliverable mail with no return address will be discarded by the US Postal Service.) Standard Mail is not forwarded unless you use an Ancillary Service Endorsement and pay additional fees for those forwarded and returned pieces.

Submitting your Direct Mail Printing List

Many direct mail printing lists are submitted without separate columns for each category (Business, Name, Address, City, State, Zip etc.) With the software that we use, it is necessary for each category to be separated into its own column. If your mailing service list is not submitted in this format, it is impossible for us to match up data with the appropriate field and your list will be returned to you for clarification. This will delay your direct mail printing job. Please provide us with your list for direct mail printing in MS-Excel, MS-Access, MS-Outlook, or any Address Book, comma delimited, database list formats. Please make sure your list and quality ordered coincide, as this will expedite the mailing process and may increase the final costs of the print job.

For any additional postal regulations, and mailing list submissions questions, comments, or for additional mailing services information, please contact us at 1-401-369-9138, Monday through Friday, during our regular business hours 9:00AM to 5:00PM EST or by e-mail at inquiries(at)rimamkt.com.