Postcard Express

PostcardExpress is the ideal solution for sending short messages to everyone on your mailing list!  Just send us your mailing list and your merge documents via e-mail and we will:

  1. Standardize your addresses with our Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) certified software.  This process also generates delivery point bar codes for speedier delivery.
  2. Decide if you want Black only OR Full-Color (cmyk) printed cards.
  3. We then create the final card format from your resources, merge your mailing data, trim and package the cards, and deliver them to the USPS for delivery to your recipients.

Our pricing can't be beat!

Pricing Includes POSTAGE!

Cost Per Card

Printing

Card Stock

30 cents

Black

White or common Colors

50 cents

Full Color

White
Setup Charge Matrix

Mailing Description

Setup Fee

 Jobs with less than 500 cards

$ 75.00

 500 - 1000 cards that qualify for Automation Rates

$ 50.00

 1001 - 2000 cards that qualify for Automation Rates

$ 50.00

 2001 or more cards that qualify for Automation Rates

Free
Setup Fees are waived on subsequent mailings when the card design and incoming data layout does not change.
Add $0.05 to cost per card if mailing less than 500 qualified addresses per run
Click to View Samples
Supported File Types
DATA Excel, Tab-Delimited, CSV, DBF, (flat-ascii with setup charge).LAYOUT Word, PageMaker (Ver5-6.5), MS Publisher, PDF, TIF, EPS. Other formats may be supported with additional charges.
Production Notes
Card Size
Our standard cards are produced 5.5" x 4.25". Contact us for custom quote on additional sizes like 6" x 4.25" or 8.5" x 5.5".
Foreign or non-CASS addresses
These records will be purged from your print run. Only USA delivery addresses that can be CASS standardized to USPS specification will be included.
Mailing Lists
Mailing lists can be ordered as part of a job, if needed. These will be charged at Cost + 20%.
Prepayment
All jobs must be prepaid before production starts. Payment can be via check mailed to us or credit card charge with a 2% surcharge added. We only accept VISA or MASTERCARD. Customers with a history of ongoing periodic jobs can be setup for commercial billing, with a postage deposit pre-paid, contact us if interested.

How to proceed if you like what you see:
Step 1 - Contact Us
Send email to Rick Soth or call me at 800-275-2033 x 225 so we can get your account setup. We can discuss your project, volumes, card types, and data/art formats.
Step 2 - Prepare Merge Data
Ideal Format
You will deliver your data in Tab-Delimited file with 6 fields. Field 1 at the top of the address block, and Field 6 at the bottom. You don't need to use all 6 fields, some can be blank. Your City, State & Zipcode are all on a single line, which is the last field for that record. You have up to 50 characters per field.
Step 3 - Prepare Artwork/Copy
Basic Card Information
The final card size will be 5.5" x 4.25". We need 0.10" min margin (no full-bleeds). You can provide a full 5.5" x 4.25" graphic for either or both sides of the card.
Contact us for any special formatting questions.
Step 4 - Sending Job Resources
Ideal Delivery - Zip together all resources into a single file that can be attached to an email. If you don't have a Zip utility, you can attach each item to your email, but make sure to list each in the email message so we know what to expect. If your zip file or individual resources exceed 5 megabytes, you should send the file(s) via secure FTP upload. You access this site from the Secure Upload link on our main page, PLUS you must also email us that you have uploaded your resources via the email instructions below.
Email - Send incoming job to: stmt@afts.com.
Step 5 - Approve Proof
We will convert your data, format your card layout, perform a test merge (test data) and send you a PDF for approval. You will need to print the PDF to verify it looks correct. You will be required to email or fax your approval for the production run. Cards will mail within 2-5 business days from approval.

Ideal candidates for PostcardEXPRESS include announcements, reminders, advertisements, etc.
"The Municipal Court of Seattle (WA) uses PostcardEXPRESS for the collection of past-due parking ticket fines....  In short runs -- as few as 500 cards -- the court has the job done for 23¢ each. That's right -- for the cost of basic-rate postage alone, the court gets card stock, printing, addressing and mailing... The court uses red to emphasize the debt and penalties. Other colors available are green and blue. AFTS performs CASS and FASTforwardSM move updates, then prints in presort order and pockets the difference in postage -- at least 3.4¢ each"

(Copyrighted Source: Postal World. Use Without Permission Prohibited. Subscription price: $367/year for 25 issues. Phone: 301-287-2223)

Like Outsourcing ... Just Not PostcardExpress?
If you like the overall concept of outsourcing your postcards, but certain aspects of our Postcard Express service just doesn't work for you, contact us so we can prepare a custom quotation for services to meet your needs. Contact ricks@afts.com with any questions.

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