Letters containing mailable items not required to be sent using first-class mail can be sent using standard or bulk mail. Standard mail is typically used for advertisements and flyers. To qualify for standard mail rates, the mail must meet specific criteria and requirements that have been established by the United States Postal Service (USPS). It can be slower than first-class (approx. 1-2 weeks), so departments should prepare bulk mailings well in advance of the anticipated delivery date. The University of Findlay has a permit with the USPS for a centralized, nonprofit, standard mailing account.

1. A bulk mailing must have 200 pieces. This is the minimum that the US Postal Service requires. Each piece of mail must be indentical in size and weight and contain the same message, nothing personalized or hand written. Each must have the University return address. Our permit with USPS allows us to do lower rates for university business only. We cannot delegate or loan our special bulk rate to another organization. The material being mailed also cannot advertise for another company. The mailing needs to be sorted in zip code order. Please ask for your labels to be printed in zip code order from lowest to highest. When the mailing arrives at the Postal Services, it will be sorted again into specific areas required by the USPS.

2. An indicia can be used for postage when sending a bulk mailing. It is a permit imprint that contains The University of Findlay bulk permit number and is placed in the upper right corner of the mail piece. The Office of Public Information can help you with a layout for indicia usage. The indicia is only good for postage if you have the number of pieces (200) required by he USPS for a bulk mailing. The indicia cannot take the place of a stamp or meter when mailing individually. In order to meter a piece that has an indicia, the indicia must be covered before it is sent to Postal Services.

3. An authorization form in duplicate is available through Postal Services. We will send you a receipt after the mailing is sent. Please let the office know one week in advance that you are bringing a bulk mailing. That way there will be enough money in the USPS account and enough staff to process the mailing. The lower rate when qualifying for a bulk is .155 or .164 per piece.