Bulk Mail

Bulk Mail is the least expensive method of sending mail non-profit machinable letters of 3.5 oz. or less range in price from $0.245 to $0.263. The following regulations must be met to constitute Bulk Mail.

Bulk Mail is:

  • Minimum of 200 pieces of mail or minimum of 50 pounds total weight
  • Each piece of mail must be identical in:
    • Size
    • Shape
    • Weight
    • Contents
    • Address labels or imprint
  • Each piece of mail must face in the same direction in preparation for postage
  • Each piece of mail must contain ZIP code in address

Also, when sending a bulk mailing through the Suffolk University Mail Services, the following regulations must be met in advance:

  • Notify mail services that you are preparing a bulk mailing
  • Zip code sorting:
    • Step 1 - Sort pieces of mail containing identical five-digit ZIP codes into separate piles (each pile must have at least 10 pieces); secure with a rubber band
    • Step 2 - Sort remaining pieces of mail containing identical first-three-digit ZIP codes into separate piles; secure with a rubber band
    • Step 3 - Combine any leftover pieces, secure with a rubber band and attach a note labeled "MIXED"

It is each departments' responsibility to bring their bulk mail to their respective mail services location.

NOTE: The U.S. Postal Service takes up to two weeks to deliver bulk mail after it has entered their system. Because this type of mailing requires a large amount of labor before it is ready to go to the Postal Service, Mail Services may take up to a week to get the mailing into the U.S. Postal Service system. At the present time we can process mailings of as many as 5,000 pieces in-house. Arrangements can be made to have your larger bulk mailings handled by a local mailing agency.

Mail houses can handle many of the tasks that are too labor intensive for Suffolk personnel to perform, such as:

  • Affixing labels
  • Inserting materials into envelopes
  • Bulk sorting of ZIP-coded mail
  • Customer pick-up
  • Post Office delivery

Third-class bulk mail processed through such a service agency is inexpensive, but requires extensive advance planning. It is an excellent way of sending out general notices and promotional literature.