Fulfillment: The 3 P's are Post Office, Permits & Postage

Which post office should we use?
We recommend using the Liberty MO 64068 post office. Ninety-four percent of our mail is through Liberty. We have an in-house DMU (Detached Mail Unit) to verify the mail and plant load directly into the Kansas City BMC (Bulk Mail Center). In addition, this allows us to PVDS (Plant Verify Drop Ship) to other postal facilities if there is enough postage savings to pay the additional shipping charges.

Some customers prefer a certain post office. Five percent of our customers use Kansas City, MO and one percent use others. As additional shipping charges apply, it will usually cost more per year to use a permit other than Liberty, MO. One advantage, however, might be highly localized mailings where time or postage savings may make it worth while.

Who's permit do you use?
We recommend you get your own permit (we will assist with paperwork). A post office permit is just like a bank account. Your accounting department will handle making deposits into it and can get monthly reports of transactions. Postage statements we fill out are checks drawn against it and any money left over is held in the account unless you authorize it to be paid to you. For Standard, First-class, or Parcel Post there is a one time permit application fee of $185.00 (Destination bound printed matter) plus a yearly mailing fee of $125.00. For Periodicals there is a $540.00 original entry fee or a $65.00 additional entry fee.

How much and when is it due?
Postage is subject to change until verified by the post office. We will give you a postage estimate.

Mail will be held until all postage is here unless prior authorization has been approved. This means the time frame is very tight from the time you are notified of the expected postage amount and when it needs to be here. If you need to request an early estimate to send in a check, please allow some extra money in case it changes when we get the finished piece.

For some customers, it may help to sign up for CAPS (Centralized Account Processing System) with the postoffice. This electronic payment option allows you to link all your permits nationally into one account and may be set up as either a trust (prepaid) or debit (as used) account that transfers funds directly from your bank. There are some requirements to participate but you do not have to worry about sending checks in advance of the mailing.