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Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a list of Frequently Asked Questions we have received from our customers. It is provided in an effort to avert potential problems before they arise.

1. Q: What is the difference between First-Class and Standard Class mail?
A: First Class mail is a mailing at the full current USPS postage rates. First Class mail may be sent unsorted and the return address will receive Undeliverable As Addressed notification and even the return of those pieces. Standard Mail is First Class Mail with additional requirements and advantages. Standard Class mail is pre-sorted at different levels to yield a variety of postage discounts. Though First Class mail can be sorted for a discount, Standard Class will yield a larger discount due to a higher accuracy of sortation. The USPS has a set of requirements for Standard Class mail, from mail piece size, weight, thickness, type of mail, to sortation and more. Check with a MailMax Direct representative for more information.

2. Q: I do not like the barcodes and extra information surrounding the address on my mailpieces. Can I just have a name, address, city, state and zip and still get a postage discount?
A: The barcode and other information such as the optional endorsement line are the very things that allow mail to be processed in automation, which is what yields the higher postage discounts. Taking away these items may make it difficult or impossible to process with automation, thus the postage discounts are lost. In most cases, mail sent only with an address must be mailed at the First Class rate. If the mail is sorted to machinable standards, it may be possible to receive a lower postage rate, however it will not be as low as automation with options like enhanced carrier route, auto carrier route, barcoded, etc.

3. Q: I would like to send a mailing, but I do not have a mailing list, and I have no idea where to start! Can you help me?
A: Of course! Our Customer Service Representatives (CSR) can locate mailing lists based on your criteria, or help you design a mailing list using information you may not even know you have! Call us today to see how you can get started.

4. Q: Is Direct Mail the same as Junk Mail?
A: No. Direct Mail is a mailing targeted at specific individuals, each with a reasonable relationship to the content of the mailing. For example, Direct Mail may be a survey you send to your existing customers to find out what they are interested in. Direct Mail may also be a mailing list provided by an approved list broker, which contains individuals with interests in products like yours. Junk Mail is mail sent in a “shotgun” approach, where individuals on the mailing list may not have any relationship to your product or interest in your product, and are typically mailed with the highest quantities with the false idea that it will yield more sales. For more information on Direct Mail versus Junk Mail, visit the USPS web site at http://www.usps.com.

5. Q: I would like to send a personalized mailing, can you help?
A: Absolutely! We offer complete printing solutions along with our mailings. This means you can literally give us an electronic list of addresses and information and we can do the rest! Personalized mailings fall into one of the following categories:
- Customized: Typically a letter that includes a personalized name, such as “Dear James,”
- Personalized: Typically a letter that includes a personalized name as well as a varying message within the body of the letter.
- Variable Data: Typically a letter or statement that includes not only a personalized name and/or varying message, but will also include varying data, such as financial numbers, statistics, or other personal information beyond the name and address.
- Versioning: Typically a letter or advertisement where each mail piece will or may vary from top to bottom, including text, images, background, and colors.
If you are printing the mailpieces yourself, or contracting with an outside printer, remember that sortation discounts are only available if the mailpieces are in the correct sortation. If you deliver pre-printed personalized or variable data mailpieces to us and would like the mailing presorted, extra fees for manual sortation will apply.

6. Q: In what format can I send my data?
A: We accept your mailing list files in the following formats:
- Comma Delimited ASCII Text Files *.txt *.csv (comma-separated values)
- Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Files *.xls (limited to 65,000 records)
- Microsoft Access Database Files *.mdb
See the help section of our website for more information on submitting data to MailMax Direct.

7. Q: Our address list is ready. How can we send it to MailMax Direct?
A: You can send us your address list via the following methods:
- Website: You can visit http://www.mailmaxdirect.com and upload your files using a web upload form. Look for the Upload Your Data link.
- Email: Files under ten (10) megabytes may be sent as an email attachment to data@mailmaxdirect.com
- FTP: You may use an FTP client such as SmartFTP or WSFTP to upload your files. Enter the server as “www.mailmaxdirect.com”, the username as “Anonymous”, and the password as your email address (leave out the double quotation marks). You will not be able to see or download your files on our system once they have been uploaded for security reasons.
- Floppy Disk: We accept standard 1.44mb HD 3.5 inch floppy diskettes. You may have the disk delivered to us, mail it to us, or have our delivery drivers pick it up.
- CD-ROM: We accept 650mb to 700mb CD-ROMs in the ISO 9660, Joliet, or Windows Long File name format.
- ZipDisk: We accept 100mb ZipDisks compatible with the 100mb Iomega ZipDisk readers.
See the help section of our website for more information on submitting data to MailMax Direct.

MailMax Direct

700 W Loop 340

Waco, TX 76712

254.751.1012

Fax 254.751.0056

Toll Free 866-751-1012

data@mailmaxdirect.com