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Letter products and ordinary mail
Definition:
A letter means any form of written communication or other document, article or object that is -
- directed to a specific person or persons or specific address; and
- to be conveyed other than by electronic means.
It may include a parcel, package or wrapper containing any such communication or article conforming to the mass and size limitations.
Summary
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Maximum |
Minimum |
| Small (DL) maxi |
5 mm |
50 g |
120 mm x 235 mm |
90 mm x 140 mm |
| Medium (B5) |
10 mm |
1 kg |
250 mm x 176 mm |
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| Large (B4) |
30 mm |
1 kg |
353 mm x 250 mm |
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| Postcards |
0,295 mm |
50 g |
353 mm x 250 mm |
90 mm x 140 mm |
| Addressed rolled cylinders/items |
70 mm |
1 kg |
Length 620 mm |
Length 520 mm |
| Addressed rolled newspapers |
70 mm |
1 kg |
Length 353 mm |
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| Literature for the blind |
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7 kg |
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What is considered a parcel?
Any postal item larger than a B4 envelope and/or thicker than 30 mm and/or heavier than 1 kg is considered a parcel. The above sizes and mass refer to the rates charged for postal articles.
Definition of bulk mail:
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The service is suitable for individuals and businesses that post ungraded, unsorted domestic letters (there is no minimum volume)
Mail will only be accepted if an official payment method is used, ie stamps, remote meter-setting franking machine mail, permit mail, postage-included envelope and electronic fund transfer (EFT).
Remote meter-setting mail may only be posted at designated offices
Mail paid for by all other payment methods may be posted at any post office/mail centre.
Letters must be faced and tied in bundles when handed in over the counter.
No rebates are applicable.
Volume-variance discounts are applicable if the criteria for the relevant payment method are met
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The service is suitable for businesses that post large numbers of domestic graded letters. The minimum volume is 1 000 and more presorted articles per consignment accompanied by a grading certificate (97 - 100%) and eBDN.
The items must meet the relevant criteria as described in this guide.
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Ordinary mail:
Ordinary mail is a value-for-money service with a set delivery time and standard from the point of dispatch to the point of delivery.
Fastmail:
Fastmail is a service whereby any standard or nonstandard letter is delivered quicker than the set delivery standards for ordinary mail.
Summary of features:
Fastmail -
- Items are delivered within two working days between major towns and cities;
- Enjoys preferential treatment, provided it is handed in at a post office or is posted in the special blue Fastmail postboxes at post offices before the cutoff time;
- Is delivered at regular postal delivery points, for example your private postbox or street address;
- Postage-paid envelopes are easily recognisable and instantly distinguishable from ordinary mail; and
- Is primarily for domestic use but is available to certain foreign destinations. Ask at your post office or sales division for details.
Please note the following:
- If a Fastmail item is posted in any other postbox, for example a red postbox, it will not receive preferential treatment and will go into the ordinary mail stream with ordinary mail delivery standards.
- Fastmail prepaid envelopes are sold at all post offices in Small (DL) maxi, Medium (B5) and Large (B4) sizes.
Additional services:
Fastmail cannot be sent by the registered letter with insurance option or as a parcel.
Addressed and unaddressed:
Addressed mail includes advertising mail, addressed promotional mail and Magmail. (Mail must be addressed for delivery to a specific individual or company.)
Infomail is used for posting unaddressed articles.
Definition of advertising mail:
Advertising mail is all addressed mail in a minimum consignment of 1 000 articles per size or mass category of which the contents are solely of an advertising or promotional nature.
Note
- It must not include any additional items related to previous business with the addressee (such as invoices, monthly statements or reference to outstanding payments.)
- Advertising mail must contain a response device approved by the Post Office, ie a Business Reply item, a Freepost address, an addressed coupon response or clear encouragement to reply to the offer by mail. The mail response options should be given prominence equal to that of any other response mechanisms recommended.
- The Regional Sales Office must approve Advertising mail before posting. A complete sample of the mailing must be presented at the time of posting for the Post Office to verify the approval.
Features:
The following is a summary of features of advertising mail:
- The minimum volume of 1 000 articles per consignment and the above definition are the set criteria to qualify for the lower postage rate.
- Consignments of advertising mail will qualify for bulk mail rebates if they meet the rebate and posting criteria set out in this document.
- Sorted consignments must always be accompanied by the grading certificate.
- The database of clients who post volumes of 10 000 or less must be graded once a year. The Post Office and the postal address management service suppliers (PAMMS) will check and clean postal addresses and issue certificates to clients to enable them to qualify for rebates.
Definition of Magmail:
Magmail comprises all postal articles of which the contents are publications printed not less often than quarterly (once every three months) and that are intended for public sale or public distribution.
A publication is defined as a magazine or newspaper (including a special issue that bears the same brand identity) which is posted flat, folded or rolled and which contains news, opinions, illustrations, articles, editorials and advertising.
Features:
The following is a summary of features of Magmail:
- To qualify for bulk mail rebates and Magmail service, a minimum consignment of 1 000 articles per category must be submitted and these must be presorted per postcode.
- Magmail items must be handed in at hubs or mail centres before the cutoff time (Magmail cannot be handed in at a post office).
- A complete sample of the mailing must be presented at the time of posting. The sales manager has the final say on whether or not articles qualify for Magmail.
- Magmail items can be distributed by ordinary mail, Fastmail or Speed Services Couriers depending on the time sensitivity of posting.
Definition of Addressed Promotional mail:
Promotional mail is all addressed mail (including teaser/advance mailings) in a minimum consignment of 1 000 articles per size or mass category of which the contents are solely of an advertising or promotional nature. What are advance mailings?An advance or teaser mail item is a mail item that prewarns a client of the impending arrival of advertising or a promotional mail item.ThereforeThe item can be linked to an advertising mail or promotional package and the exclusions would be the same. A response device is not a prerequisite and the objective of the advance or teaser mailing is to stimulate the percentage response achieved for that advertising or promotional mailing item.
Features:
The following is a summary of the features of Addressed promotional mail:
- The minimum volume of 1 000 articles per consignment and the above definition are the set criteria to qualify for the lower postage rate
- Consignment of Addressed Promotional mail will qualify for bulk mail rebates if they meet the rebate and posting criteria as set out in this document.
- Sorted consignments must always be accompanied by the grading certificate.
- The database of clients who post volumes of 10 000 or less must be graded once a year. The Post Ofrfice and the postal address management service suppliers (PAMMS) will check and clean postal addresses and issue certificates to clients to enable them to qualify for rebates.
Definition of Infomail:
The Infomail service offers you various delivery options for your unaddressed direct mail. These include:
- Pamphlets
- Brochures
- Area newspapers
- Trade samples
- Householder circularsThe following delivery options are available for local and national delivery:
- Private bags
- Post Office boxes
- Street delivery in selected areas (please enquire at your regional sales office)
Rates:
Rates will be charged as follows:
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All post offices, postal agents, et cetera falling under a specific regional office will be regarded as local and the local rate will be charged. Minimum volume: 100 articles
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All post offices, postal agents, et cetera falling under another regional office will be regarded as national and the national rate will be charged. Minimum volume: 1 000 articles
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Types of Infomail: The types of Infomail and their conditions are as follows:
| Pamphlet |
An unenveloped, unaddressed information/advertising item comprising one sheet of paper folded to A5 size (210 mm x 148 mm) |
The folded pamphlet may not be thicker than 2 mm and weigh more than 50 g |
Should the information in the pamphlet be of a sensitive nature, the pamphlet must be placed in an envelope. |
| Brochure |
An unenveloped, unaddressed, rolled or folded information/ advertising item |
May not be more than 353 mm x 250 mm in size, 200 g in mass and 5 mm in thickness |
Rolled brochures should be tied to facilitate handling. (Rolled item must not exceed 30 mm) |
| Unaddressed newspaper, for example local area newspaper |
A rolled or folded item |
May not exceed a length of 353 mm, mass of 200 g and thickness of 70 mm when rolled or folded |
Newspapers that are rolled should be tied to facilitate handling |
| Trade sample |
An unaddressed sample of a product |
May not exceed 353 mm x 250 mm x 30 mm in size and 200 g in mass |
The trade sample should be packed in such a way that it will not damage any other postal articles or injure any Post Office employee. |
| Householder circular |
The street delivery alternative for pamphlet and brochure distribution |
May not exceed 120 mm x 235 mm in size, 50 g in mass and 5 mm in thickness |
The articles may be in partially and/or fully sealed envelopes/ wrapping. Parcels do not form part of this service. The articles must be addressed to the box holder, householder or similar addressee with an indication that postage has been prepaid. |
Note:
Unaddressed mail may not be sent by Fastmail.
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