Direct Mail Marketing Pet Peeves

One of my biggest irritations in dealing with the post office for the processing of discounted mail is that you are at the mercy of the mail clerk checking your mail.  Everyone has good days and bad days.  Also, everyone makes mistakes.

The most common mistake is in math.  Any mail processed through a bulk mail acceptance unit – standard mail (bulk mail), presorted first class mail, first class mail, periodical mail, media mail, etc. – is checked by weight.  To verify that the correct amount of mail is being received, the post office takes 10 pieces and weighs them.  From this they determine the per piece weight and then multiply this figure by the total number of pieces there are supposed to be in the mailing.  To this figure they add the tare weight allowances for any trays, tubs, lids or sacks plus cages or skids, if any.

As long as the final figure matches the actual total weight on the scale – within the allowance given by the post office – the mail can be accepted.  If not, the mail will be rejected.  There is an awful lot of math in this process.  That means, there is plenty of room for math errors.  If you know that everything was processed at your end properly, before taking the mail to the post office, you have the right to request a reweigh and a math review.  Unfortunately, some people are capable of making the exact same math mistake twice when they are reviewing their own written numbers. 

If you might be wrong because let’s say a printer used 2 different weights of paper, then you’ve got a problem.  But, if you know you’re right, speak up and request a supervisor review.