A Few Common Questions

Postage is due by noon on the day of the mailing. Checks should be made payable to INTEGRAM. Funds may also be sent via PayPal using Payments or Electronic Transfer of Funds. Please inquire with your Client Service Coordinator for routing information, or contact us here.

Automated carrier route, zip+4 and IMB barcode, address standardization, NCOA, CASS, Co-Mingle, and SCF sorts are all options with INTEGRAM’s presort capabilities.

Yes, we can process international mail and provide maximum postal discounts for international delivery.

Yes. As most marketers know, personalized direct mail can improve response rates vastly. INTEGRAM can program complex personalized variables throughout your letter to give the extra zing you need.

We prefer InDesign, Quark XPress, or MS Word (with fonts and images provided as separate files). Illustrator, Photoshop, and Publisher are also acceptable. PDF is acceptable if it has been saved/exported from the original document as high-res (300 dpi or higher). We can also work with TIF, JPG, EPS, PCX, BMP – all at 300 dpi or higher.

The most common formats that we accept are Excel, dBase, Access, ASCII Fixed Field or Comma Delimited. We can also work with SQL, Oracle, DBF, TXT, CSB, EBCIDIC, FoxPro, Paradox, Access, MS Word Mail Merge File, and Label Format. Our data processing department is extremely flexible; please inquire if your preferred format is not listed.

We start with the basics including de-duping, house-holding, address standardization, genderization, Congressional append, and building ask amounts and salutations, but we can get really creative if you need us to. Just ask and we’ll figure out a solution to meet your requirements.

Go to our Client login page for secure FTP uploads. You may also email ZIP files directly to your Client Services Coordinator, or use this form:

 

Yes, we can laser duplex, and simplex as well.

Yes, we can personalize in full color on stocks as thick as 130gsm.

Yes, and our newest equipment does full color personalized envelopes up to a 9 x 12.

Yes, we can print hundreds of thousands of addresses per day.

• Machine Insert
• Machine Stamp
• Machine Fold
• Meter
• Trim
• Crease
• Score
• Perf
• Hand Insert
• Hand Nest
• Hand Stamp
• Insert into a Box
• Glue dot
• Affix Coins
• Machine Label
• Hand Label
• Hand Write
• Blind Match
• Paperclip

And we can accommodate many other things too… Just ask.

At the offset and envelope production stage, PDF proofs and proof slips are emailed to the client for accuracy review and quantity approval.

Clients are provided with a data dump after data processing, usually 10 live records. This includes the original fields and fields that we create (salutations, dollar asks, etc.). Along with this, a PDF proof of corresponding documents is created and provided for comparison with the data.

Mailing instructions are created by your Client Services Representative based on your requirements, and you are asked to review and approve before any material is produced. Insertion fans are provided upon request.

All print and letter-shop production proceeds only with written approval from our client.

Unused material is returned to the client within 2 weeks of the mail date, unless otherwise specified by the client, or can be stored for a small monthly fee. If the material is for an upcoming or repeat project, there are no storage fees.

Click here to download a credit application form.

INTEGRAM provides 5 Free John Q. Samples with each mailing. Additional samples can be provided upon request for a small fee.

The USPS provides further postage discounts (beyond presort) to mailers who comply with “Full Service” requirements of electronic filing for mailings being deposited. A mailing service provider (MSP) must ensure that the mail preparation standards required by the USPS are met to get these discounts. Discounts can be lost if errors are found after the mailing has been processed at the USPS.

When presorting a mailing, the USPS requires that addresses are updated with the most current address on file for an addressee. If they’re not, the presort discounts are not available. Loss of postage discounts and other fines can be assessed when it’s determined that addresses were not updated in a mailing that was already entered to the USPS. There are several methods to meet the Move Update requirement. The most common we do is NCOA (National Change of Address) processing.

The USPS allows postage reductions if a mailing is presorted. The mailer uses tools to put the mailing in the best possible order, thereby reducing the workload for the USPS. The postage rate that a mail piece will be mailed at will depend on the level of sort. More pieces going to one area are likely to reduce the per piece cost of all the pieces going to that area. There are several other ways to save on postage costs, like co-mingling, dropship and co-palletization. A good mail service provider (MSP) can help you get the best rates possible.

Postal Explorer – Is a virtual library of postal information and tools designed for U.S. Postal Service customers, business mailers, and employees.

Business Price Calculator – Provides cost estimates for Domestic Business Mailings entered through a BMEU, Postage Statement, eVS, etc.

Business Gateway – A portal to log into your USPS Business Customer account and manage your mailings online.

Postal Pro (Formerly RIBBS) –  Is  the primary source for USPS mailing information.