Mailing Permits WITH CRST
Mailing permits are permissions you need to use a certain postage payment method for commercial mailings in direct mail.
When working with Cornerstone Services Inc., your mail piece will have to contain one of our mailing permits in order to qualify for discounted postage rates. There are a few types of mailing permits most commonly used, such as: non-profit, bulk standard and first class mail.
The permit tends to be placed on the top right (.25” margin from top and right of edge) of the mail piece. You can also place them within the address block as long as there is sufficient spacing and the permit is still clearly visible.
You may change the color of the permit(s), but DO NOT change the text within them.
First-Class Mailing Permits
To use First-Class Mail permits you MUST HAVE 500 or more Automation records (explained below). First-Class Mail pieces are delivered quicker with a higher priority than Bulk Standard or Non-Profit Bulk Mail.
Note: You can may resize the permit as long as the text is still readable (font size limit is atleast 8pts)
First-Class Mail #473 (Black)
First-Class Mail #473 (Blue)
First-Class Mail 12550 (Black)
First-Class Mail 12550 (Blue)
Bulk Standard Mailing Permits
Bulk Standard mail consists of regular direct mail pieces that go at standard automation rates. You must have at least 200 automation machineable records.
Note: You can may resize the permit as long as text is still readable (font size limit is atleast 8pts)
Presort STD #473 (Black)
Presort STD #473 (Blue)
Presort STD 12550 (Black)
Presort STD 12550 (Blue)
First-Class Mailing Permits
Precanceled stamps are special stamps that come in small denominations and are specifically for Presorted and automation First Class Mail and all USPS Marketing Mail mailings. Mailers apply these special stamps to envelopes at a lower postage price (say, 15 cents) and pay the difference when they drop off the mail at a Post Office location. The Business Mail Entry Unit clerk can help you fill out your postage statement to calculate how much you still owe. You can pay that difference with a check, a meter strip, or through a postage account.
Presorted First-Class Mail
Non-profit USPS Marketing Mail
USPS Marketing Mail (Standard “Bulk” Mail)
Non-Profit Mailing Permits
Non-profit Mail is printed material eligible to be mailed as USPS Marketing Mail by organizations authorized by the Postal Service to mail at significantly reduced non-profit postage rates. Non-profit mail cannot contain matter that is required to be mailed as First-Class Mail.
Note: You can may resize the permit as long as the text is still readable (font size limit is atleast 8pts)
Non-Profit Org #473 (Black)
Non-Profit Org #473 (Blue)
Non-Profit Org 12550 (Black)
Non-Profit Org 12550 (Blue)
Faux Meter Mark Mailing Permits
An alternative to the standard mailing permit is a faux meter mark. A faux meter mark, is to replicate the impression made by a postage meter machine that indicates that postage has been paid. Meter marks are widely used by businesses and organizations as they are more efficient than using postage stamps. Faux meter marks should have a width of 2.25 inches with scaling height.
First-Class Mailing Permit
First-Class Mail #473 (Red)
First-Class Mail #473 (Black)
First-Class Mail 12550 (Red)
First-Class Mail 12550 (Black)
Standard Bulk Rate Mailing Permit
Presort STD #473 (Red)
Presort STD #473 (Black)
Presort STD 12250 (Red)
Presort STD 12550 (Black)
Non-Profit Rate Mailing Permit
Non-Profit Org #473 (Red)
Non-Profit Org #473 (Black)
Non-Profit Org 12250 (Red)
Non-Profit Org 12550 (Black)
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) Permits
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is an affordable direct mail option and a new way to think about marketing your business to every door in the neighborhood and business without the need for specific addresses or names. The United States Postal Service's EDDM program allows you to have your postcards delivered to individual neighborhoods, using carrier routes. You identify the carrier routes and control the drop date and the USPS delivers directly to every door on the route.
All mailpieces must contain “ECRWSS” in the address within or below the permit indicia.
EDDM Permit
Acceptable EDDM - Retail label options for entry at Post Office locations:
“Local Postal Customer” for active deliveries (residentail and business).
What are automation rate mail pieces?
Automation rate mail pieces are pieces that have been CASS certified within 180 days of the mailing being presented to the Post Office. This means the records have been cleaned up through a mailing software such as Quadient Bulk Mailer. The software will compare the address information in your data file and automatically verify the records to the correct information for that mailing address. If it can’t verify the address information, Cornerstone Services Inc. will manually fix the errors. Based on the number of verified addresses (records with automation barcodes and ZIP+4 verification) you will received postage discounts and are able to use the specified mailing permits.
In order to meet the requirements of automation postage discounts, you will need to use one of our mailing permits. Each permit requires a different amount of automation records:
First Class Mail – 500 or more automation records.
Anything under 500 automation records when using the First Class Mail permit will be considered a Single Piece.
Bulk Standard or Non-Profit Mail – 200 or more automation records.
Machineable vs. Non-Machineable Mail Pieces
A few conditions determine if a piece of mail is machinable:
- Aspect Ratio – length divided by height is equal to less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.
- Uniform thickness – There is less than quarter inch difference in overall thickness, excluding the outside 1 inch border.
- Flexibility – bends at least 1” and does not contain a rigid insert.
Non-Machineable mail piece examples are:
- Square envelopes (fails aspect ratio).
- Cards or envelopes with clasps, buttons or closure devices (fails uniform thickness).
- Contains items like pens, pencils, loose keys or coins (fails uniform thickness and flexibility).
- Made of a rigid material (fails flexibility).
If your piece is non-machinable, it will mail at the non-automated, non-machinable rates.
Are non-machineable and non-automation mail pieces the same thing?
No. A piece of mail can be machinable (as described above), but not have a readable barcode. In that case, your piece would qualify for non-automated, machinable rates. On the other hand, there is no such thing as an automated, non-machinable piece of mail, because a mail piece HAS to be machinable to work with USPS automation machinery.
What is the difference of permit 12250 from #473?
The 12550 is actually the ZIP Code where our postal permit is (technically) located. The “CRST.NET” is what is called a “corporate permit” and requires the 12550 ZIP Code to be associated with the CRST.NET (corporate) name in order for that name to be placed in context with a physical location -- an entry point -- in the United States.
The “#473” is only “valid” when associated with “Newburgh NY”. This, again, tells the United States Postal Service where the mailing was entered in the United States.
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