Ask three people and you can easily get three different answers to this question. Actual delivery time can vary depending on a nearly incomprehensible set of variables - from as straight forward as how far the mail is traveling to undeterminable such as an individual carrier's mail load that day.

In general however, 1st Class mail will take from one day for mail delivered locally to 4-6 days for mail delivered to the more distant parts of the U.S.

Standard mail will take 2-3 days locally and two or more weeks for mail with more distant destinations. Of course mailing during busy seasons such as Christmas will slow these times down.

There are also ways to speed up your delivery times. Paying close attention to requirements for automation mail will allow the USPS to sort and move your mail pieces more efficiently. Large mailings can be dropshipped and entered closer to their destination resulting not only in decreased delivery times, but also reduced postage costs.

We would be happy to discuss your specific concerns and needs. Feel free to give us a call or email any one of us.

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The post office requires tabs only on letter size mail that is taking the barcode discount. So pieces larger in any dimension than 6 1/8" x 11 1/2" x 1/4" would not need to be tabbed. Also small mailings of letter size pieces that are not taking discounts for automation preparation do not need to be sealed.

Ideally, pieces that need to be sealed should be designed so the folded edge is at the bottom of the address panel and the open edge is at the top. This requires the use of only one tab for folded pieces and reduces spoilage as the postal equipment is designed to run pieces along this bottom edge and tabs can catch in the machinery resulting in undelivered pieces. Letter size booklets with stitched spines are required to be prepared with the bound edge at the bottom in most cases and additionally require two tabs to seal. I say "in most cases" because there are a few alternatives that apply to specific designs that the USPS has tested and approved.

Please feel free to call us with any questions about your specific design or better yet fax us a sample (it can be as simple as sketch of what you are thinking about) and we'll let you know what avenues are available to you. The earlier in the design process you address this issue the better.

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Mailers of Minnesota stocks three types of seals. The most common and least expensive are 1" white paper circles. These are easy to open and very economical. We also have a 1" clear acetate. These seals have a knick on each side to assist with opening the piece. We no longer stock perforated seals because of the difficulty the post office has had with them. The clear seal allows you to read copy through the seal for tight tolerance placement and has a reduced visual impact on the piece compared to white. We also stock a transparent paper seal that offers nearly all the advantages of clear with ease of opening similar to paper. They work best on lighter colors and are less expensive than clear.

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Each of our systems is state of the art for the technology they represent. Because each is based on a fundamentally different operating principle they all have slightly different advantages and limitations. Below is a list of the primary features and limitations of each machine. When you schedule a project with us we will be happy to go over these with you and how they apply specifically to your mail piece.

Video Jet System 4000


Advantages


• Up to 18 lines of print.
• Will run nearly any piece from simple folded self mailers to 16"x 24" flat sheets. We have even run small boxes on our equipment.
• Will adhere to any surface. We have had success with varnishes, enamels, aqueous coatings, Tyvek and plastic cards.
• Can print front and back in the same pass.
• Full coverage print area. Important for remote placement of codes and text. Return addresses, nearest store locations and sales representative information can be added in a single pass.


Disadvantages


• Very limited font selection.
• Font is a dot matrix style print rather than letter quality.


Scitex 5120


Advantages


• Can use any True Type or Adobe font.
• Good print quality. 120x240 dpi
• Will print on most coated stocks.
• Will run nearly any type of product.
• Graphics capable.


Disadvantages


• Limited to 1" print path.
• Water based ink has trouble adhering to very glossy coatings and over ink coverage.


Video Jet PrintPro ES


Advantages


• Two 2"print paths allow wide area coverage. Messages and return address information or store locations can be added in a single pass.
• Will adhere to any surface.
• Good print quality- 128x 300 dpi variable.
• Can use any type of True Type font
• Graphics Capable



MCS Pro 600


Advantages


• Can produce spot color in red, yellow and blue.
• Can use any True Type font.
• Good print quality. 300x600 dpi standard. Capable of 600x600 dpi in some applications.
• Two 1.5" print paths allow wide area coverage. Information such as return addresses, indicias and nearest store location can be added in a single pass.
• Graphics capable.


Disadvantages


• Water based ink best suited for uncoated stocks. Will adhere to some coated stocks, but advisable to test stock beforehand.
• Machine not suited for bulky or heavy mailing pieces such as thick catalogs or large piece sizes.

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