The term "bulk mail" refers to quantities of mail prepared for mailing at reduced postage rates. In Business Mail 101, the term "bulk mail" means discounted First-Class Mail and advertising mail (called "Standard Mail" by the Postal Service). Discounted rates are available for other classes of mail, too. The Postal Service uses the terms "bulk" and "presorted" interchangeably.
Bulk rates are discounted from "single-piece" rates. "Single-piece" means that you pay the full postage rate; when you put a 37-cent stamp on a letter, you're paying the single-piece rate. Many mailers pay single-piece rates even though they are doing large mailings. Why? Because they don’t want to do any extra preparation work—they don’t have the time, or it’s just not cost effective for their business. Business Mail 101 will help you make smart choices about your own mail to determine if bulk rates are right for you.
What Are Bulk Rates?
The Postal Service offers discounts for bulk mailings because you do some of the work that otherwise would have to be done by the Postal Service (for example, sorting the mail by ZIP Code or transporting the mail to a different postal facility). Everyone benefits from this "worksharing." Mailers make an investment in time and technology, and the Postal Service’s costs are reduced and you pay less postage.
In order to mail at bulk rates, you need to: