Ways Detailed to Lower Your Postage Costs

With another postal rate increase fresh in their minds, Ventura County business people should consider using lower-classed rates for direct mailings, suggests Spence Johnson, owner of a Sir Speedy printing center in Newbury Park.

There are a number of ways to avoid paying the new rates of 32 cents for first-class or even 22.6 cents for third-class postage, he says. He suggests qualifying for lower rates by presorting, using bar codes and designing mailers that are compatible with the Postal Service’s automated sorting equipment.

“Unfortunately, any direct-mail effort will be rejected by the post office if it doesn’t meet Postal Service guidelines,” Johnson warns. “When a business wants to mail at the lower ‘automation rates,’ it has to follow strict postal guidelines. There’s only one way to do it--the Postal Service way.”

As a first step, he suggests going to your local post office and asking for Publication 25, the Guide to Business Mail Preparation.