Printing Services

Bulk Mail Information

Bulk Mail Mail is classified as Bulk Mail when:
  • there are at least 200 pieces of mail or 50 pounds
  • those pieces weighing less than 16 oz each of identical mail
  • all are going out at the same time

Bulk Mail has two ways of charging postage, the indicia (permit box), which is printed in the upper right hand corner on the piece, or metering, which means printing the postage on each piece by a meter machine.

Permit Approval Form
When you use a University Permit, we must have the Permit Approval Form before we can send the mail to the Post Office. The Bulk Mail Acceptance Unit at the Post Office will not accept the mail without this form. The information must be filled out on this form by the department and sent with the mail or faxed to Bulk Mail Unit of University Printing at 348-6912.

Please keep in mind that Bulk Mail is not first class mail and it may take extra time getting through the mail.
Normal processing is 2-3 days unless you have a very unique or large job.
Bulk Mail has two different rate structures: NonProfit and Regular Bulk Rate

Nonprofit Rate must follow all rules to qualify for nonprofit.

  1. Must have University of Alabama on top line in return address
  2. Must contain university business only
  3. No sponsors or advertising of any kind
  4. No joint ventures with outside companies

Acceptable NonProfit Indicia Formats:

Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Tuscaloosa, AL
Permit 16


Regular Bulk Rate indicia must contain all information as sample below.

Prsrt. Std.
U.S. Postage Paid
Tuscaloosa, AL
Permit 16
First Class Indicia

First Class Mail
U.S. Postage Paid
Tuscaloosa, AL
Permit 85
Metered Mail
We can also meter your bulk mail if the indicia was not printed. The postage will be charged back at the end of each month to the account number on the Permit Approval form.

Sealing
When you need us to seal envelopes, leave the flaps open. The contents must be completely inserted inside. We cannot seal envelopes larger than #10s. Sealing and metering may be done in one pass.

Sorting is grouping certain zip codes together by 5-dgt, 3-dgt, ADC and MXD groups. When the department sends the mail over in zip code order, this helps us out and we charge a smaller fee for sorting. If not in zip code order see casing.

Casing is when the customer or department sends bulk mail over but did not put is in complete zip code order. The fee is a little more because it takes us longer to put in zip code order, it is faster for us to process

Intercampus Lists
University Printing has the capability of inkjetting the intercampus mailing list on flyers, memos and other types of correspondence. Contact Kim Spencer at 348-0333 to discuss specifications, cost, scheduling and number on list.

Inserting machines
Our inserting machines will insert 3 pieces into a #10 envelop and 3 pieces into a 6.25 x 9.5 booklet envelope. Anything larger will be stuffed and sealed by hand.