Open Forum

Hello everyone

The issue below relates to Business Reply only, not Courtesy Reply.

I have a client who is using a generic window envelope for their customer's Business Reply Mail.  These envelopes have most of the BRM requirements printed on the outside of the envelope and have a window where the inbound address and IMb that are printed on the insert shows through the window . Each of their customers has a unique inbound address and IMb, so the mail is returned to different locations, but all postage and handling are processed through the same permit.

Now here's the issue.  Suddenly the USPS is giving them grief and saying the current window is too small even though they have been using the same envelope for years. WIth the current envelope, the inbound address and IMb show through all the movement of the insert.  The USPS says the window must be 2" high by 4.25" long.  This creates a problem as this means if they enlarge the window, part of the IMb on the outbound address would show through the window when the piece is returned and the piece would no longer qualify for QBRM rates.  This could end up costing my client thousands in additional postage.

I'm wondering two things.  Have any of you ever encountered this situation?  Do any of you use a window envelope for your customer's BRM and if so, could you please respond and let me know the specs on the envelope. 

Thanx in advance and happy HUMP day.

GPH

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George Heinrich
The Postal Professor
Parker CO
303-325-3048
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Nice they are suddenly quoting the DMM.  I don't have a BRM I can supply but here are a couple ideas.  First if your client participated in the BRM Promotion it would be good to gather the count supplied by the USPS for their reply mail and confirm it matched their count.  Then I would proceed to take this data to the PCSC and appeal what I'm guessing is a local specification enforcement.  I understand what the DMM regulations state but if the USPS is not having any issues with the reading of this design, which would be supported by their own promotion counts, I'd be hard pressed to see any way Chuck and team wouldn't give you the exception in writing.

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Rose Flanagan
Mgr. Postal Strategies & Logistics
Data-Mail, Inc.
Newington CT
(860) 666-0399
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-16-2017 02:57 PM
From: George Heinrich
Subject: Window Envelopes used for Business Reply Mail

Hello everyone

The issue below relates to Business Reply only, not Courtesy Reply.

I have a client who is using a generic window envelope for their customer's Business Reply Mail.  These envelopes have most of the BRM requirements printed on the outside of the envelope and have a window where the inbound address and IMb that are printed on the insert shows through the window . Each of their customers has a unique inbound address and IMb, so the mail is returned to different locations, but all postage and handling are processed through the same permit.

Now here's the issue.  Suddenly the USPS is giving them grief and saying the current window is too small even though they have been using the same envelope for years. WIth the current envelope, the inbound address and IMb show through all the movement of the insert.  The USPS says the window must be 2" high by 4.25" long.  This creates a problem as this means if they enlarge the window, part of the IMb on the outbound address would show through the window when the piece is returned and the piece would no longer qualify for QBRM rates.  This could end up costing my client thousands in additional postage.

I'm wondering two things.  Have any of you ever encountered this situation?  Do any of you use a window envelope for your customer's BRM and if so, could you please respond and let me know the specs on the envelope.

Thanx in advance and happy HUMP day.

GPH

------------------------------
George Heinrich
The Postal Professor
Parker CO
303-325-3048
------------------------------