To find out if this is the latest version, and to get other information about bulk mailing, check out our web site at http://www.scotthochberg.com/psinfo.html
This program has been updated to print barcoded sack and tray labels to postal service specifications, and has been updated to meet all USPS requirements through December, 1997.
WHAT DOES POSTAGE $AVER DO??
Postage $aver helps you prepare your mailing list for Standard A bulk mail or First Class automated letter mail. (Standard A used to be known as third class.) It does this in several ways.
First, it reads your mailing list file and prints a detailed, zip code by zip code report telling you exactly what to put in each tray, sack, package and group each time you mail. It also tells you how to label each sack or tray, prints the sack and tray labels with barcodes on standard Avery 5371 or 8371 business card stock, and computes all the postage totals and other information you need to fill out your USPS mailing statement. And, it prints the USPS Qualification Report for each mailing to help the post office verify that you have prepared your mail correctly.
Postage $aver also creates a sorting file that you can read back into your mailing list so that you can actually sort your addresses in the exact order that you need to package and sack your mail. And, the sorting file includes "endorsement lines" (those annoying lines that say **********5-Digit 77005 at the top of the address block) that you can print on your labels/envelopes so you don't have to use the equally annoying red D stickers.
Postage $aver includes all the sorting and rate information for both regular or nonprofit mail, for non-barcoded or barcoded mail, and for letter-sized or flat-sized mail. Postage $aver calculates USPS entry discounts, so you save additional money.
WHAT DO I NEED??
You need a mailing list that is kept in a data base file (like Q&A, Filemaker, Works, etc.) rather than a word processing file (like Wordperfect, Word, Write, etc.). And you need to know how to EXPORT, or SAVE AS the file into an ascii file. (Your manual should be able to help you, or drop us a line if this is a problem for you.) If you are using Filemaker Pro, there are simple-to-follow instructions in the HELP file in Postage $aver. We are developing other application notes like that, so don't hesitate to contact us.
WHAT DOES POSTAGE $AVER NOT DO??
It doesn't print address labels. Your mailing list program will do that. You can either sort your mailing list in zip code order and use Postage $aver's sort report to manually load your mail into trays (or sacks) and packages as it instructs. Or you can create a sorting file with Postage $aver and import the sort order back into your data file. You then use your own mailing list program to sort in the order specified by the sorting file and voila!, your own mailing list program will print your labels or envelopes in exactly the order you need to prepare your mail most efficiently.
WHAT ABOUT BARCODES??
Mail that is barcoded must be sorted differently than mail that is not barcoded. Postage $aver can sort barcoded mail, but you must upgrade to "Postage $aver Pro" to activate the option for sorting barcoded mail.
To create barcodes on your mail, you need two things:
Ñ a way to calculate what the barcode should say, and
Ñ a barcode printer font to print the barcodes on your labels or envelopes.
Fortunately, you get both when you register your copy of Postage $aver. We are providing a copy of our Secret Barcoder Ring software and a barcode printer font at no extra charge to everyone who registers their copy of Postage $aver, for a limited time.
Secret Barcoder Ring analyzes each address and nine-digit zip code on your data base and creates the correct sequence of digits to form a barcode meeting USPS requirements. Then, all you do is print that sequence using the barcode font, sort your mailing list with Postage $aver Pro, and you can take advantage of "automation" postage discounts. (Your mail piece must also meet USPS technical requirements for size and shape.)
As July 1, 1997, the USPS requires that the labels on sacks and trays of barcoded bulk mail also be barcoded. We expect this requirement to be extended to all bulk mail in the not-too-distant future. These barcodes are completely different from those that are used on each piece of mail and cannot be produced by merely using a barcode font. (It figures.) Never fear, Postage $aver now produces those barcoded labels (assuming you have a printer that can print them with sufficient clarity.)
WHAT ABOUT CASS CERTIFICATION??
Cass certification is a process by which each address in your mailing list is checked for accuracy and matched with its correct zip code. If you are mailing at basic presort rates, you only need to match to five-digit zip codes. If you are mailing at automation rates, you need accurate nine-digit zip codes. (You can't make a correct barcode with only a five-digit zip code.)
Postage $aver DOES NOT do Cass certification, or produce the Cass certification report. We know of no inexpensive software that does Cass certification. If you can imagine the data base involved in matching every address in the country to its correct nine-digit zip code, plus the ability to realize that 123 Fourth St. is the same as 123 4th Street, you get some idea of what is involved.
Fortunately, the USPS will do the first Cass certification for your list free of charge. (Call them at 800-238-3150 to ask about this, or check with your local USPS business service center.) Then, you can maintain your list by looking up each new or changed address in the official zip+4 directory or on the USPS web site (http://www.usps.gov/ncsc/lookups/).
Or, if you are willing to spend a little money to save a lot of hassle, many commercial mailing houses will Cass certify your list for a small fee. One that we have used is Lorton Data at 800-347-1574. (We mention this only for your convenience - we take no responsiblity for any good or bad experience you may have there.) You can send them your list on disk or via modem and turnaround is fairly fast. For just a bit more, they will cross-check your list against the past three years' history of postal address changes and give you the forwarding addresses. Eliminating bad addresses usually saves more in wasted postage than the service costs.
Postal sorting software like Postage $aver does NOT need to be certified. The USPS has begun a voluntary certification program, called "Pave", for postal sorting software, but a mailer is NOT required to use Pave certified software, and using Pave certified software will not guarantee that your mail will be accepted. However, we have found that some postal employees seem more willing to trust the accuracy of your bulk mail preparation if you use Pave-certified software. Your copy of Postage $aver is Pave-certified if you have the latest version and if you have made all necessary changes to keep it current with changes in postal service requirements.
DOES POSTAGE $AVER PRODUCE "STANDARD DOCUMENTATION"??
Yes. Postage $aver produces the USPS Qualification Report, which is the standard documentation referred to in information from the USPS. Note that this report is required ONLY if you are mixing postal classes within the same mailing, or mixing mail pieces with different weights in the same mailing. Most small mailers do neither, and are therefore NOT required to prepare any special documentation. Nonetheless, it might save some time and hassle at the post office if you print this report and submit it with your mailing.
I STILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. WHAT DO I DO??
Postage $aver includes a HELP system that explains the operation of the program plus a little bit about bulk mailing requirements. It's a fast read, so we suggest you go through the help system before you try to run a file through Postage $aver. You can find the help files by running Postage $aver and then choosing Postage $aver Help from the apple menu, or by typing apple-H.
You can print the entire Help file by running Postage $aver, typing apple-H, and then clicking Print File.
If you have read the Help file and are still lost, e-mail us at scott@scotthochberg.com.
RUNNING POSTAGE $AVER
To run Postage $aver, double-click the postage stamp icon.
TEST FILE PROVIDED:
To make it easy for you to try Postage $aver, we've included a short sample file of zip codes, cities and states. Double-click the postage stamp icon to start the program. Then select "Sort One List" from the Sort menu. Choose the sample file. The next screen lets you specify which fields in your data file contain the zip code, city and state. Postage $aver has automatically figured this out for the sample.txt file, so just click OK. Postage $aver will take it from there.
You can view the contents of the sample file using any word processor, BUT DO NOT SAVE THE SAMPLE FILE UNLESS YOU "SAVE AS" TEXT ONLY. Saving a file as a standard word processing document, rather than as a text file, will make the file unreadble for Postage $aver.
WHAT IF I HAVE AN OLDER VERSION OF POSTAGE $AVER??
You should delete the entire folder in which it resides. BUT FIRST, you might want to jot down the data on your Settings screens, as you will have to re-enter this information. (Sorry.)
Also, if your version of Postage $aver is older than 3.0, FIND AND REMOVE THE FILE CALLED "POSTAGE $AVER PREFS" FROM THE PREFERENCES FILE IN YOUR SYSTEM FOLDER. Failure to do so will prevent Postage $aver from operating.
YOU CAN PRINT BLANK COPIES OF THE POSTAL MAILING STATEMENT (THE FORM YOU TURN IN WITH YOUR BULK MAIL.)
As a convenience to you, we've included Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) files for the current versions of the postal mailing statement (from the USPS web site). If you have an Adobe Acrobat reader, you can print these files. If not, you can get the Adobe Acrobat reader free at www.adobe.com
These forms are in the "forms" folder. They are not necessary for Postage $aver and can be deleted, along with the folder, if you do not wish to use them.
WHY YOU SHOULD REGISTER YOUR COPY OF POSTAGE $AVER.
We make this copy of Postage $aver available to you for trial use as an inexpensive method of distribution. That lets us keep our costs low, and that in turn lets us keep our price low. If you try Postage $aver and it doesn't meet your needs, then delete it and we'll shake hands and try again when we have another product. But if you keep it and use it, we need you to register it. If you fail to register, your software will stop functioning 45 days from the time you first run Postage $aver on your computer.
When you register, you receive:
* barcoding software and a barcode printer font at no extra charge;
* updated files for a full year when the USPS changes sorting details or rates;
* free bug fixes for a year as necessary;
* full technical support via e-mail and telephone;
* a clear conscience.
Registration costs only $20! And it costs only $45 to upgrade to Postage $aver Pro to get access to sorting routines for barcoded and weight-surcharged mail. There are NO shipping or handling charges if you give us an e-mail address for sending update files. We will add a $10 shipping and handling charge if you request updates via regular mail.
You can register in the following ways:
1.) If you are a CompuServe member, GO SWREG on Compuserve to register automatically. Your registration fee will be added to your CompuServe bill. We will be notified of your registration within about 24 hours and will send you your registration number promptly.
Register using CompuServe product number 14190 for Postage $aver Lite, or 14191 for Postage $aver Pro.
2.) To register using VISA, Master Card or Discover, go to our web site at http://www.scotthochberg.com/psinfo.html
or
contact:
Northstar Solutions
FOR CREDIT CARD REGISTRATION ONLY.
THIS IS AN ORDER TAKING SERVICE ONLY.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL NORTHSTAR FOR TECHNICAL HELP, AS THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.
via e-mail: starmail@nstarsolutions.com
via fax: 785-539-3743
via phone: 800-699-6395
via regular mail: 1228 Westloop Pl. Suite 204, Manhattan, KS 66502
Specify the correct NorthStar stock number:
Postage $aver Pro for Mac:
Updates via E-mail: $45 - stock# 979
Updates via Regular Mail: $55 - stock# 981
Postage $aver Lite for Mac:
Updates via E-mail: $45 - stock# 975
Updates via Regular Mail: $55 - stock# 977
There is a registration form in this folder that you can print for fax or mail orders.
3.) To register by check, go to our web site at http://www.scotthochberg.com/psinfo.html to send youyr check electronically
or
send your check, along with a completed registration form, directly to us at:
L. Scott Hochberg Consulting Services
2111 Sheridan
Houston, TX 77030-2107
Your check should be in the amount of $20 for Postage $aver Lite or $45 for Postage $aver Pro.
If you do not have an e-mail address and we must send you updates by mail, we must add $10 for postage and handling.
(Texas residents add 8.25% sales tax to the total amount).
HOW TO CONTACT US:
For technical questions, customer service, or other support, e-mail us at:
scott@scotthochberg.com
phone: 713-669-9919
mail: 2111 Sheridan, Houston, TX 77030-2107
Thanks for your interest.
Scott Hochberg
There are a whole bunch of trademarks in this readme text, including Filemaker Pro, Q&A, Adobe, Acrobat, Mac, Windows, Compuserve, AOL and Postage $aver.
