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Mailing
List Procedures
Here
are common policies and procedures that apply to the use of mailing lists.
List usage Lists are to be
used for one time solicitation by the approved mailer unless otherwise
approved by the list owner. The provided list is not to be used to enhance
or add information to another file or database.
Pricing/payment The price of
a list is set by the list owner. It includes the base price, selects,
processing charges and shipping charges. The mailer pays the same amount
for a list whether the mailer orders directly from the owner or uses the
services of a broker. The brokerage fee is paid by the list owner. First
time mailers will usually be required by the list owner to send payment
with order. Repeat mailers may be allowed to pay after a set period such
as 30 days after mail date or may be asked to sign a guarantee of payment.
Minimum orders The majority
of list owners set a minimum quantity of names which may be ordered from
their list. On a large file this may be 5,000 or 10,000 names. Otherwise,
there will be a minimum payment amount.
Processing time Customarily, the
time needed to process and ship a list order is a minimum of 5 working
days or less depending on the ordering criteria. Quicker turn arounds may
require the payment of a rush fee.
Sample
mailing piece List owners may request that the mailer
send a sample mail piece, which includes all components of a mailing,
prior to giving final approval for list usage. For first time mailers
this is usually sent with the request for usage. For repeat mailers samples
are often included with the purchase order.
Approved solicitation method Approval
for list usage includes how individuals are to be contacted. If the method
of solicitation was for a postal mailing other methods such as phone or
email contacts may not be used.
Protected mail date For certain
lists, a particular window of time will be given for solicitation. This
could be within a day, week or more and is determined by the list owner.
List
exchange In certain cases, rather than renting names
to a mailer, a swap (exchange) of names is agreed upon between the list
owner and the mailer who also owns a mailing list.
Reciprocal usage List owners
may restrict usage of their list to those who have their own list to exchange
or rent. A few list owners further require the list mailer to match usage
in price of list, quantity used and frequency of mailing.
Cancellation penalty Canceled
list usage by the mailer results in a loss of income to the list owner.
This loss ranges from the costs of processing and shipping an order to
loss of rental income -- from other users -- due to protected mail dates.
Reflecting this loss, the penalty for canceled mailing of a list usually
ranges from incurred charges to full list rental payment.
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