Tabs - Holding the World Together
Posted by Greg Kathol on Fri, Jul 10, 2009
We've all seen them. They are on many of the mail pieces that are delivered to our home and office. Unless you have a sharp letter opener at your "mail reading area," you've probably cursed them. They are Tabs (sometimes called wafer seals) - and to obtain the best postage rates available, they must be placed onto letter-size self-mailers and booklets according to postal specific regulations.
What are they?
Tabs are circular adhesive disks usually one inch in diameter. They may be made of plastic (clear poly), or paper (usually white or frosted). Since clear tabs are made of plastic and cannot be written on, they may not be used in the "Barcode Clear Area" at the bottom-right of the mailing piece - just in case the post office needs to spray a barcode in that area. Although not defined with specifications, "adequate" adhesion is required.
How many are needed and where are they placed?
Well, that depends...
The post office has a Quick Service Guide (201b) that helps determine how many tabs are needed on specific mailing pieces. Generally, tabs are placed on the open edge of letter-size self-mailers. One or two tabs are placed on the top open edge (depending on the basis weight of the paper) and two tabs are always placed on the bottom open-edge. If you have a landscape format self-mailer with the spine on the right edge, THREE tabs will be required - top, left, and bottom.
Letter-size booklets (with a bound spine) must be looked at separately. If the bound edge is on the bottom, two tabs are required on the top edge. However, if there is a secondary fold (think 8.5x11 booklet bound on the 11" edge, then folded to 5.5x8.5), two tabs are required - one on the left and one on the right side edges. On September 8, 2009, the rules change for letter-size booklets. They will require larger 1.5" diameter tabs. Placement requirements will also change, with three tabs being required on most booklets.
Usually, the postage savings for the additional tabbing offsets the cost of tabs and their application. However, when designing a self-mailer or booklet, keep in mind that more tabs needed on your booklet or self-mailer will cost more and cut into those postage savings. If you have questions about design, give All Direct Mail Services a call. We will guide you to the most efficient design. However, if you choose something less efficient, we'll let you know the postal requirements for that, too!
Why are they needed?
Millions of pieces of mail in dozens of sizes and shapes must be processed by automated postal equipment. Tabs are used to hold booklets and self-mailers together so they do not open and jam postal equipment during processing. By using tabs, reduced postal rates are offered.
How are they applied?
With automated equipment that can affix several thousand tabs per hour. The same equipment can affix postage stamps, too!
Are there any alternatives to tabs?
Yes!
Glue - Fugitive glue, sometime called a glue spot or glue line, is similar to rubber cement and may often be used in lieu of tabs. Since glue is, well, sticky, paper needs to be chosen that will not be separated by the adhesion of the glue. Because of the various regulations, make sure to speak with one of our sales representatives or project managers to check if glue is a viable option for your self-mailer or booklet.
Cheshire Labels - Cheshire address labels may be used to seal short-folded or over-folded self-mailers.
Envelopes - Don't want to have your mailing piece covered by tabs or torn up by customers too impatient to find a letter opener? Envelopes protect the contents from dirty fingers and poor handing. The main drawbacks are that your customer will see the envelope first, not that beautiful front and back cover artwork you and your designer spent so many hours putting together; and the envelope itself is more costly.
Final thoughts
There are no postage discounts for applying tabs to "flat-size" mailing pieces.
If you choose not to use tabs on your "letter-size" mailing pieces (perhaps for esthetic reasons), be aware that basic postage will be slightly higher and some of the better sort discounts will not be available.
By Marc Cohen