Tabbing or wafer seals as they are often called close and secure the direct mail piece to ensure it stays sealed and allows it to run through the USPS automated equipment. Not to mention you get a postage discount for doing so, if you mail presorted standard or first class.
If You Mail Booklets – Read This
Starting on September, 8 2009 the USPS has implemented a new requirement for booklet mailings.
The USPS defines a booklet as follows:
“Booklets consist of bound sheets or pages. Binding methods that are compatible with machinable processing include perfect binding, permanent fastening with at least two staples in the manufacturing fold (saddle stitched), pressed glue, or another binding method that creates a nearly uniformly thick mailpiece. Spiral bindings are not machinable so booklets prepared with spiral bindings do not qualify for automation prices. Large booklets may be folded to letter-size for mailing if the final mailpiece remains uniform in thickness.”
Why is this important? Because if you currently mail a piece bound with say a saddle stitch, you may benefit from not stitching it at all and mailing it as a self-mailer.
Here’s why. The new requirement calls for multiple location tabbing with 1.5” tabs to seal the piece, which in turn requires more production work. Pieces can be sealed using tabs, glue spots or glue lines. In addition to the sealing method, tabs must be non-perforated and of minimum material weight. See the table for more detail. Update: Wallet-style booklets have been added to this requirement. See our blog post “New Mailing Standards for Wallet-Style Booklets”. See our blog post on this subject “Tabs – Holding the world together” or just click the blog tab.