EDDM Full Service vs Print Only comes down to who does the Post Office work. With Full Service, we print, bundle by carrier route, do the USPS paperwork, deliver the mail and include the postage. With Print Only, we print and ship to you, and you bundle, fill in the forms, pay postage at the counter and drop it off.
What EDDM Full Service Includes
Full Service is the whole job, priced as one number with postage shown as its own line:
- Printing in full color on both sides, at the EDDM size you choose.
- Bundling by carrier route (the path one mail carrier walks each day), in the bundle sizes USPS requires.
- Facing slips and USPS paperwork, prepared for you.
- Postage, included in the price.
- Delivery to the Post Office that serves each of your routes.
Before anything prints, you approve a proof, and a person reviews every order: the routes, the artwork and the USPS specs.
What You Do Yourself With Print Only
Print Only is printing only. We ship the finished pieces to you, and shipping is added at checkout. Then the USPS EDDM Retail steps are yours (USPS EDDM requirements):
- Split the pieces by carrier route, and bundle each route in stacks of 50 to 100, no taller than 6 inches.
- Fill out an EDDM facing slip for the top of every bundle.
- Complete PS Form 3587, the EDDM Retail postage statement.
- Take the bundles to the Post Office that serves those routes, and pay $0.26 a piece in postage (the USPS EDDM Retail rate). Routes served by different Post Offices mean separate drops.
- Keep each ZIP Code within the USPS limit of 200 to 5,000 pieces per day.
The postage box is different too. Full Service pieces carry a permit postage box that we place for you. Print Only pieces carry the EDDM Retail postage box, which matches the postage you pay at the counter. We place either box on the file for you.
Full Service vs Print Only, Side by Side
| Step | Full Service | Print Only |
|---|---|---|
| Pick routes and upload artwork | You | You |
| Proof approval and a person reviewing the order | Yes | Yes |
| Printing | Us | Us |
| Shipping the pieces to you | Not needed | Us, charged at checkout |
| Bundling by carrier route and facing slips | Us | You |
| PS Form 3587 and postage | Us, postage included | You, $0.26 a piece at the counter |
| Trip to each Post Office | Us | You |
| Timing | Production speed you choose, then the USPS schedule | Same, plus shipping to you and your prep time |
The Real Price Difference, With Tax
Here is the same 6.5 x 9 postcard both ways, at the time of writing. Sales tax of 8.25% is added at checkout on everything except USPS postage, in every state. Print Only postage is paid to USPS at the counter, so it is not on our invoice or taxed.
Worked example, 5,000 postcards (6.5 x 9): Full Service is $2,643.17 before tax, plus $107.59 sales tax, for $2,750.76 all-in, postage included. Print Only is $688.36 plus $56.79 tax ($745.15), plus $1,300.00 you pay USPS at the counter (5,000 x $0.26), for $2,045.15, plus shipping (which is taxed too). The difference is about $705 before shipping.
| Quantity | Full Service all-in (tax included) | Print Only + tax + counter postage | Difference, before Print Only shipping |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $788.18 | $678.65 | $109.53 |
| 2,500 | $1,498.37 | $1,164.46 | $333.91 |
| 5,000 | $2,750.76 | $2,045.15 | $705.61 |
| 10,000 | $5,180.79 | $3,906.99 | $1,273.80 |
Math behind the table: Full Service totals before tax are $748.52, $1,435.20, $2,643.17 and $4,990.05; Print Only printing is $386.74, $475.25, $688.36 and $1,207.38; counter postage is the quantity times $0.26. Prices change, so check the pricing page for today's numbers.
Two things stand out. At small quantities the gap is small once shipping is added, so Full Service is an easy call. At 5,000 and up, Print Only saves real money if your time is cheap and your routes sit under one or two Post Offices.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Full Service if this is your first EDDM mailing, your routes span several ZIP Codes or Post Offices, you are mailing to a market you do not live in, or your date is tight and you cannot absorb shipping time plus a day of bundling.
Choose Print Only if you mail regularly to the same routes near you, you have someone who can bundle and handle the counter, and the savings at your quantity are worth that time.
My opinion, for what it is worth: most first-time mailers are better off with Full Service, because the first round of bundling and paperwork takes longer than people expect. That is a judgment call, not a rule. Some businesses start with Full Service, learn the process, then move repeat mailings to Print Only.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Print Only save compared with Full Service?
For 5,000 postcards (6.5 x 9) at the time of writing, about $705 before Print Only shipping, once tax and the $1,300.00 counter postage are counted. At 1,000 pieces the difference is about $110 before shipping.
Is postage included with Print Only?
No. You pay USPS $0.26 a piece at the Post Office when you drop off the mailing. Full Service includes postage in the price, shown as its own line.
Which USPS form does EDDM Retail use?
PS Form 3587, the EDDM Retail postage statement, plus a facing slip on every bundle. With Full Service we prepare the paperwork for you.
Can I change my routes after ordering?
Ask before production starts. Once pieces are printed and bundled for specific routes, changing them is usually not possible. Call us and a person will tell you where your order stands.
Want to see both prices for your own routes? See the homes on your routes and the price, free, on the route map, or read more about Full Service. Questions? Call (346) 306-EDDM (3336).
