AFD Products: Mailsaver Manual

SETTINGS TAB

The Settings Tab (Shortcut Key [Alt]+3) is where you specify the options for this Sort run.

The entries you make on this Tab will vary depending on the Advertising Mail, Publshing Mail or Business Mail scheme you are using, by the delivery speed you require - and by the actual physical characteristics of the mailing item you are posting.

Your Royal Mail Account manager should be able to advise on the service and settings you should enter here, but the following notes provide additional guidance:

Bulk Mail Product

This will be determined by the type of Bulk Mail service you require, and should be advised by the Royal Mail. Advertising Mail is used for a largely uniform message to all addresses for promoting the sale or use of products or services or to encourage contribution to, or support of a cause. Sustainable Advertising Mail is similar but for mailings with are aligned to the PAS 2020 environmental standard. Publishing Mail is suited to periodicals such as newsletters, journals and magazines. Business Mail generally contains general correspondence and items of a personalised nature. Big Book and Heavyweight cater for larger items. All these have more detailed requirements which should be discussed with your Royal Mail Account Manager.

Sustainable Level

This is applicable to Sustainable Advertising Mail only and refers to the level of sustainable mail that your mailing conforms too. This will need to be confirmed by Royal Mail.

Bulk Mail Class

The 'Class' indicates the speed of delivery expected - eg 1 & 2 are roughly equivalent to first and second class mail service respectively, whilst Economy allows the Royal Mail to take about a week for delivering the mailing.

Not all classes are avaliable for all services and in that case only those options which are applicable are enabled.

Item Format

The Item Format specifies the type of item you are mailing. Please note that if a format is not available for the selected Bulk Mail Service you have selected you will be unable to select it and will need to use a service which supports the type of items you are sending.

Letter
This is defined as an item which is no heavier than 100g and has a maximum size of 240 x 165 x 5 mm.
Examples of items which would normally be classed as a Letter include most letters, postcards, bills and statements, some brochures and catalogues and most greetings cards.

Large Letter
This is defined as an item which is no heavier than 750g and has a maximum size of 353 x 250 x 25 mm (345 x 245 x 25 mm when using Low Sort). Examples of items which would normally be classed as a Large Letter include letters containing unfolded A4 paper, large greetings cards, most brochures, CD's, DVD's, catalogues, company reports and some magazines.

Packet
This format applies to items larger than a Large Letter. The maximum weight for an individual item is normally 1006. With the exact definition depending on the sort scheme used. With Advertising Mail this is furthur divided into Shoebox and Board Game referring to the type of items that may be sent using this format.

If you are unsure as to which format your mailing falls into, please contact your Royal Mail Account Manager for clarification.

Sortation

This indicates the level of sortation you want your mailing divided into. There are three choices depending on how many ways you wish to sort your mail and if you can meet certain Royal Mail machine-readable specifications.

Not all sortation types are avaliable for all services and in that case only those options which are applicable are enabled.

Low Sort OCR
This is for addresses printed with an OCR font and is avaliable for letters and large letters only. Items are sorted up to 88 selections.

Low Sort Barcode
This is for addresses printed with the Royal Mail customer barcode and is avaliable for letters only. Items are sorted up to 88 selections.

High Sort
This is avaliable for all item formats and items are sorted to up to 1,525 direct selections and 88 residue selections.

Item Weight

Enter the weight of your mailing piece, in grams. Allow for the weight of the package as well as its contents.

Selection Size

This determines the minimum size acceptable for Direct selections. The Royal Mail Minimum selection size for letters is currently 50 items, for large letters is 10 items and for Packets is 5 items. Selecting values greater than these minima will reduce the discount you obtain - but may make packing more convenient. Under Low Sort sortations, since only residue sortation is attempted, a minimum selection size of 1 is imposed by the system.

Job Reference Number

Specify the Reference Number you wish to assign to this Job.

Use Bags or Trays

These options specify if you are using Trays or Bags to pack your mail. You should consult with your mailsort manager in conjunction with making this decision. Selecting this allows the weight specified for trays to be used in preference to that for bags allowing you to mix and match if necessary.

Advertising Mail

These options are applicable to Advertising Mail only and specify Response or MultiStage led services. MultiStage allows you to carry out a second mailing to the same recipients as your main mailing. This mailing can either be a teaser (prior to the main mailing), or a reminder (after it). Response is for mailings were a response is included in the pricing.

When all settings are entered and checked, click the 'Run Sort' button to carry out Mailsort processing.

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