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General Category => General Prepress => Topic started by: t-pat on February 20, 2013, 11:33:42 AM

Title: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: t-pat on February 20, 2013, 11:33:42 AM
cute chick with FSM info you need to know now.

USPS 2013 FSM Guidelines: A Crash Course (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK4CkcZTN6Q#ws)
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Joe on February 20, 2013, 11:34:39 AM
I get her folding email vids every week. :evil:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: t-pat on February 20, 2013, 11:37:28 AM
Quote from: Joe on February 20, 2013, 11:34:39 AMI get her folding email vids every week. :evil:

fascinating subject, eh? I'll have to subscribe. This one was sent companywide so I was "required" to watch it. Still, informative and better than some old cigarette stained geezer mailing dude explaining it.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: delooch on February 20, 2013, 11:44:17 AM
i got to attend a seminar at the local post office to review the updates. i believe almost everyone in the room was my nemesis client,  bitching about how they were going to get thier 8 page shitty church newsletters to comply.  :shoots_self:  ill never do that again, ill just watch the video.

we do these legal notices as self-mailers, one side is 8.5x11 all text, the other side is the mailing panel and an 8x8" map. being how the addy panel has to be in the middle now, it breaks the map up, so now i have to print it on legal size to keep the map together, and i end up with  a blank 8.5x3.5 area on both sides.  plus now i have to reset the folder to accomodate the fold on the legal size sheet.   :death:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 20, 2013, 11:53:06 AM
Good vid, T. Thanks. The mail dept expects me to know this crap and I always struggle with being interested enough to learn.  :rolleyes: I think I actually have it now.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Slappy on February 20, 2013, 01:34:07 PM
Trish! I've met her a few times, she's local & visited the last shop once in a while. Very nice and really knows her stuff. We had one of our DI pieces featured on her Fold Of The Week a while back, I'll have to see if that vid makes any more sense out of this USPS crap. We've already been burned on one 30M run, although I think the mailhouse was full of crap & could have made it work. They decided here to reprint the whole job instead.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: t-pat on February 20, 2013, 02:01:30 PM
the video is pretty clear, it's easy to understand. Maybe even for clients!
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: dubstep on February 20, 2013, 02:14:59 PM
@ 2:32 ... "11 and a half by 6 and an eighth that *DOUBLE WINK* we used to be able to do"

 :naughty:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Farabomb on February 20, 2013, 02:52:36 PM
She's got a little bit of a Jane Curtin thing going.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 20, 2013, 04:44:46 PM
Patterson! Perfect timing on this. I just meow received art and print order for a 100,000+ print and bulk mail piece (we do monthly), and the thing was not only the wrong size but oriented incorrectly for the new regs. I noticed, called the designer and saved a HUGE mess at the post office. All thanks to you posting that video. CHEERS BRO!
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: t-pat on February 20, 2013, 04:52:39 PM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 04:44:46 PMPatterson! Perfect timing on this. I just meow received art and print order for a 100,000+ print and bulk mail piece (we do monthly), and the thing was not only the wrong size but oriented incorrectly for the new regs. I noticed, called the designer and saved a HUGE mess at the post office. All thanks to you posting that video. CHEERS BRO!

glad to help. I'll keep posting stuff as I receive it from our mailing people.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 20, 2013, 04:57:04 PM
Last one we did was in December. Must have snuck it in just b4 the new regulations took hold.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: t-pat on February 20, 2013, 05:31:52 PM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 04:57:04 PMLast one we did was in December. Must have snuck it in just b4 the new regulations took hold.

yeah they just started enforcing them this year
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 20, 2013, 05:45:42 PM
Reminds me of the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. NO MAIL FOR YOU!  :whip:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: gnubler on February 20, 2013, 05:54:45 PM
Near the end she said "Got it?" and I said "no."

Why is everything so complicated?
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: t-pat on February 20, 2013, 05:58:16 PM
Quote from: gnubler on February 20, 2013, 05:54:45 PMNear the end she said "Got it?" and I said "no."

Why is everything so complicated?

you want complicated? Go look this up in the DMM - compared to that shit she made it very simple. Fucking postal-speak needs a universal translator. And then you're still at the mercy of whoever is making "exceptions" at the postal facility you drop at. We drop at several, every single one of them wants their paperwork prepared differently than the other, and will reject the drop without explanation if it doesn't smell right to them.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 20, 2013, 06:02:50 PM
Bathe her, and mail her to me.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 20, 2013, 06:13:41 PM
Yep, same here. We drop at several different postal locations and have the same experience. They're a PITA! So, if you are a print shop with a mail house, prepress not only has to deal with proper artwork, we also have to keep a keen eye on the mail pieces. If you screw up, it can be big money. No margin on postage, like printed material.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 20, 2013, 06:15:54 PM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 06:13:41 PMYep, same here. We drop at several different postal locations and have the same experience. They're a PITA! So, if you are a print shop with a mail house, prepress not only has to deal with proper artwork, we also have to keep a keen eye on the mail pieces. If you screw up, it can be big money. No margin on postage, like printed material.

Not if you have people that are hired to do that. :tongue:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: t-pat on February 20, 2013, 06:17:00 PM
Our mailing supervisor is on the board of a local mailing org that has regular meetings with the postal people. He gets shit for being out of the building at these meetings, but I tell you, he gets shit through that without that inside relationship would not happen. Also he is very creative about saving the customer postage by giving different options, doing drop ships to NDC's and SCF's, and a lot of other shit I don't pretend to understand.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 20, 2013, 06:18:53 PM
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 20, 2013, 06:15:54 PM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 06:13:41 PMYep, same here. We drop at several different postal locations and have the same experience. They're a PITA! So, if you are a print shop with a mail house, prepress not only has to deal with proper artwork, we also have to keep a keen eye on the mail pieces. If you screw up, it can be big money. No margin on postage, like printed material.

Not if you have people that are hired to do that. :tongue:

Hired to do what? We have a mailing supervisor, and he is a bro. But he is not prepress and doesn't see artwork. I usually just bounce the PDF off him for approval.

It's okay, you're in packaging... I wouldn't expect you to understand.  :tongue:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 20, 2013, 06:26:04 PM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 06:18:53 PM
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 20, 2013, 06:15:54 PM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 06:13:41 PMYep, same here. We drop at several different postal locations and have the same experience. They're a PITA! So, if you are a print shop with a mail house, prepress not only has to deal with proper artwork, we also have to keep a keen eye on the mail pieces. If you screw up, it can be big money. No margin on postage, like printed material.

Not if you have people that are hired to do that. :tongue:

Hired to do what? We have a mailing supervisor, and he is a bro. But he is not prepress and doesn't see artwork. I usually just bounce the PDF off him for approval.

It's okay, you're in packaging... I wouldn't expect you to understand.  :tongue:

No, we have a full service mail-room with a mailing dude and 3 helpers. He also does a lot of his own work. I got him a copy of Pitstop last year, dramatically decreased my intervention. He doubles up with the DI pressman, who also knows a shitload about mailing. It's all about compartmentalizing, and departmentalizing the flow, brother. I do Prepress, he does mailing, the receptionist answers the phones, the CSRs handle the customers and pukes. I do less, so I can do more. Just an example of how different our environments are.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 20, 2013, 06:35:46 PM
Thank you for elaborating on what the receptionist does.  :rolleyes:

So, you make your mail supervisor do prepress? That's the opposite of compartmentalizing. I do the graphics and prepress, and shoot the mail super a PDF to proof and sign off on before doing my part. I wouldn't expect my mail department to crack pitstop anymore than they would hand me a mail list to sort.

The more you talk about it, the more it sounds like you do more so you can do more, then bitch about how much more you do.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 20, 2013, 06:49:30 PM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 06:35:46 PMThank you for elaborating on what the receptionist does.  :rolleyes:

So, you make your mail supervisor do prepress? That's the opposite of compartmentalizing. I do the graphics and prepress, and shoot the mail super a PDF to proof and sign off on before doing my part. I wouldn't expect my mail department to crack pitstop anymore than they would hand me a mail list to sort.

The more you talk about it, the more it sounds like you do more so you can do more, then bitch about how much more you do.  :laugh:

I just wanted to make sure YOU knew what a receptionist does, and how rewarding a career it is. I really envy that part of your job. :kona:

We get so much mailing shit in here, it was bogging down my day. He has a background in graphics, he wanted to take care of it so he would have more control and not have to wait on us, so I hooked him up. That is exactly the definition of compartmentalizing. The mailing is contained in the mailing room. The only time I have to be involved, is when he has trouble. It's a win/win for me. You probably understand this as much as I understand trying to educate the endless customer base we have here.

As far as my workload? I have dwindled this department from 7 to 3. That's a lot of it. The rest is just the sheer volume we get from the multitude of brain-dead pukes that turn in work. Last time I counted we have 10 full-time Pukes. Plus the PM does all the house accounts and we also have a banking, stationery and furniture division.

I don't bitch about how much I do. I complain about WHAT I have to do. Big difference. I like working, I hate working for people who like to impose their work on me because they are fucking Sausages. Again, big difference.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 20, 2013, 06:55:13 PM
I understand everything. I just like effing with you so you get worked up and type a big ol dissertation.  :grin:

... and I ain't no receptionist. Just cuz you called your mom that one time and I answered... doesn't mean I answer phones here at work.  :evil:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 20, 2013, 07:02:41 PM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 06:55:13 PMI understand everything. I just like effing with you so you get worked up and type a big ol dissertation.  :grin:

... and I ain't no receptionist. Just cuz you called your mom that one time and I answered... doesn't mean I answer phones here at work.  :evil:

LIAR! My mother is a slimmer version of Jabba the Hutt with Tammy Faye eyelashes! If you're tagging on that, you have lost several points on the coolness scale. Not because she's my mother, but because I thought you had better taste!

I know, man. You always have to let the cat out of the bag to ease people's thoughts that we despise each other. You and I have had some epic arguments, and all the while I have nothing but the deepest respect for you. Even though you're a queer receptionist.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: t-pat on February 21, 2013, 09:31:02 AM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 06:18:53 PM...We have a mailing supervisor, and he is a bro. But he is not prepress and doesn't see artwork. I usually just bounce the PDF off him for approval.

That's what we have, exactly.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 21, 2013, 11:34:44 AM
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 20, 2013, 07:02:41 PM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 06:55:13 PMI understand everything. I just like effing with you so you get worked up and type a big ol dissertation.  :grin:

... and I ain't no receptionist. Just cuz you called your mom that one time and I answered... doesn't mean I answer phones here at work.  :evil:

LIAR! My mother is a slimmer version of Jabba the Hutt with Tammy Faye eyelashes! If you're tagging on that, you have lost several points on the coolness scale. Not because she's my mother, but because I thought you had better taste!

I know, man. You always have to let the cat out of the bag to ease people's thoughts that we despise each other. You and I have had some epic arguments, and all the while I have nothing but the deepest respect for you. Even though you're a queer receptionist.

What ever gave you the impression I had better taste?

Just because I talk on the phone (csr), doesn't mean I answer the phone (receptionist). We have a receptionist... she is currently doing what you do in your off time... hanging out of facebewk. She's also a size 14, so I think the two of you would get along splendidly.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: t-pat on February 21, 2013, 11:35:56 AM
aaaaaand another successful thread jack.  :banana:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 21, 2013, 11:38:24 AM
Quote from: Earendil on February 21, 2013, 11:34:44 AM
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 20, 2013, 07:02:41 PM
Quote from: Earendil on February 20, 2013, 06:55:13 PMI understand everything. I just like effing with you so you get worked up and type a big ol dissertation.  :grin:

... and I ain't no receptionist. Just cuz you called your mom that one time and I answered... doesn't mean I answer phones here at work.  :evil:

LIAR! My mother is a slimmer version of Jabba the Hutt with Tammy Faye eyelashes! If you're tagging on that, you have lost several points on the coolness scale. Not because she's my mother, but because I thought you had better taste!

I know, man. You always have to let the cat out of the bag to ease people's thoughts that we despise each other. You and I have had some epic arguments, and all the while I have nothing but the deepest respect for you. Even though you're a queer receptionist.

What ever gave you the impression I had better taste?

Just because I talk on the phone (csr), doesn't mean I answer the phone (receptionist). We have a receptionist... she is currently doing what you do in your off time... hanging out of facebewk. She's also a size 14, so I think the two of you would get along splendidly.

All joking aside, what's her number?
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 21, 2013, 11:39:35 AM
Just call our number... won't be me answering.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: gnubler on February 21, 2013, 11:40:58 AM
Goddamn guys, I can't read all that crap.

Leave it to the gov to make a simple thing as complicated as possible. Why don't they just hire a million Mexicans to hand sort mail of all sizes & weights?
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: gnubler on February 21, 2013, 11:41:22 AM
Quote from: Earendil on February 21, 2013, 11:39:35 AMJust call our number... won't be me answering.  :laugh:

Unless the caller poses as your "sister".  :hello:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 21, 2013, 11:49:23 AM
Quote from: gnubler on February 21, 2013, 11:41:22 AM
Quote from: Earendil on February 21, 2013, 11:39:35 AMJust call our number... won't be me answering.  :laugh:

Unless the caller poses as your "sister".  :hello:

 :grin: :kiss:

Still... I didn't answer the phone. Our receptionist (we'll call her 14) paged me.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 21, 2013, 11:58:17 AM
Shit, you're gonna make me dig up your number. :evil:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 21, 2013, 11:58:47 AM
Do it, lunger.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 21, 2013, 11:59:25 AM
I got the Skype all loaded up. It frightens me.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: gnubler on February 21, 2013, 12:18:05 PM
Let's all call Earendil simultaneously around noon MST. Size 14 will get a slew of calls for "prepress" all at the same time.  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: Ear on February 21, 2013, 12:19:08 PM
 :laugh: You two frighten me. I like it.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 21, 2013, 12:21:09 PM
Goddamnit, it's already 12:20 here. I missed that one.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: gnubler on February 21, 2013, 01:04:42 PM
I just missed it too. It's noon:04. Let's do it tomorrow and freak out his size 14.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 21, 2013, 01:08:32 PM
Excellent. Consider me, "Down."
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: gnubler on February 21, 2013, 01:27:03 PM
Shall we sing to him? Let's do a conference call.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on February 21, 2013, 01:29:05 PM
Set it up. I'm open for anything.
Title: Re: Folded Self Mailers - new regs info
Post by: gnubler on February 21, 2013, 01:43:24 PM
I'm just open.