What is Publications Mail service?
To qualify as Publications Mail™, your mailing must meet ALL of the following requirements:
- A newspaper, magazine or newsletter.
- A single publication or a bundle of publications for a single address.
- Addressed to a subscriber, non-subscriber or news dealer.
- Published with a regular frequency and at least twice a year.
- Contain news and information intended for public access.
- Must not contain confidential or proprietary information.
- Contain a maximum of 70% advertising content in more than half of the issues we deliver in a 12-month period.
- Deposited in Canada and addressed to Canadian addresses.
Certain publications do NOT qualify as Publications Mail. For example:
- Handbooks and manuals.
- Amendments or revisions to handbooks and manuals.
- Directories, catalogues or price listings.
- Financial reports.
What's included
Redirection—an easy way to stay connected
If we cannot deliver your mail as originally addressed because of a move, we will redirect your publication to the new address for free—provided a Change of Address Notification is in effect.
What's extra
Undeliverable Publications Mail (uPM)—invest in future savings
For a fee, we'll notify you when your Publications Mail items are undeliverable. You can then remove invalid mailing addresses from your file and save on future mailings by mailing to more accurate customer lists.
You have 2 options to receive uPM address information:
-
Register by calling 1-800-267-7651 to receive a weekly electronic report via email.
The processing fee is $1.05 per address. This option provides you with the quickest access to the information and allows you to easily reconcile charges on your statements.
-
Receive the entire publication back with a packing slip confirming that it is undeliverable. No registration is required; we automatically return it to your Canadian address.
In addition to a $1.05 uPM processing fee, you will also be charged for the postage of the publication. For example, the postage for a 200 g publication is $1.96.
Specifications
Size and weight requirements for your publication depend on which mail preparation option you choose:
| Category | Length | Width | Thickness | Bundle Height | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individually Addressed Copies (including all enclosures and wrapping) | ||||||
| Presorted LCP or NDG |
MIN | 140 mm (5.6 in.) |
90 mm (3.6 in.) |
0.18 mm (0.007 in.) |
– | – |
| MAX | 600 mm (23.6 in.) |
600 mm (23.6 in.) |
200 mm (7.9 in.) |
200 mm (7.9 in.) |
1.36 kg (3 lb.) |
|
| Machineable Short and Long (S/L) |
MIN | 140 mm (5.6 in.) |
90 mm (3.6 in.) |
0.18 mm (0.007 in.) |
– | 3 g (0.11 oz.) |
| MAX | 245 mm (9.6 in.) |
156 mm (6.1 in.) |
5 mm (0.2 in.) |
100 mm (3.9 in.) |
50 g (1.75 oz.) |
|
| Machineable Oversize (O/S) |
MIN | 140 mm (5.6 in.) |
90 mm (3.6 in.) |
0.5 mm (0.02 in.) |
– | 10 g (0.4 oz.) |
| MAX | 380 mm (14.9 in.) |
270 mm (10.6 in.) |
20 mm (0.8 in.) |
200 mm (7.9 in.) |
750 g (26.45 oz.) |
|
| Bundles of Unaddressed Copies | ||||||
| MIN | 140 mm (5.6 in.) |
90 mm (3.6 in.) |
0.36 mm (0.014 in.) |
– | – | |
| MAX | 600 mm (23.6 in.) |
600 mm (23.6 in.) |
600 mm (23.6 in.) |
– | 22.7 kg (50 lb.) |
|
| Samples and Promotional/Novelty Items* | ||||||
| MIN | – | – | – | – | – | |
| MAX | 270 mm (10.6 in.) |
270 mm (10.6 in.) |
20 mm (0.8 in.) |
– | 100 g (3.5 oz.) |
|
NOTE: Length + Girth must not exceed 2.0 m.
* For convenience, the most current domestic mail item sizing template (part no. CPO 8129-2005-01-21) should be used to measure the maximum thickness, width, and length of a sample or promotional/novelty item. The item should pass freely through the 20 mm slot in either direction.
Your minimum order
The minimum order depends on the type of mail preparation option you choose:
-
Machineable and Letter Carrier Presort (LCP) orders require a minimum of 1,000 pieces to Canadian addresses.
If you want to send fewer pieces, you can pay the minimum base price to bring your total order up to the minimum number of pieces required. This option is referred to as phantom pricing.
For example, if you only have 800 pieces to send, pay the applicable postage for the 800 pieces and pay the minimum base price for 200 to bring your order to the minimum requirement of 1000 pieces.
- National Distribution Guide (NDG) presort mailings may require a minimum of 50 pieces
Read more about minimum orders.
Rates & prices
The price of your Publications Mail items will depend on:
- Size and weight
- Mail preparation and presortation options. You save on postage when you prepare and/or sort your publication so that we can process it more efficiently.
View the Publications Mail 2009 Price Sheet.
Other cost considerations
Save time and money when you create your order (Statement of Mailing) online with Electronic Shipping Tools. Please note:
- We charge a processing fee for Statements of Mailing prepared manually.
- You will pay National Distribution Guide (NDG) prices if your Statements of Mailing for Machineable and Letter Carrier Presort (LCP) mail are prepared manually.
- Surcharges and price adjustments may apply if there are irregularities with your mailing.
What you can enclose with Publications Mail service
Grow advertising revenues by offering your advertisers the option to include their samples, promotional items and other standalone printed materials with your publication.
You can insert additional advertising content into your publication. Or, you can include other advertising pieces in the same envelope or wrapper with your publication. These advertising pieces are known as outserts.
Learn more about enclosures with your host publication and how much they cost.
When will your mail get there
Service standards are estimates of how long it will take for your mail to be delivered. Service standards are not guaranteed but are generally:
| Local | 3 business days |
| Within a Province | 4–5 business days |
| National | 4–13 business days |
How to pay for your mailing
Contact us at 1-866-757-5480 to sign an agreement to use Publications Mail service. We will set you up with an account and payment terms.
You will have to identify proof of payment on your publication. Read about the required identifying information.
Find out more about payment terms.
Where to drop off your mail
Deposit your mailing at one of more than 4,000 approved locations. You can find a complete listing in our free online Electronic Shipping Tools. When you use our Electronic Shipping Tools to create your order, select the most convenient location to drop off your mail.
You may also refer to this summary of major drop-off locations for Letter Carrier Presort (LCP) Publications Mail.
Support
Need help? Contact us and we'll gladly answer your questions. Or call us at 1-866-757-5480.
