What is the difference between a mail house and a mail service?
Mail house and a mailing service are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences between the two.
A mail house, also sometimes known as a letter or direct mail services company, is a business that specializes in preparing and processing direct mail campaigns for businesses and organizations. Mail houses typically provide services such as printing, addressing, inserting, tabbing, and sorting direct mail pieces. They can also offer data processing services to help clients manage their mailing lists, ensure accurate delivery, and track responses.
Mailing services, on the other hand, tend to a broader range of services related to sending mail and packages, including postal mail, courier services, package tracking, and international shipping. Unlike mail houses, which specialize in direct mail campaigns, mailing services can handle a wide range of mailings, from personal letters to large-scale corporate mailings. At Salt Lake Mailing and Printing, we handle a lot of large scale corporate mailings for big companies. We print everything from statements to mass mailings for large scale marketing campaigns.
In general, a mail house and/or a mailing service can provide services related to sending mail. A mail house is what people call businesses that specializes in preparing and processing direct mail campaigns, while a mailing service is the term people apply to companies that may get involved in things like packages shipping as well as some mail house functions.
At Salt Lake Mailing and Printing, we actually offer all of the services of a mail house as well as mailing services. We can handle everything from direct mail marketing and preparing mailings (like a mail house) or large scale corporate mailings like mailing statements or mass direct mail marketing campaigns.
Mail Houses
Mail Houses will usually offer a lot of services which may include direct mail, pre-sorted mailings, address management and validation services, specialized printing, shipping and tracking options. When considering a mail house it is important to understand the various services they offer and makes sure they can handle your mailing from end to end. It is also important to inquire about turn around times as they will vary widely depending on the mail house you choose to work with.
Mailing Services
When you are looking for a mailing services it is also important to find out if they have experience providing the same or similar services for other projects or businesses. This will help you to determine if their capabilities are suitable for your mailing and whether they have sufficient knowledge and expertise in the field. As an example, there are mailing service providers who primarily specialize in bulk mail. Others specialize in mailing for Union Organizations. We have known a few mail houses who primarily serve the mortgage industry, and others who specialize in political mailings. This is our way of saying that not all mailing houses are the same and it is important to ask them what their experience is with the type of mailing your business wants to execute.
Costs of Mailing
The cost of mailing is highly variable because the types of mail businesses send out is highly variable. For example, mailing a simple post card is not complex mail piece to produce, process, and get in the mail. But if you want a letter to go out that is three pages and you want it to go into a double window envelope, now there is printing of the pieces, cutting, nesting, folding, inserting, sealing, and processing and might even involve match mailing which requires inserting some pieces manually by hand (as opposed to using a machine). Each additional step it takes to process a mail piece and get it in the mail will adjust the cost of the mailing itself. So it is important for you to make sure you know up front what it is you want to mail and talk with a mail house expert who can advise you on what is possible, what increases costs, and how it all works.
Customer Service and Support
When choosing a particular mailing service provider it’s also important to consider what levels of customer service and support they offer. Some mail companies provide dedicated Account Managers who can help you navigate through the various options available and answer any questions you may have along the way. Other mail houses may rely on their sales team or customer service staff to handle client inquiries. But the main thing is, make sure you can work with your mailing services provider customer support team, because you are going to need them to help you, and you want to feel like you can ask them questions and get a prompt response.
Choosing the Right Mailing Service Provider
When researching potential mailing service providers it is important to consider all of the factors discussed above in order to find the most suitable option for your needs. From understanding what services each supplier offers through to looking into their experience, cost, customer service/support and reviews – this will help you to make an informed decision when selecting the right mailing service provider for your project or business.
Summary – The Difference Between a Mail House and Mailing Service
The main differences between a mail house and a mailing service are the types of mail they tend to produce. Mail houses tend to offer services related to direct mail marketing campaigns and marketing mail, where mailing services may specialize in everything from large corporate mailings to international shipping. But the truth is, there is often a lot of overlap between the two.
As an example, at Salt Lake Mailing we offer direct mail marketing campaigns, EDDM mailings, corporate mailing, statement printing and mailing, post card mailing, and much more.
So regardless of what you call the company (mail house or mailing service), the most important thing is to contact them directly and make sure they can handle the type of mailing your company needs done. Mail houses and mailing services have a lot of various types of equipment, and some have more than others. If the company you are talking to does not have the right equipment, or has not kept up to date by purchasing newer equipment, the customer tends to pay for that in either increased costs or slower production times. It’s important to ask questions when you are talking to a mail house or mailing service provider to ensure they truly have the knowledge to get your project completed properly and on time.
About Salt Lake Mailing and Printing
Sale Lake Mailing is a full-service mail service company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their services include mailing printing, direct mail marketing, variable data printing, data management, and fulfillment services. They offer customized mailing solutions for small businesses, non-profit organizations, and large corporations.
Salt Lake Mailing specializes in direct mail marketing campaigns, helping clients to reach their target audience with personalized messages and attractive designs. They also offer variable data printing, which allows clients to customize each piece of mail with unique content for each recipient. Additionally, they offer data management services, including list cleaning and deduplication, to ensure that mailings are delivered to the correct addresses.
Overall, Salt Lake Mailing provides a range of services to help businesses and organizations effectively market themselves through direct mail campaigns. Their attention to detail and customized approach sets them apart from other printing and mailing companies.
