Mailing and Shipping Services

Allen Press sends out millions of individual pieces of mail per year, so you can count on us to provide the support, quality care, and superior results that you need during the distribution process. Using copalletization and other techniques, we keep postal charges as low as possible for our customers and expedite the delivery of your publication to subscribers. Our distribution system is integrated with our print production facility for streamlined processing and efficient domestic and international delivery.

Benefits
 

Reduced costs
Using our copalletizaton and meticulous list processing techniques, you’ll enjoy the lowest postal rates available for your publication.

Expedited delivery
Because of our central location in the Midwest and our address verification and automation practices, your publication is delivered to subscribers without delay.

Flexible international solutions
Whether you need a fast or an economical solution—or both—we’ve got an international option to fit your budget and delivery requirements.

Services
 

U.S. distribution
We provide faster delivery time by verifying the domestic mail on-site and bypassing the area Post Office. Automation rate postage savings are made possible through a refined sortation of your mailing list. Services for mail certification, address validation and standardization, and automation include Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) certification, Delivery Point Verification (DPV), National Change of Address (NCOA) processing, and intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB). We also find that our centralized location in the U.S. helps reduce postage for publications with a broad national readership. We utilize numerous USPS programs that help improve cost efficiencies and delivery times, such as drop shipments, palletization, comailing, firm packaging, and more. Save money by allowing us to assist you with international back issue fulfillment.

List handling
We provide distribution services for hundreds of organizations and process lists that come to us in a variety of formats. Upon request, we also merge-purge and de-dupe lists to help remove multiple occurrences of addresses and to identify unwanted addresses. Processing your list with our software results in a dramatic reduction, or even elimination, of returned and/or undeliverable copies as a result of incorrect addresses. Working with Allen Press ensures that your publication will be in compliance with USPS move update standards.

Addressing
The address can be applied directly on the publication or the polybag. A variable data message can also be incorporated.

Polybag
Polybagging offers some key advantages, including superior resistance to scuffing, tearing, and water damage. We can insert additional mail pieces or supplements with the publication, and we use 2-millimeter-thick polywrap for added durability. Recyclable polywrap material is available.

Bulk shipments
Allen Press has identified more than 10 of the fastest and/or most cost-effective freight carriers to help distribute your less than truckload (LTL) and Heavy Weight bulk shipments. We use drop shipments, palletization, shrink-wrapping, bulk boxing, and other specialty packaging methods to ensure that your shipments are delivered safely and securely. Packing slips are included with each shipment showing the number of copies shipped, the number of boxes, and the number of skids with their associated weights.

International (non-U.S.) distribution
All of our international distribution service offerings are faster and less expensive because we utilize a host of postal consolidation products to the fullest extent. Most of the publications distributed by Allen Press have an international readership of 20% to 30%, which is why we are very mindful of the importance of collaborating with leading international distribution service providers. A key feature of our foreign rate structure is that it is based on the weight per ounce, and not by the pound. Allen Press can provide you with two cost-effective delivery options with expedited delivery standards associated with each.

International mail options

Allen Priority Airmail™ — When you want your mail there fast, Allen Priority Airmail is the dependable way to get your mail to your readers. It’s the expedited “no-worry” answer for your time-sensitive material. This service is as fast as, if not faster than, regular International Airmail, and it is less expensive than traditional USPS Airmail Letter-Post delivery service. Allen Priority Airmail delivery times range from 2–3 days to Canada, 5–7 days to Europe, and just 7–14 days to the rest of the world.

AllenAir™ — When you want your mail on time and your budget on target, count on AllenAir to get your printed items to your readers reliably and quickly. AllenAir is our exclusive international air/surface distribution service for individual publications and bulk packages outside of the United States. It is comparable to the USPS International Surface AirLift (ISAL) delivery service, and is a cost-effective way to send printed material such as publications, newspapers, periodicals, catalogs, and direct mail. Your publication is copalletized and shipped to a hub in Chicago, Illinois. It is then distributed to a central location in the destination country, where it is delivered via the local country’s surface postal system. AllenAir delivery times to the destination country range from 5–7 days to Canada, 9–15 days to Europe, and 16–23 days to the rest of the world. Actual delivery times depend on the efficiency of each country’s postal system. Using AllenAir results in savings across all 10 postal zones.