USPS Postcard Mailing Guidelines - Avoid Costly Mailing Mistakes

[Username]

FAYI

Today I was checking the MP graduation cards, and I saw colored backsides of postcards in the MP, even featured by Zazzle, on the Graduation Announcements landing page. By allowing cards like this in the MP, there will be other designers who think this is okay, when it's not. Zazzle should know better than to feature such cards. Yes, it looks great, and it would be so fun to send postcards like that, but... If you don't want your customers to get in trouble when sending their cards, you should not do this (unless a customer plans to send out their postcards in an envelope). Here are USPS postcard guidelines:

USPS Postcard Mailing Guidelines - Avoid Costly Mailing Mistakes

"The USPS specifies certain areas that must remain devoid of printing. They include the Address area, the Print area, the back side, and the mail order area."

[CreativeLeahG]

https://pe.usps.com/text/csr/ps-189.htm

I am confused
"The stock used for a postcard may be of any light color that does not prevent legibile addresses and postmasrks from being placed thereon.  Brilliant colors must not be used."

Meanwhile this is totally new to me, so be interested in Zazzle's response. I am not sure what regs are for this in UK.

[Username]

From what I've found researching regarding 'postcard card stock', with stock is meant the type and weight of the used paper. Some paper type (card stock) might have a light color, like eggshell white for instance. Also found "The United States Postal Service requires that certain areas of the address side of the postcard be left white for addressing, postage, and bar coding. This includes background color, text, and any photos/images." A full bleed covered postcard backside does not adhere to the USPS requirements.

As I said earlier, it looks really great, but there's a reasonable risk that the automated card scanners/readers that are being used nowadays days (instead of a postal worker checking each piece of mail) will not be able to read the address, and therefor the card will either be tossed out or not reach it's destination. A card scanner/reader, just like with QR codes, can not distinguish the difference between certain colors. For instance, a scanner will see red as gray. Sure, there will be cards that are the exception to the rule, as that pertains to anything. I for one though, would not let my customers run the risk that my beautifully designed card will be discarded and end up in the trasher. But... that's just me.

For the UK I found this blog, it seems rules are less strict there... UK Postcard Rules and Regulations 

[PAZP]

That article is dated October 2018. I'm thinking some things may have changes since then. I've sent and received postcards with color and elements on the back. The USPS put a long bar code sticker over the bottom on the ones I've received with color and elements on the back. 

[Username]

Yes, I have received those too. But always with the address area having a white background. Not with a totally full bleed covered backside.

[Cat]

I've read through the info on the USPS site, and my impression is that the specifications apply primarily to bulk mailings (i.e. where the sender has an account with the postal service and postage is paid via a permit that is printed in the area where the stamp generally goes.) Bulk mailing is a whole different animal from "normal" mailing - it's significantly cheaper for the sender because the mailing must be pre-sorted and must adhere to strict guidelines (yes, I did a stint as a mail clerk when I was in college - and worked at various non-profits where we prepared our own bulk mailings to save money.) In those cases, the sender is charged extra if the barcode must be printed on a sticker and added to the card instead of printed directly onto the card, so that's why having printing in that area can be a "costly mistake." 

For mailings that are done individually (i.e. where the sender puts a postage stamp on the postcard and where the address may be hand written) I believe the guidelines are much looser and stickers are probably used by default.

I think the takeaway here is if you're designing postcards that are intended to be mailed individually where the sender affixes postage with a stamp (wedding rsvp cards, graduation announcements, party invitations, etc.) then this probably is not a big concern. If, however, you're designing marketing materials for small businesses, or business reply mail (the kind of thing where it says "no postage necessary if mailed within the US" with a bunch of black lines and a permit number,) then you absolutely want to adhere strictly to the guidelines.