The physical process of getting the packets out has changed so much since we started this business! We used to have a small copier, that didn't even do two sided copies. And looking back, I think it only printed 5 or 6 copies in a minute. We had to run all of one side, flip the paper over, run it back through again for page two, then repeat for pages three and four, and then repeat again for pages 5 and 6! Then collate by hand. We used an ink stamp to stamp our return address on the envelopes - that's fun to do 600 times in one day. Then we printed off labels on the pin fed, dot matrix printer, and pulled off 600 labels one at a time, and put them on 600 envelopes. Then collated three stacks of 600 copies each, folded them, and put them in 600 envelopes, that had to be kept in the order they were printed to allow for the discounted postal rate. And for mailings of more than 200 (I believe) we had another ink stamp that we marked the envelopes as "bulk mail". Sealed the envelopes with a sponge (it only took a couple of mailings to learn licking them was NOT the way to go!). Then we had forms to fill out, promising that all 600 pieces of mail contained exactly the same number sheets, and then we took the forms and the mail, and a check for postage downtown to the bulk mail window at the main post office, They weighed ten pieces, and then weighed the whole tray, and we were charged postage based on the weight, not individual pieces. They also did random checks to make sure all the envelopes weighed the same amount. Finally, that days' work could be on it's way! Whew! I'm glad our equipment has improved.
Back then we didn't have a lot of groups that were 500+, just a few. Now we have plenty of groups that are over a thousand, some are a couple of thousand. But we have a great copier, that spits out two sided, collated, pretty as a picture copies in just minutes. We have a specialized envelope printer that prints the return address and addressee info out almost faster than we can keep it loaded with envelopes. And we have a folder/inserter - a nifty machine that we load with the printed envelopes, and the collated copies and it pulls in the copies, stacks them neatly, folds them in thirds, and inserts them in the envelopes. Then we take that stack of mail to our postage meter, and run it through to seal the envelope and apply the postage. Lynette has processed about 2000 pieces of mail today, start to finish.
So now you know more about what goes on here at ML&RS, Inc in a day!
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| 2000 pieces of mail ready to go! |
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| Lynette running the Folder/Inserter. Papers go in on the right, and come out in envelopes where she is on the left. |
