Your mail is delivered promptly by staff members to the University’s mail service center closest to you for metering. The Mail Center has two postage meters with the ability to meter any size of mail using any type of mail service.
Billing Barcode Required for Metered Mail
Mail Services can no longer accept mail to be metered without a current billing barcode. Please check with others in your department to locate your barcode. If you need a barcode assigned or modified, please complete the meter barcode request form. For more information, contact Dale Bruning or Laurie Brady.
Metering and Billing
We meter mail using presort rates whenever possible for letters and large envelopes up to 13 ounces. All mail received by 4:00 PM is metered the same day it is received and given to St. Louis Pre-sort, which provides sorting and barcode service. Your mail is delivered to the main post office downtown on the same day. If a billing barcode isn’t included with the metered mail, a delay or halt in service will occur.
Postage is billed through WordDay and postage detail is uploaded to a Box file for departments to download their backup documentation. All mail must be marked with a mail service barcode that provides the departmental cost center to be charged. If multiple accounts are required for one area, please discuss these with Laurie Brady. Postage charges include approximately a nominal service fee on most types of mail.
For mail supplies like Priority Mail envelopes/boxes, USPS forms such as Express Mail, Certified, Return Receipt, and WU mail service forms, please visit the USPS Website: USPS Supplies or email lmbrady@wustl.edu.
Mail Preparation
- Use the barcoded forms with your account and charge information — secure with rubber bands. (Forms are provided – email your request for additional forms to dbruning@wustl.edu). An account number must be provided with each batch of mail to ensure the proper account is charged at the time the mail is metered.
- Business-size (#10) envelopes do not have to be sealed. We prefer the flaps to be “shingled” with flaps up.
- If you have a 9″ x 12″ or 10″ x 13″ envelope with the flap on the top (the long edge), we can seal it at the same time we meter as long as it is no more than 1/2″ in thickness. All mail will be sealed if it is not received sealed. Please seal bulky-oversize pieces.
- Mail trays and tubs are available for large mailings.
- A mail house company picks up all metered mail from Medical Campus Central Services at 4:30 pm each day.
- For information about pricing for USPS refer to the guide here.
Addressing Guidelines
Click here for a short video on addressing mail.
- Type the address in the center of the envelope so that mail can be barcoded to speed up the delivery.
- Do not use barcodes on mail from desktop software.
- The last two lines of the address should only contain the street address, city, state, and zip code. An attention line or other notations should be provided in the first line.
- Do not include any address information within 5/8″ from the bottom of a #10 envelope.
- Use two-letter state abbreviations and preferred directional abbreviations.
- Window Envelopes – make sure the entire address shows through and that no other text is visible.
- Avoid printing on red paper stock.
- Provide a return address and endorsement such as one of the following for address correction notice.
a) Address Service Requested
b) Forwarding Service Requested
c) Return Service Requested
d) Change Service Requested
Business Reply Mail (BRM)
Business Reply Mail (BRM) Artwork Requests (postage paid for self-addressed WU return mail)
For all new BRM artwork, please send an email to Laurie Brady or Dale Bruning with any questions you might have.