Postcard Marketing | Direct Mail Postcard Printing

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | SonicPrint.com

This page has frequently asked questions by our customers. If you feel there is a question that is not answered here, contact us, and we'll answer it and add it!

Printing Questions

What are your normal turnaround times?
Offset Printing:
Standard turnaround for offset printing (true ink on paper) is 3-5 business days, however some special finishing options add extra time to the turnaround. We are able to expedite jobs with a 24-48 hour rush for an additional cost. Our offset turnaround is an estimate and not a guarantee. While we make every effort to turn around our offset orders on time, outside conditions such as humidity, weather, acts of god, and equipment malfunction may delay jobs. In the event we do not ship a job for which you paid a RUSH fee, we will refund your rush fee and give you a 10% credit off of a future order with SonicPrint.com

Turnaround times do not include: design time and additional services such as Die-Cutting, Folding, Scoring, or other post press finishing processes. Turnaround time is counted by business days. If you have a special need or request, please contact us at at 813-443-5271.

Digital Printing: 2-3 Days
Turnaround for most digital products is 2-3 days. This does not include custom paper orders, or post press finishing. With our digital services we are able to provide 24 hour and same day print and ship rush services.
What is the minimum order?
With our digital printing services the minimum order is 100 cards. Our offset printing minimum is 1250 pieces.

Direct Mail minimum to receive postage discounts from the post office is 250 for "standard class" and 500 for "first class".
Do prices include full color?
We are a full color print shop. Every job we print is full color. With our digital press you can receive a discount for printing only 1 sided, however we run all offset jobs 4/4 (Full Color Both Sides).
Can you print PMS colors?
We can print Pantone/PMS/Spot Colors for an additional $200 per color, per side. There is no charge for Ink/Setup/Plates.
Our Xerox digital press is unable to print PMS colors, although there is a close conversion using it's CREO rip.
Should I put a border on my art?
With ALL designed material we recommend you leave 1/4" (0.25") from all edges of your printed piece. If you leave less than 1/4" (0.25"), we cannot be held responsible for unequal borders from top to bottom and from side to side. This is due to the final cutting process in which some "draw" or "slippage" may occur. This is a print industry standard.
What is a bleed? How much should I have?
A bleed is extra area outside of your document that is trimmed off to insure proper cuts. In simple terms - your background should go an 8th of an inch (0.125”) beyond the final cut size. For example, if you have a 4x6 - you should design your piece as 4x6, but have your background extend 0.125" on all sides. The piece you submit to us should be 4.25"x6.25"

WE REQUIRE BLEEDS ON ALL JOBS. No Exceptions or you risk your job being miscut.

Although our cutting staff is extremely precise, we cannot guarantee any print job cuts without the proper bleed.

There are no exceptions!

Also, please keep your text at least 1/4" (0.25”) away from the edge of the piece, unless it is an eighth page or smaller. This way your text is in a "safe" area. If you have any questions regarding this policy you may call us, or use our design templates located on our website.
What should my files resolution be?
All file formats must have bitmap resolutions of 300dpi/ppi with embedded or outlined fonts.
What type of files do you accept?
We accept the following file formats: .TIF, .JPG, and .PDF. We will accept other file formats for an additional charge. However, you can easily convert most files into an industry standard format with a few easy steps! If you are unsure about your file format, give us a call and we will help!
Can I resize my 72dpi artwork to 300dpi?
Unfortunately, you cannot increase your resolution for a design that has been created low resolution. The output will be blurry or grainy, and at times, unreadable. The only solution is to redesign your piece at the correct resolution. If you have any questions, call us today and someone from our Art department will help explain in detail.

Ordering Questions

How Do I Place An Order With Your Company?
Placing on order on our website is EASY and SECURE. Please refer to our How To Order Page located Here. Our entire order process with ALL the options and extras is 10 Easy Steps!
Can I just e-mail you my order?
Yes, we will accept e-mailed orders, however we do not recommend it. We cannot guarantee turnaround because the order was not placed and its data entered into our order flow system. Please refer to our How To Order Page and if you still have problems, we would be delighted to walk you through the order over the phone.
I do not see my quantity.
If you desire a product or quantity not on our website, please use our Quote Form, or call us, and we will be able to provide a custom quote!
Why Are Your Prices So Low?
We are able to offer Full Color Process printing at a substantial discount from our competition by "gang-running" our jobs. By printing "gang-runs", we print all standard work on a 20"x26" sheet, "ganging" them together. This significantly reduces the costs of making plates, and other fixed setup costs.
Do two 2500 business cards count as one 5000 business card order?
Each quantity ordered is for 1 set of artwork. Because of the costs of setting up a print run, we are unable to break up orders under the amount that they are ordered. We have structured our pricing based on what it costs to print that many sheets of one piece. However, if you are placing multiple orders of cards, please contact us. Depending on the quantity, we may be able to adjust your pricing to reflect bulk discounts.
Can I Cancel My Order?
No refunds are available on orders unless no files have been prepared. If the order has not been processed, there is no fee for cancellation. However, if an order is cancelled after we have pre-flighted your files for print, and it has not been placed on a run, a $25 fee will be charged.

To maintain a competitive edge, we process jobs as soon as we receive them. If your order has been placed on a run, it cannot be taken off after the plates have been made. Because all of our work is custom printed to order, all sales are final. We are unable to use your printing after we have completed it.

If you need to cancel an order you have placed, you must call and speak to a representative to avoid ANY costs other than the above processing fees. E-mail does not constitute cancellation.
How will my credit card be billed as?
Your credit card statement will read: "Collective Industries"
Do You Offer Terms Or Credit?
Due to the massive amount of throughput and speed in turnaround we require payment in full prior to any work being completed. We do not offer terms to any of our customers.

We accept check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Paypal. If you would like to pay using a Wire Transfer, please contact us by phone.
Will I Receive An Invoice?
By placing an order on our website, the system will send an invoice to your e-mail confirming your order. Alternatively, if your total is adjusted or you require a formal invoice from our company, you may contact us and we will e-mail you a revised invoice promptly.
Can I place an order by phone?
Absolutely. If you have difficulty or concerns with ordering over the internet, please do not hesitate to give us a call, and we will be glad to take your order over the phone. Our number is 813-443-5271. Keep in mind, by ordering through the website you are able to get job tracking information directly in your e-mail. In addition to this, we only extend our turnaround time guarantee to orders placed through our online system.
What Specialty Services Do You Provide?
We provide a multitude of bindery and finishing services.

Folding
Scoring
Perforations
Sequential Numbering
5th & 6th Colors
Saddle Stitching
Gluing/Padding
Custom Die-Cutting and Die Creation
Rounded Corners
UV Coating
Satin Aqueous Coating
and more!
If you have a special request, just give us a call!
What is Gang Run Printing?
Gang-Run printing is the process of printing multiple orders on the same press run. By "ganging" orders we can offer substantially discounted prices. One of the pitfalls of Gang-Run printing is that we relinquish the control of individual piece color to compensate for the entire run. This does not mean your colors will be drastically different - the Gang-Run industry standard practice is to accept an overall pleasing color, which is 90%-95% accurate to the image.

Because of limitations with the Gang-Run printing process, the differences in equipment, paper, and neighboring image ink requirements - the accuracy of color reproduction is not guaranteed. By placing an order with our company you agree to this limitation.

This is an industry-wide standard. Our competitors follow the same guidelines.

Shipping Questions

May I change my shipping?
We ask that you carefully plan both the anticipated printing turnaround time and the time to ship to your final destination, as it is very difficult to process shipping changes once an order has been placed. We process hundreds of orders each day, and within minutes of receiving your order our shipping and fulfillment department is already scheduling your ship date and preparing your labels. Shipping changes are time consuming and costly for us. In the event that you need to change any shipping information (shipping service, destination address, etc.) after you have placed your order you will be charged an additional $10.
* Please note that we CANNOT ship to a PO Box.
What Shipping Carriers Do You Use?
Our primary logistic partners are:

UPS
Delta Air Cargo
FedEx / FedEx Freight

We can ship on your account number with a variety of carriers. If you have special requests please do not hesitate to contact us. Call us and we will work with you to get your printing to you in a cost effective and timely manner.
How Does Air Cargo Shipping Work?
Each night, we take our orders to the Cargo center at the Tampa International Airport. From there, they get shipped to your nearest airport that Delta, Southwest, or their partners fly.
Many Cargo areas are open 24 hours a day, so they are the most attractive shipping option for us.

The SLOWEST air cargo service is overnight, so your order typically arrives at your nearest airport the next afternoon.

This is also called Air Freight or Counter to Counter shipping.
How Long Does Shipping Take?
UPS Ground shipping takes from 1 to 6 business days depending on your distance from our facility in Florida.
Please refer to our shipping map for full information. Other shipping options include:
3 Day Select
2 Day Air
Next Day Air
Delta P1 (Overnight Air)
Delta Dash (Most times, same day)
Will you break up boxes and ship to multiple locations?
If your multiple shipments are broken up into full boxes, we can drop ship multiple boxes to different locations (up to 3) at no charge. If the boxes have to be broken down into quantities smaller than a full box, we charge $15 per box that has to be broken apart for handling and material costs.
Will you blind or 3rd party ship?
For our resell customers, we make it a priority to insure we are transparent in the printing process. We are able to drop ship your printing under your name and address at no charge!

As far as your clients are concerned, your ARE the printer!

By request, your order will be shipped with your Company Name and Information as the return shipping address. All Blind Shipped orders will be shipped in a plain box with no additional advertisements or promotions packed with your order
Where is my tracking number?
On the day that your order ships we will send your tracking number to you via e-mail, and it will be stored under the appropriate prior order in your account area.

Direct Mail Questions

How does direct mail work?
The post office gives discounts simply for doing part of their work for them. By pre-sorting and bar coding your mail pieces it bypasses the manual sorting and labor of the USPS (Postal Service) delivery process. For this work they discount the postage based on the level of sorting. To perform the sorting we use software specifically approved by USPS to sort your lists current to their delivery routes.
Can we deliver our own mail?
When mailing in bulk, the mail can only be dropped at the BMEU (business mail entry unit) registered to the permit. If you have your own permit, we can presort and ship you the paperwork and mail trays to drop in your local area.
What kind of coatings can we use on our postcard?
Because of our special inks and heater equipment, we are able to inkjet on aqueous coating for your postcards, many mail houses are unable to address aqueous coated cards. UV coating is great for the front of postcards, but cannot be used on the back, because the post office cannot inkjet necessary routing information on UV coating.
Can we pay for postage with our credit card?
The Post Office does not accept credit cards for bulk mail.
SonicPrint does allow you to pay for postage with a credit card; however, there is a 4% fee for doing so.
If you do not wish to pay the additional 4%, you should either pay via ACH or make a check payable to the US Postmaster.
How long is your mailing turnaround?
Our mailing turnaround is 2 business days in addition to the production turnaround, or 2 days after receipt of postage payment, whichever is latter. We cannot and will not drop jobs for mailing without your payment check for postage. It is also best to submit your mailing list at the same time you place your print order so you can receive your postage total and submit payment with enough time. Rush mailing is an additional $75. Under NO circumstances will your mail be sent without postage.
How long does it take for mail to be delivered?
Typically 1-4 Days from mail drop date for first class, and 1-10 days for standard mail. Please note that standard will take longer for delivery during peak mail/holiday seasons. The post office does NOT specify a delivery time for Standard mail and will possibly defer delivery during peak mail times. The best way to decide postage is if the postcard has a date, it's best to mail first class.
Is there any proof that my mail was dropped?
Once the U.S. Postal Service has processed a job, confirmation of mailing is available to us online. We will gladly fax or e-mail the confirmation on request.
Can you hold our postcards until we are ready to mail?
Absolutely! There is no charge for warehousing your mailing pieces for up to 1 year. If you would like to mail quarterly, monthly or weekly we can schedule your mailing up to a year in advance!
Can you provide a mailing list?
Of course! Please refer to our mailing lists page for more information.
Is my list safe?
We treat confidentiality with utmost importance. We never share data with anyone. If you would feel more comfortable, we would be delighted to send over a signed confidentiality agreement, assuring your data is safe with our company.
Are there lower postage rates for Non-Profit organizations?
Non-Profit groups can apply to the U.S. Postal Service for approval to mail at special Non-Profit postage rates. This class of mail is a lower priced standard mail rate with the same delivery timeframes. We can mail for your organization at this postage rate once you have sent us the proper documentation. This includes a completed Postal Service Form 3623 plus a request for additional entry on company letterhead signed by a responsible organization official. We will forward these documents to our local Post Office for their approval.
Do you remove duplicate and bad addresses?
We automatically omit bad addresses. Our default procedure is to keep just one of the duplicates for mailing. If you want us to remove duplicates using different criteria, such as where ONLY the address matches, please be sure to indicate this when submitting your list. There is no charge for this service. Our mail sorting software also corrects errors and properly formats addresses based on USPS requirements and databases. Any undeliverable addresses are removed from your list.
Can I mail the "extra" postcards?
Yes. However, because our permit can only be used for presorted mail from our local mail center, you would have to put a first class stamp over the mailing indicia. It is unlawful to attempt to mail cards without postage paid. It will not reach its intended delivery point without postage.

Mailing List Questions

Where do you purchase your data?
Our mailing lists are the most accurate, detailed, and current mailing lists in the industry. The information for our mailing data comes from the world's leading consumer and media information resources, such as:

- Equifax
- Dun & Bradstreet
- InfoUSA
- Melissa Data
- Acxiom
How do I know I'm buying updated and accurate data?
Our lists come from established and reputable sources such as infoUSA and Dun & Bradstreet. Addresses are updated weekly and telephone verified through a rigorous process. We do not hide our list vendors because we are not using unverifiable 3rd party lists and are confident of the data we purchase. With the volume of data we purchase, we are able to get you better prices than if you bought them directly from the list vendors. Also, by purchasing your mailing lists from us, we are able to give you expert one-on-one advice regarding your marketing campaign.

Questions about our company

What are the benefits of using our company?
Some of the benefits of our printing company

• 24 Hour Rush Available
• UV or Aqueous finishings.
• Extensive Direct Mailing Services
• Secure Online Order Placement / Job Tracking
Do You Have A Designers Guide?
Our design department has created a print file cheklist for customers to ensure that their artwork comes out perfect. Click Here for our print file checklist!
What quantities do you print?
We print quantities as low as 100 and as high as a million plus! Anything not listed on our website can be custom quoted, call us or use the easy custom quote form on our website.
Where Are You Located
We are located in, Tampa, FL.
What is UV, AQ and UV1?
UV and AQ are abbreviations for the kinds of coatings we offer. Here are some of the core differences and applications:

AQ (Aqueous Coating) is a water based finish that helps protect your job as it is being printed. This is our standard gloss coating, which we use to give our customers a better product than our competition. Also, Aqueous coating helps us achieve our lightning fast turnaround, because it is on press and allows the inks to dry quicker. It is recyclable and environmentally safe.

UV (Ultraviolet Coating) is a clear liquid spread over the paper like ink and then cured instantly with ultraviolet light. UV coating gives more protection and sheen than either varnish or aqueous coating. Since it is cured with light and not heat, no solvents enter the atmosphere. However, it is more difficult to recycle than the other coatings. This coating is the "laminate style" coating that you see on ultra high gloss magazine covers. It is a second process, which takes place after the run has been printed, though prior to it being cut. This coating adds more time to the printing process. UV1 indicates that the final piece is UV coated on one side only.
What Specialty Services Do You Provide?
We provide a multitude of bindery and finishing services.

Folding
Scoring
Perforations
Sequential Numbering
5th & 6th Colors
Saddle Stitching
Glueing
Custom Die-Cutting and Die Creation
Rounded Corners
UV Coating
Satin Aqueous Coating
Standard Aqueous Coating
and more!
If you have a special request, just give us a call!
What is Gang-Run Printing?
Gang-Run printing is the process of printing multiple orders on the same press run. By "ganging" orders we can offer substantially discounted prices. One of the pitfalls of Gang-Run printing is that we relinquish the control of individual piece color to compensate for the entire run. This does not mean your colors will be drastically different - the Gang-Run industry standard practice is to accept an overall pleasing color, which is 90%-95% accurate to the image.

Because of limitations with the Gang-Run printing process, the differences in equipment, paper, and neighboring image ink requirements - the accuracy of color reproduction is not guaranteed. By placing an order with our company you agree to this limitation.

This is an industry-wide standard. Our competitors follow the same guidelines.