United Wire Service: Direct Mail Solutions

UWS PROCESSES & PROCEDURES

Turnaround Guidelines

United Wire Service recognizes that getting your information into the hands of your customers quickly is critical. Our team members are experts at working with you to develop and implement your mail programs.

For continuity programs, where the letter package, data file format and processes are static, your mail can be delivered to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in as little as one day.

Two, four, and seven-day turnarounds are also common, and are dependent upon your program's complexity and the processing requirements involved. Contact one of our account executives for details on how United Wire Service can shorten the distance between you and your customers.

Note that all turnaround times apply to your program after it has gone through a project start-up process. The start-up process will require additional time for program definition.

Postage

United Wire Service clients can choose either first-class or third-class (also called "Standard A" or "bulk") postage for their mail programs.

In general, first-class mail is more expensive, but will reach its destination in approximately two to five business days. The USPS will also forward or return incorrectly addressed mail if it is sent first class.

Third-class mail is less expensive, but takes approximately five to ten business days to reach its destination. The USPS does not forward or return undeliverable mail sent third class. United Wire Service can also accommodate mail programs for non-profit organizations.

United Wire Service uses USPS approved First Logic mail sortation software in order to obtain the maximum postage discounts available for you. First Logic will apply ZIP +4 data if not included on your original input file, correct inaccurate ZIP Codes, and sort the mail by ZIP Code so that the lowest postage rates are achieved. Because these processes are performed by United Wire Service's software, the USPS gives postage discounts that save you money.

Acceptable File Formats

We are able to handle a wide variety of file formats. Data files can be provided as text files, either fixed-length or delimited, or as database elements. Likewise, logo and art files are accepted in industry-standard formats. We can receive files on diskettes, compact disks or ZIP disks. We also support electronic file transfers through FTP and e-mail. Click on the categories below for additional details.

Data Files
Logo and Art Files
Copy Files
Method for Submitting files

Data Files

Preferred Field Lengths:
First Name	40 Characters or less
Last Name	40 Characters or less
Title	50 Characters or less
Business Name	50 Characters or less
Address Line 1	50 Characters or less
Address Line 2	50 Characters or less
Address Line 3	50 Characters or less
City	25 Characters or less
State/Province	4 Characters or less
ZIP Code/Postal Code	10 Characters or less
Country	20 Characters or less
City, State, ZIP Code combined	41 Characters or less (Max of 30 Characters for City and State together)
Field Notes: If it is not possible to separate out the first name from the last name, we can receive a Full Name field that is less than 80 characters. There can be up to three Address Lines: A. Prefer them to be three distinct fields. B. Prefer the Address fields to be separate from the City, State, ZIP field(s). If the City, State/Province and ZIP Code/Postal Code cannot be combined, they can be in separate fields (for USA and Canadian addresses): A. Prefer the State to be the two-character abbreviation. B. Prefer to have the City field 25 characters or less. NOTE ONLY USA or Canadian addresses can have these three fields combined into one - Foreign addresses MUST have the City, State/Province and/or ZIP Code/Postal Code in three separate fields! If there are going to be ANY foreign addresses on the file, the three fields MUST be separate. The Country field should be populated for non-USA records. File Notes: Documentation including a) the file format, b) individual field information (size and delimiters), and c) a total record count on each file, should be included for processing and verification purposes. We can process PC compatible ASCII text files sent on diskettes, through e-mail, or via FTP. Preferred PC formats include: Files sent in fixed field length formats* * For files sent in a fixed width format, we must receive a file layout identifying every field and the length for each of the fields. This file format generally results in the quickest processing, with less chance for the need for non-standard programming. Files received in a fixed field length format are not subject to the File Upload Charge. (This excludes full file database dumps.) Microsoft Excel spreadsheets Comma delimited files ** For EXCEL spreadsheets and comma delimited files, we would prefer to have a header record on these files, describing what each column (field) represents. Mainframe magnetic tape media is not accepted at the Peoria office. If you need to send mainframe tapes, please contact your Account Executive or Client Services Manager. Back to File Formats \| Back to top

Art Files

Preferred Electronic File Format Specifications:
Electronic files can be submitted in a variety of formats.

Logo Files for black and white or laser imprinting can be in:

EPS - Adobe Illustrator version 11 or older*
*Note: Any type within the file needs to be outlined or font supplied.
EPS - Photoshop version 8 or older
Tiff - Mac or PC image - 300 ppi/dpi image resolution
Gif - 300 ppi/dpi image resolution

Magazine Cover and Art Images

Photoshop 8 EPS (or older), Tiff, Jpeg file formats at 300 ppi/dpi
(Color: RGB, CMYK or Grayscale)

Files may be larger than image needed for print. Final size and format will be determined by ChoicePoint Precision Marketing.

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Copy Files

Copy files may be sent via e-mail in the body of the e-mail message, or attached in a Microsoft Word or PDF file. We can also accept copy via fax. Our fax number is (309) 689-6488.

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Method for submitting files:

Images may be sent via e-mail, individually or for multiple images, placed in a folder and ZIPPED or saved in a STUFFIT compression format.

CDs or Zip disks can be sent, if schedule allows for postal delivery.
Please mail media to:

    United Wire Service
    8512 Allen Rd.
    Peoria, IL 61615

For information regarding FTP transfer of files, please contact one of our account executives.

If you have any questions regarding your project image files, please contact your Client Services Manager.

You have our assurance we will do everything we can to give you the best reproduction of your images!

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