The two products, side by side
| EDDM Retail | EDDM BMEU | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small businesses, restaurants, realtors, local campaigns | Large-volume mailers |
| Permit | None | Bulk mailing permit |
| Account | USPS.com account | Business Customer Gateway account |
| Volume | 200 to 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP Code | No limit on the mailing; many ZIP Codes at once. (Retail can also cover several ZIP Codes, with a separate drop at each Post Office.) |
| Postage per flat (up to 3.3 oz) | $0.260 | As low as $0.259 when entered at the delivering unit; higher at other entry points |
| Where you drop it | The Post Office that delivers the routes | A large USPS mail processing facility (BMEU) |
| Paperwork | PS Form 3587 and a facing slip on each bundle | PS Form 3602 and PS Form 8125, plus facing slips |
| Annual fees | None | Permit fees apply (a $390 annual mailing fee and a $390 permit imprint application are both listed in USPS’s fee schedule) |
Sources: the USPS EDDM page, USPS PostalPro, DMM 143 and Price List Notice 123. Rates change; the USPS pages above are the current authority.
The limit that decides it: 5,000 per ZIP Code per day
The Domestic Mail Manual caps EDDM Retail at 5,000 pieces per mailing per day at any one Post Office, and where a Post Office serves several ZIP Codes, 5,000 per 5-digit ZIP Code. The cap is per ZIP Code, not per mailing. 12,000 pieces spread over three ZIP Codes can go as Retail; the same 12,000 in two ZIP Codes cannot go in one day. Your options are to drop on more than one day, mail fewer routes, or use BMEU.
Which should you use?
- Retail if your mailing is 200 to 5,000 pieces per ZIP Code and you do not want a permit. This is the case for nearly every local business, and it is what our ordering tool prices.
- BMEU if you regularly mail beyond those limits and you or your mailing house holds a permit.
Retail drops must be made at the Post Office responsible for the routes, so a mailing that spans several delivery areas means several drop-offs. A printer who handles the paperwork does those for you. We also run BMEU permit mailings ourselves, so a job that outgrows EDDM Retail stays with us.