This information is reprinted from an official United States Postal Service Bulletin
Direct Mail is safe and has not been the source of any of the anthrax cases.
Advertising mail is traceable and among the safest types of mail.
Direct mail is an important engine driving our country's economy. Direct mail spending was forecast at $46.6 billion in 2001, second only to newspaper ad spending of $49.5 billion.
The Postal Inspection Service has beefed up its security measures within post office facilities to identify and intercept any questionable mail.
The number of anthrax cases is infinitesimal, compared with the volume of mail the Postal Services delivers. They handle 680 million pieces of mail every day-more than 20 billion pieces of mail since September 11-and only a few locations have had anthrax cases.
There have not been any cases of anthrax with residences or small businesses. The only known cases of anthrax have occurred at major institutions or government offices.
Advertising mail is open to inspection by the Postal Service Acceptance Center. The U.S.P.S. can and does open advertising mail to inspect contents before it is accepted.
All types and classes of mail are still being delivered as normal.
As practical, convert to postcards or open-sided self-mailers, especially on resident list mailings.
Use a return address on the envelope.
Include customer's logo on envelope, along with toll-free number or URL.
Use live stamps judiciously-some consumers now suspect stamped mail from unknown entities. Avoid any kind of "cute" copy on envelopes, such as Anthrax-free mail and the like.
Consider deferring the use of odd-shaped inserts or premiums which would make the envelope bulky.
Avoid any inserts (such as laundry soap samples) containing powder or granular material of any kind.
