Nobody likes to fail. But when it comes to direct-mail efforts, lessons that arise from stunning failures often can lead to stunning success

By Margaret Battistelli Gardner

In summary, if the wording, color, location or numbering of your mail-piece design too closely resembles the markings of a copyright design of the USPS, the package might not be mailable. If an average postal clerk, after viewing your outside envelope, thinks the mailer has requested and paid for a special service such as Priority Mail, then expect it will be treated as such. You might owe a lot more postage than you had planned.