Deadline to apply for Reply Rides Free Program is September 15th.

On August 15, 2011, the application window for the 2011 Reply Rides Free Program was re-opened to allow mailers to participate in the program from September 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. The Postal Service must receive your application by September 15, 2011. For more information about the program and the application process, please contact the Program Office at replyridesfree@mailps.custhelp.com.

The United States Postal Service^® encourages the growth of automation letter-size First-Class Mail^®. The Reply Rides Free program provides an incentive for customers to include more content in their automation First-Class Mail letters by providing a postage credit for the extra weight.

Here’s how it works…

• The credit applies to First-Class Mail automation letters weighing more than 1 oz up to 2 oz .  All of these mail pieces must have a basic or a full-service Intelligent Mail barcode.
• Letters must include a reply card or envelope, either Courtesy Reply Mail™ or Business Reply Mail^®. The reply piece may be in the format of a reusable envelope. Permit reply mail is not eligible for this program.
• At the time of mailing, customers will pay the applicable 2-oz price for these mailed pieces. The postage credit will be for the amount paid for the second ounce and will be provided for those pieces mailed during the 2011 calendar year when the mailer’s volume of commercial presorted automation letter-size First-Class Mail meets a pre-determined volume threshold. All First-Class Mail presorted and automation letter-size volume counts towards meeting volume threshold; however, only First-Class automation letters mailed under basic or full-service Intelligent Mail will be eligible for a postage credit.

*The program will run from January 2, 2011 through December 31, 2011.

For more information on this program,go to https://www.usps.com/business/promotions/reply-rides-free.htm and download the Reply Rides Free Fact Sheet and the Rides Free FAQs.