Quick answer: stack your EDDM Retail pieces in bundles of 50 to 100, no taller than 6", put a printed facing slip on every bundle, bring the paperwork the USPS tool generates (the facing slips plus PS Form 3587 and the Post Office listing form), and hand it all to the clerk at the Post Office named on your order, on your scheduled drop-off date. Pay there or show your online payment confirmation, and the carriers take it from there.
Last updated: June 2026. Process from the official USPS EDDM User Guide and the Quick Reference Guide.
The Bundle Rules: 50 to 100 Pieces, 6 Inches, Faced
USPS doesn't accept a loose box of postcards. The acceptance rules are specific:
- 50 to 100 pieces per bundle. USPS's own example: a 426-piece mailing makes eight bundles of 50 plus one of 26.
- No bundle taller than 6 inches. Thick pieces hit 6" before they hit 100 count; the height limit wins.
- All pieces faced the same way, address side up, same orientation, with the count written on each bundle's facing slip.
- Rubber bands or paper bands hold each bundle; nothing fancy, just secure and straight.
Bundle by route. Each carrier route in your order gets its own stack of bundles, because each route goes to a different carrier's case.
Facing Slips: The Paper That Makes It Official
A facing slip is a one-page sheet the EDDM tool generates with your order: it identifies the mailing, the route, and the piece count, and it tells the Post Office how to process that bundle. The rule is simple: one facing slip on top of every bundle. Bundles of 50 from a 426-piece mailing means nine facing slips. Print them all; a missing slip is one of the few things that stalls an otherwise perfect drop at the counter.
The Paperwork Checklist
When you finish an EDDM Retail order online, the confirmation page generates everything as prefilled PDFs. Print and bring:
| Document | What it does |
|---|---|
| Facing slips | One per bundle; identifies route and count |
| Mailing statement (PS Form 3587) | The official summary: ZIP, route numbers, and pieces per route |
| Retail Post Office listing form | Names the exact Post Office(s) for your drop, with address, hours, piece counts, and cost per location |
USPS is blunt about this in the tool: you must bring the printed forms to your scheduled drop-off location to complete the order. (BMEU mailings carry different paperwork: PS Form 3602 and, for plant-verified drop shipments, PS Form 8125. That world is covered in the Retail vs. BMEU chapter.)
Drop-Off Day: What Actually Happens
- You picked a date when you built the order; the tool lets you schedule up to 30 days ahead.
- Go to the Post Office on your listing form, not just any branch. EDDM Retail drops at the office that serves the routes. If your routes span more than one office, the order says so and lists each location with its share of the mailing.
- The clerk checks the basics: a qualifying flat (the size rules), the correct indicia and address block, faced bundles with slips, and paperwork that matches the counts.
- Pay, or show that you already did. Counter payment takes cash, check, debit, or credit; online payment just needs the confirmation.
- Carriers deliver with the regular mail, typically within a few days of acceptance. USPS doesn't guarantee an in-home date, so plan promotions with a window, not a day.
Or skip every step on this page. Bundling, slips, forms, and the Post Office run are included in every Catdi Printing EDDM job; you approve the artwork and we handle the rest, with postage as a pure pass-through. Request an EDDM quote and see what full service actually costs.
Where Drop-Offs Go Wrong
- Wrong Post Office. The branch by your house isn't necessarily the one serving your routes. The listing form is the truth.
- No facing slips, or one slip for the whole job. Every bundle needs its own.
- Bundles over 6" or over 100 pieces. Easy to fix at home, annoying to re-band at the counter.
- Piece problems the paperwork can't fix: wrong size or missing indicia gets the mailing refused no matter how neat the bundles are. Both have their own chapters in this guide.
- Missing the scheduled date. Orders can be canceled or refunded (online-paid orders through Order History, counter-paid orders at the Post Office), but a no-show with no paperwork just confuses everyone. Reschedule instead.
Bundling & Drop-Off FAQ
How many facing slips do I need?
One per bundle. Divide each route's count into bundles of 50 to 100 and print a slip for each; the USPS tool generates them with the order.
Can I drop EDDM in a blue collection box or hand it to my carrier?
No. EDDM Retail must be presented at the Post Office counter (or designated dock) named on your order, with the paperwork.
Can someone else drop it off for me?
Yes. Whoever brings it needs the bundles and the printed forms; USPS cares that the order is complete, not who carries the boxes. Mail providers like us do this every week.
How far ahead can I schedule the drop-off?
Up to 30 days in the tool. Pick a date that gives printing and bundling room to breathe; rushing the prep is how slips get skipped.
How long until it's in mailboxes?
USPS Marketing Mail typically delivers within several days of acceptance, but there's no guaranteed date. Build your offer around a deliver-by window.
What if I need to cancel after paying?
Online-paid Retail orders request refunds through the tool's Order History; counter-paid orders are refunded at the Post Office. Canceling also restores your daily volume allowance for that ZIP.
Make Drop-Off Day Someone Else's Job
Every EDDM campaign we print leaves our shop bundled, slipped, documented, and delivered to the right entry point; you never touch a rubber band. Start with an EDDM quote, see our full EDDM service, or call (713) 882-4629 and ask what your job would look like start to finish.