It Was The Summer of ’89

(Apologies to Bryan Adams)

As we turn to fall I realized I hadn’t marked the business milestone of 30 years. In the summer of ’89 I started presenting businesses with a sophisticated marketing pitch:

“Do you send anything out in the mail?”

There were enough answers in the affirmative that we are still here 30 years later.

Our success is due to our current staff: Jean, Jamie, Gerry, and Cameron – and all those who have gone before them.

Here’s to many more years!

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Postage Sale!

New to Direct Mail or just haven’t used it in a while? Canada Post has discounted prices available for your promotional material in 2019. Save an incredible 25% on your postage if you haven’t mailed in the last 12 months. This offer is good for up to 6 mailings in 2019, but expires on December 31st.

Contact us now to check your eligibility for this fantastic offer!

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Canada Post Yearly Price Increase

Rates go up today, service changes in effect

Today is the day of Canada Post’s yearly price increase. Most services have seen a modest increase in price; certain charges, like the Neighbourhood Mail Transportation Fee, have remained at their 2018 amounts. As always you can visit our Postal Rates page for links to the most recent price sheets.

Service changes for 2019 are also in effect today, including the exciting news that Canada Post has reduced the minimum piece requirement for Machineable mail to just 100 pieces. This is a real game-changer for small business to be able to access postage discounts on the kind of direct mail that drives sales.

Act now, while our rates are unchanged

While the 2019 Canada Post rates are now a reality, we at Aristos Mail Tech are still reviewing our rates for 2019. Call us today and take advantage of last year’s prices while you still can!

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Postal Strike Information

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has given notice that it intends to hold rotating strikes in Victoria, Edmonton, Windsor and Halifax beginning after 12:01 am on Monday, October 22 (local time), and lasting 24 hours. In those areas, mail and parcels will not be delivered or picked up.

Canada Post continues to operate across Canada. They are accepting and delivering mail and parcels in all other locations.

Aristos believes that this is only going to affect Victoria for 24 hours so we will be processing mail and be open for business on Oct 22. We will deposit mail to the post office on Oct 23.

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Canada Post Service and Price Changes Happen Today

See our earlier post for full details of the changes that came in to effect today.

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Only 12 Mailing Days left to left to take advantage of Canada Post’s discount rate!

Canada Post has been offering an incredible discount of 25% on Personalized Mail to clients who haven’t used their services in the last 12 months, but this offer may not return in 2018.

Connect directly with your customers and promote your product, service, or event for an incredibly low price. Call us now to take advantage of big savings!

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Holiday Hours at Aristos

It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays at Aristos! While helping to get everyone’s winter mailouts completed, we’d like to let you know about our upcoming hours of operation:

  • Friday, December 22 – Open 9am to 2pm
  • Monday, December 25 – Closed
  • Tuesday, December 26 – Closed
  • Wednesday, December 27 – Open 10am-2pm
  • Thursday, December 28 – Open 10am-2pm
  • Friday, December 29 – Open 10am-2pm
  • Monday, January 1 – Closed

As always, if you have a delivery to make outside of these hours, please feel free to call us and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

From all of us at Aristos, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season and all our best wishes for the new year.

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Canada Post Service and Price Changes for 2018

Canada Post’s yearly price changes will happen on Monday, January 15, 2018. While most prices have changed some – like the price of postage stamps, have remained the same. Check out the updated price sheets on our Postal Rates page. Here are a few of the changes:

  • Lettermail rates for stamps have remained unchanged for yet another year! Rates for using a postage meter or indicia have gone up between 2¢ and 10¢ depending on size and weight.
  • Neighbourhood Mail rates for overweight items are unchanged, but the options have greatly expanded! See our blog post for details. Regular weight items have increased by just 0.2¢ per piece.
  • Personalized Mail has increased by 1¢ or 2¢ per piece for different categories but you can still save up to 60% over the cost of a postage stamp on a standard size piece.
  • Publications Mail postage has increased by either 1¢ or 3¢ per piece depending on the service type.
  • Postal Code Targeting has increased by 0.6¢ a piece.

From a service standpoint, the Incentive Lettermail and Postal Code Targeting services will no longer require you to sign a separate agreement contract with Canada Post in order to be accessed. This is fantastic news as it allows us to assist you without the time and hassle of dealing with extra Canada Post paperwork.

As always we are ready to help you with your mailing needs. Call us today and get your 2018 marketing campaign off to the right start!

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Neighbourhood Mail Changes – The Word Is Bigger!

Neighbourhood Mail is getting an overhaul in 2018, and bigger in this case is definitely better! Canada Post has approved several changes to this incredibly cost-effective service allowing for bigger size, weight, thickness, and bundle quantity:

  • Maximum size increased to 12 x 11 inches
  • Maximum weight increased to 500 grams
  • Maximum thickness increased to 1 inch (per piece!)
  • Maximum bundle size now determined by a maximum height of 6 inches

Believe it or not, these numbers can get even bigger if you’re planning on delivering to non-letter carrier routes. These are generally found in rural or suburban areas and have specific requirements, so if you’re thinking about geographic delivery for something even bigger than what’s listed above give us a call.

Remember, the bigger the bundle the bigger the elastics you will need to secure it. This is the number one cause of issues within the Neighbourhood Mail service in our experience. Be sure to coordinate with us so we can ensure your mailing meets every postal standard.

Delivery standards have also become a lot clearer with size once again the governing factor:

  • Neighbourhood Mail under 200 grams will be delivered within 3 business days
  • Neighbourhood Mail between 200 and 300 grams will be delivered within 4 business days
  • Neighbourhood Mail between 300 and 500 grams will be delivered within 9 business days

These numbers are the time once the material has arrived at the correct postal station, so you will have to allow for transportation time if your campaign falls outside of the Victoria core.

Aristos has solutions for all Neighbourhood Mail campaigns from the hundreds to the hundreds of thousands. Call us today to help your next mail campaign succeed!

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Take advantage of Canada Post’s discount rate soon!

As Fall begins, thoughts inevitably turn to the rapidly approaching end of 2017. Canada Post has been offering an incredible discount of 25% on Personalized Mail to clients who haven’t used their services in the last 12 months, but this offer may not return in 2018.

Connect directly with your customers and promote your product, service, or event for an incredibly low price. Call us now to take advantage of big savings!

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