Valpo.biz Postcard Mailing FAQ, Terms and Conditions
General
Which type of mailing is right for me?
- Shared Postcard: The lower-cost option. Up to 5 local businesses share one card, and each gets its own featured space.
- Single Advertiser: The whole card is yours. You choose the routes and the size.
- Custom or high-volume: Multi-ZIP and larger programs. Contact us for a quote.
What’s included in the price?
Design (or artwork prep), printing, route data, mail sorting and preparation, delivery to the post office, and postage. Anything not included will be listed on your quote.
Can I design my own ad?
Yes. Send your own artwork, or we’ll design it for you. We provide size guidelines and templates so your ad prints cleanly.
What if there’s a mistake in my ad?
Reviewing and approving your proof is your responsibility. Check spelling, phone numbers, addresses, web addresses, and your offer carefully. Your card prints exactly as approved, and we can’t reprint, credit, or refund for errors in an approved proof.
Can I see a printed proof before it prints?
Yes. Colors on paper will look different from what you see on a computer or phone screen. If color matters to you, order a printed proof for $35 and we’ll deliver it for your approval before the full print run. It adds up to 7 business days, so request it when you order. Without a printed proof, we can’t reprint, credit, or refund because of color.
What do I need to provide?
Your logo, your offer, and your contact details. For ads, a clear offer and one call to action work best. If you’re not sure, we’ll help you tighten it.
Is there a contract?
No. Every campaign is a standalone, one-time purchase. Repeat mailings get a discount.
How will I know if it worked?
Use a dedicated phone number, a QR code to a landing page, or an offer code (“mention this card”). We can build any of these into your ad.
Do you offer custom mailing lists?
Yes. If you want specific households or demographics instead of full routes, ask for a custom quote.
Shared Postcard Mailings
How does a shared postcard work?
Up to 5 local businesses share one card, which splits the cost and makes it more affordable than mailing alone. We design the card so each advertiser gets its own featured space. Once all ads are approved, the card is printed and mailed to homes along the delivery routes we select.
How much does a shared spot cost?
$699 plus tax. That includes design (or artwork prep), printing, route data, mail preparation, postage, and a one-year Featured Listing on Valpo.biz ($150 value). The $100 postcard credit that comes with a separately purchased Featured Listing doesn’t apply to the listing included with a postcard.
What size is the card, and how big is my ad?
The card is 6×11″. Each ad is about 3.25″ x 5.5″, with clear space between ads so yours doesn’t get crowded.
Will my competitors be on the card?
No. Each card is limited to one business per industry.
How is my industry reserved?
Your industry is held for the card once you’ve paid. If a competitor asks about the same card, we’ll offer them the next one. You’ll get first right of refusal on your industry for the next card.
How many homes will see my ad?
About 5,000 homes, depending on the routes we select. We’ll tell you which neighborhoods before you commit.
Can I choose where it mails?
Shared mailings go to routes we select, and we’ll tell you which ones before you commit. If you want to choose your own routes, a Single Advertiser mailing is the better fit.
How do I reserve a spot?
Reserve your industry by paying in full ($699 plus tax). We start your design right away and send you a watermarked proof. Your card mails once all spots are filled and approved.
When will it mail?
We need all 5 spots filled and approved before we can finalize the card, so the mail date depends on how quickly that happens. Our goal is to fill each card within 60 days. We’ll confirm a mail date as soon as the card is full. After that:
- Printing: about 7 business days after final approval
- Mail prep and drop-off: 2-3 business days
- Postal delivery: typically 3-10 business days after drop-off, depending on the route and post office
What if the card doesn’t fill?
If the card isn’t full within 60 days of the first reservation, you can choose a full refund, or you can agree to extend and keep your spot while we finish filling the card.
What about the offer expiration date in my ad?
You choose your own. Once the card is full and we’ve set a mail date, you pick your expiration date. We add it to your ad and send you a final proof. Expiration dates between 60 and 90 days after the mail date are common.
What if I change my mind?
Within 24 hours of payment and before we begin your design, you get a full refund. After we’ve started your ad, we keep a $100 artwork fee and refund the rest. Once the card has been sent to print, payments are non-refundable.
Can I earn rewards for referrals?
Yes. Refer a business that reserves a spot and pays in full, and you’ll receive a $25 reward as a credit toward your next card.
Single Advertiser Mailings
How long does a single-advertiser campaign take?
- Custom design: 1-2 business days for the first proof
- Revisions: 1 business day per round
- Printing: about 7 business days after final approval
- Mail prep and drop-off: 2-3 business days
- Postal delivery: typically 3-10 business days after drop-off
Can I choose my routes?
Yes. We’ll help you find the neighborhoods that best match your customers. Larger and multi-ZIP programs are available by consultation.
What sizes do you offer?
We handle all common postcard sizes for route-based mailing. Ask us if you need something specific.
How many homes?
Typically around 5,000, depending on the routes you choose. We can go larger.
Terms and Conditions
By ordering postcard mailing services from Smith Consulting Associates, LLC / Valpo.biz, you agree to the terms below. We may update these terms from time to time; the terms in effect when you place your order apply to that order.
Independence from the Postal Service. Valpo.biz is an independent marketing and mailing service. We aren’t affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the United States Postal Service.
Content approval. We may decline or remove any ad that is illegal, deceptive, or obscene, or that we reasonably believe is likely to offend the public in the mailing area. On shared mailings, our name appears on the card, so we have final say on content.
Proof approval. You’re responsible for checking your final proof for spelling, grammar, punctuation, phone numbers, addresses, URLs, maps, and layout. Your card prints exactly as approved. After approval, no changes can be made. We aren’t responsible for errors in an approved proof, and we don’t reprint, credit, or refund for them.
Proofs. Includes one initial proof and one revision round. Additional proof rounds are $35 each. Proofs are provided as watermarked, low-resolution files for approval only.
Offer dates. On shared mailings, you choose your own offer expiration date, between 60 and 90 days after the mail date, once the card is full and a mail date is set. A final proof showing your date is included at no extra charge. Additional rounds are $35.
Approvals and delays. If you don’t approve your proof, supply your expiration date, or respond to our requests within 5 business days of our request, we may remove your ad from the card and treat the order as cancelled so that other advertisers aren’t delayed. The $100 artwork fee applies and the rest of your payment is refunded.
Color. Screen proofs show layout, text, and image placement, but not exact color or ink density. Printed color will vary from what you see on a computer or phone screen, and color variation is not a defect. We don’t reprint, credit, or refund because of color. If color is important to you, order a printed proof (see below).
Printed (hard) proofs. A printed proof is available for $35. We deliver it to you for approval before the full print run. Printed proofs may be requested when you place your order and before the card is full. A printed proof adds 3 to 5 business days to your schedule. On shared mailings, your printed proof must be approved within 2 business days of delivery so the other advertisers aren’t delayed. A printed proof is a close preview of color but may vary slightly from the final press run. The printed proof fee is non-refundable.
Copyright and indemnification. You confirm that you own or have permission to use everything you submit (logos, photos, text, music, trademarks). You agree to indemnify and hold Valpo.biz / Smith Consulting Associates, LLC harmless from claims that your content infringes anyone’s rights.
Artwork ownership. Ads and layouts we create remain our property unless otherwise agreed in writing. Proofs are provided for approval only and may not be used for printing, advertising, or any other purpose without our written permission. Print-ready files are released only as part of a completed mailing. We may display finished mailers as samples of our work.
Payment. Payment in full is due when you place your order. Design begins after payment clears. We use PayPal Invoicing, which can be paid by PayPal account or by credit or debit card without an account. To pay by check, contact us before you order. Custom and high-volume programs: payment terms are stated on your quote.
Cancellations and refunds. You can cancel for a full refund within 24 hours of payment and before design begins. After design has begun, a $100 artwork fee applies and the rest of your payment is refunded. Once the card has been sent to print, payments are non-refundable. Refunds are issued within 10 business days.
Card fill and outside date. We’ll mail a shared card once all spots are sold, or sooner at our discretion with a house ad filling any open space. If the card isn’t full within 60 days of the first reservation on that card, you may choose a full refund, or agree to extend and keep your spot.
Category exclusivity. Exclusivity applies to the specific mailing and is based on the industry category listed on your order. We determine how categories are defined. Businesses in related but different categories may appear on the same card.
Referral rewards. Rewards are $25 per new advertiser who reserves a spot and pays in full, applied as a credit toward your next card after their payment clears. No reward for self-referrals, existing customers, or refunded orders.
Postage and postal changes. Postage is based on current postal rates and the mail type you qualify for. If rates change between your quote and the mail date, we may adjust your price to match. Postal delivery times are estimates; we don’t control the Postal Service and can’t guarantee delivery dates or that every household receives a piece.
No guaranteed results. We can’t guarantee any particular response, sales, or return on investment from a mailing.
Mailing lists. For custom or purchased lists, list accuracy is only as good as the original source. Our liability for any list is limited to what you paid for it.
Limitation of liability. To the extent allowed by law, Valpo.biz isn’t liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including lost profits or business. Our total liability for any order is limited to the amount you paid for that order.