🚀 go-pugleaf

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 86 09:20:36 pst
To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU
Subject: Bar Codes on U.S. Mail


   Date:           Tue, 16 Dec 86 17:08:46 PST
   From:           Rich Wales <wales@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU>


   I have some observations and questions regarding the "bar codes" which
   the U.S. Postal Service has been using for a while on mail.  These codes
   are most often seen on preprinted reply envelopes and postcards (e.g.,
   for paying bills, subscribing to magazines, etc.).  Every so often, they
   get printed on private mail as well.

   First of all, for anyone who may be interested, here's a description of
   the code.  (I figured it out in my spare time last Saturday, by looking
   carefully at several preprinted reply envelopes.)

	.	.	.  [description omitted]

   (2) What are the regulations outlining the circumstances under which the
       bar codes will be, can be, or must be put on mail?

       (a) I'm sure all those businesses haven't put those codes on their
	   reply envelopes out of the goodness of their hearts.  And, in
	   the case of bill envelopes, I can't even see how the companies
	   might be benefitting from a reduction in postage -- since the
	   bill-paying consumer still has to put a stamp on the envelope!

Doesn't seem unreasonable that a special rate exist for bill mailings
where the reply envelope has barcodes.  It would be more expensive
than junk mail, but cheaper than ordinary presorted first class.

       (b) Reasonably often (but not always), I see a bar code on a private
	   letter -- apparently put there by a dot-matrix printer.  I would
	   assume the Postal Service did this -- but why do they do it only
	   on some envelopes and not on others?

Are the zip codes particularly legible or illegible on the envelopes
that have the codes?  See my thoughts on (c)

       (c) With the increasing use of personal computers, it would seem to
	   be an easy matter to write a program so that individuals could
	   print these bar codes on their own outgoing mail.  Even if this
	   didn't earn one a reduction in postage :-}, still it might help
	   speed up mail delivery.  Has the Postal Service thought of this?

I suspect that there would be far more payoff in OCR of typewritten
zip codes.  I understand this is already done to a limited extent.


-dick