FAQs

Asendia USA

find us on

Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been in business?

Asendia, a partnership between La Poste, (Asendia USA's parent company) & Swiss Post (Priority Post's parent company) became Asendia in July 2012. Prior to that, Asendia USA had been a leader in the international mail industry for over 25 years.

How has the creation of Asendia changed the way you do business?

Asendia is an alliance between two equal partners, La Poste (Asendia USA’s parent company) and Swiss Post (Priority Post’s parent company). These two seasoned postal operators have united to become the world's leading service provider for international mail and parcel business.

As a global mail and parcel solutions company, Asendia will combine the expertise and networks of these two partners and bring into play our comprehensive know-how for mail, catalogs, press and small parcels. The move will extend our reach into new international markets and give us access to countless discounts, tracking options and specialized services like direct entry that our competitors simply cannot match. Paired with our Lettershop, Data and new ecommerce platform Global eMarket, we have become the most powerful one-stop-shop in the international and domestic mailing business.

Questions? Feel free to contact your Account Manager. We will continue to provide the outstanding service you have come to expect because, even though our name has changed, the people who you work with and trust at Asendia USA and Priority Post haven’t.

Can Asendia USA mail be tracked?

Asendia USA offers a variety of customized international parcel shipping solutions which incorporate tracking capabilities. Some of these services include: International Priority Airmail (“IPA”), and newly available in 2012, USPS Commercial ePacket. We also offer domestic expedited mail and parcel services that include tracking. For international and domestic mail services that do not include tracking, we do have the ability to track mail until it is accepted by the appropriate postal administration.

What is your client base?

We serve a diverse client base including associations, universities, publishers, government agencies, financial institutions, catalogers, parcel shippers, merchandisers, Internet retailers, direct marketers, and major corporations nationwide.

What kind of customer service and support can I expect from Asendia USA and Asendia USA Wholesale?

When you become an Asendia USA or Asendia USA – Wholesale client, you have unlimited access to our mail experts. You will be assigned a dedicated account manager and a customer service representative. Our goal is to be accessible to you always!

What information do I need to call in a pick up?

With Asendia USA’s nationwide pick-ups on demand, arranging pick-ups couldn’t get easier. When your mailing is ready for pick-up, simply call 1.800.MAIL.287 and have the following information ready for the customer service representative:

Your company name, phone and fax number

Account number (if you are a lettershop or printer calling in a pick-up for a client, please have their account number handy)

Mailing name

Pick-up site address

Pick-up site closing time

Weight of entire mailing

Number of pieces in entire mailing

Number of sacks, trays, boxes, or skids

Any other special information you would like to alert us to

The customer service representative will enter your pick-up information into our automated pick-up database and a Ground Operations Specialist will contact you to arrange a pick-up time.

If you are sending us a smaller shipment, you may send it to us via a domestic parcel service. In this case, please call our customer service department and alert us to your arriving shipment.

It’s that simple!

How should the mail be packaged for pick-up by Asendia USA?

We accept mail in bags, trays, boxes, and on skids. If you have a smaller mailing, you may also ship your mailing to us via a domestic carrier.

If my mail is in country order, will the processing time be less?

Yes. Most international mail services require that the mail be sorted by country, and Asendia USA can sort the mail for you. However, if the mail arrives at our facility in order, it expedites processing.

What is your discount with the U.S.P.S.?

We process such large amounts of U.S.P.S. international mail that we have qualified for their highest discount available – a savings we pass onto you.

What hubs do you use?

Asendia USA has a national presence with facilities in Philadelphia, Chicago, Monroe, NJ and Los Angeles. We utilize the International Service Center airports associated with these cities: JFK (New York), ORD (Chicago), SFO (San Francisco), LAX (Los Angeles) and MIA (Miami).

How is undeliverable mail handled?

Undeliverable mail that is returned to our processing facility is:

Destroyed upon client’s request

Returned to client per their request

Entered into our Returns program per our client’s request

What is your Returns program?

We have designed a system that allows you to clean your mailing lists and thus save money on your next mailings. With our system, your mail pieces are bar-coded before they are mailed. If the mail is returned, we then scan the piece into our program, and record the reason for its return. This allows you to delete recipients from your records who have: moved with no forwarding address, provided incorrect addresses, refused your mail, etc.

International Mail Industry FAQs

What's the difference between U.S.P.S., Remail, Direct Entry, and Office of Exchange mail?

All forms of international mail are consolidated similarly. However, when the mail leaves Asendia USA it is treated differently:

U.S.P.S. consolidation is considered A –B mail. The mail is permitted by the U.S.P.S. in the United States (A) and is flown as mail to the destination country (B).

Remail, or multiple point posting mail, is called A –B –C mail. The mail travels from the United States (A) as airfreight to the country that is permitting the mail (B), and then it travels as mail to the destination country (C).

Direct Entry mail is called A –BB mail. The mail travels as airfreight from the United States (A) to the destination country (BB) where it is posted as mail from that country and sent directly to the recipient.

Office of Exchange mail is called A –C mail. The mail is posted in the United States (A) as a foreign postal administration’s (B) mail. It is then flown to the destination country (C) as mail where it is distributed to the recipient.

Asendia USA offers U.S.P.S., Remail, Direct Entry, and Office of Exchange mail options.

What does REIMS mean?

REIMSis an abbreviation for Remuneration Exchanges of International Mails. It is the agreement that most Western European countries have with each other concerning the sharing of postal revenue.

The countries bound by the REIMS agreement are: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungray, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swedan, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the Vatican.

Under the REIMS agreement mail is separated into three categories: letters, flats and packets.

Category Definitions:
Letters: up to 3.53 ounces, 6.5 x 9.65 x 0.2 inch maximum,
Flats: up to 17.64 ounces, 12.01 x 15 x 0.79 inch maximum
Packets: up to 4.4 pounds, oversized mail

Each category of mail is priced separately and usually as a per piece plus per pound cost format.

What is an International Service Center?

An International Service Center (ISC) is a U.S.P.S. international mail acceptance center. They are located in New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Depositing your U.S.P.S. mail at an ISC makes you eligible for additional discounts off of U.S.P.S. international list pricing.

What are Terminal Dues?

Terminal Dues are payments that a postal authority makes to destination countries for the costs incurred from accepting inbound international mail, such as delivery and distribution.

Can I process my own international bulk mailings?

Yes, but you won’t have access to the postal options, savings, and time saving advantages Asendia USA can provide you. The U.S.P.S. accepts international bulk mail at full bulk mail prices.

To qualify for bulk mail rates you must:

Obtain a mailing permit and pay an annual mailing fee

Pay postage using one of the following methods: precanceled stamps, postage meter, permit imprint

Make sure your mailing piece is the appropriate size, shape and weight and that you have the proper volumes for the service your are selecting

Ensure that your addresses are accurate and formatted properly

Presort the pieces (usually by country or zone)

Fill out the appropriate forms and/or customs documents

Take your mail to the post office where you hold your mailing permit

Asendia USA also offers discount sharing options. You can prepare your international bulk shipments, and mail them using our permit to receive discounts off of your U.S.P.S. shipments.

Do you have a list of the most commonly thought of International countries which are actually domestic countries?

The following territories are considered domestic municipalities of the United States, and thus any mail going to these regions is considered domestic mail.

American Samoa

Common Wealth of Puerto Rico

Common Wealth of Northern Mariana Islands

Saipan

Rota

Tinian

Federated States of Micronesia

Truk

Yap

Kosrae

Pohnpei

Guam

Republic of the Marshall Islands

Ratak Chain

Tallk Chain

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

Republicof Palan

U.S.Virgin Islands

St. John

St. Croix

St. Thomas

Military Personnel Only

Uninhabited Posessions Pacific Ocean

JohnstonAtoll

HowlandIsland

Kingman Reef

JarvisIslands

Midway Islands

BakerIslands

Sand

Eastern

Wake Island

Caribbean Sea

WilkesIsland

Navassa

PealeIsland

Privately Owned Palmyra

APO/FPO

What is the Universal Postal Union?

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is an international organization that oversees the cooperation between state postal authorities and insures a universal network of international postal services.

How many countries belong to the Universal Postal Union?

191 countries belong to the Universal Postal Union.

		How long have you been in business?
		Asendia, a partnership between La Poste, (Asendia USA's parent company) & Swiss Post (Priority Post's parent company) became Asendia in July 2012. Prior to that, Asendia USA had been a leader in the international mail industry for over 25 years.
		How has the creation of Asendia changed the way you do business?
		Asendia is an alliance between two equal partners, La Poste (Asendia USA’s parent company) and Swiss Post (Priority Post’s parent company). These two seasoned postal operators have united to become the world's leading service provider for international mail and parcel business. As a global mail and parcel solutions company, Asendia will combine the expertise and networks of these two partners and bring into play our comprehensive know-how for mail, catalogs, press and small parcels. The move will extend our reach into new international markets and give us access to countless discounts, tracking options and specialized services like direct entry that our competitors simply cannot match. Paired with our Lettershop, Data and new ecommerce platform Global eMarket, we have become the most powerful one-stop-shop in the international and domestic mailing business. Questions? Feel free to contact your Account Manager. We will continue to provide the outstanding service you have come to expect because, even though our name has changed, the people who you work with and trust at Asendia USA and Priority Post haven’t.
		Can Asendia USA mail be tracked?
		Asendia USA offers a variety of customized international parcel shipping solutions which incorporate tracking capabilities. Some of these services include: International Priority Airmail (“IPA”), and newly available in 2012, USPS Commercial ePacket. We also offer domestic expedited mail and parcel services that include tracking. For international and domestic mail services that do not include tracking, we do have the ability to track mail until it is accepted by the appropriate postal administration.
		What is your client base?
		We serve a diverse client base including associations, universities, publishers, government agencies, financial institutions, catalogers, parcel shippers, merchandisers, Internet retailers, direct marketers, and major corporations nationwide.
		What kind of customer service and support can I expect from Asendia USA and Asendia USA Wholesale?
		When you become an Asendia USA or Asendia USA – Wholesale client, you have unlimited access to our mail experts. You will be assigned a dedicated account manager and a customer service representative. Our goal is to be accessible to you always!
		What information do I need to call in a pick up?
		With Asendia USA’s nationwide pick-ups on demand, arranging pick-ups couldn’t get easier. When your mailing is ready for pick-up, simply call 1.800.MAIL.287 and have the following information ready for the customer service representative: Your company name, phone and fax number Account number (if you are a lettershop or printer calling in a pick-up for a client, please have their account number handy) Mailing name Pick-up site address Pick-up site closing time Weight of entire mailing Number of pieces in entire mailing Number of sacks, trays, boxes, or skids Any other special information you would like to alert us to The customer service representative will enter your pick-up information into our automated pick-up database and a Ground Operations Specialist will contact you to arrange a pick-up time. If you are sending us a smaller shipment, you may send it to us via a domestic parcel service. In this case, please call our customer service department and alert us to your arriving shipment. It’s that simple!
		How should the mail be packaged for pick-up by Asendia USA?
		We accept mail in bags, trays, boxes, and on skids. If you have a smaller mailing, you may also ship your mailing to us via a domestic carrier.
		If my mail is in country order, will the processing time be less?
		Yes. Most international mail services require that the mail be sorted by country, and Asendia USA can sort the mail for you. However, if the mail arrives at our facility in order, it expedites processing.
		What is your discount with the U.S.P.S.?
		We process such large amounts of U.S.P.S. international mail that we have qualified for their highest discount available – a savings we pass onto you.
		What hubs do you use?
		Asendia USA has a national presence with facilities in Philadelphia, Chicago, Monroe, NJ and Los Angeles. We utilize the International Service Center airports associated with these cities: JFK (New York), ORD (Chicago), SFO (San Francisco), LAX (Los Angeles) and MIA (Miami).
		How is undeliverable mail handled?
		Undeliverable mail that is returned to our processing facility is: Destroyed upon client’s request Returned to client per their request Entered into our Returns program per our client’s request
		What is your Returns program?
		We have designed a system that allows you to clean your mailing lists and thus save money on your next mailings. With our system, your mail pieces are bar-coded before they are mailed. If the mail is returned, we then scan the piece into our program, and record the reason for its return. This allows you to delete recipients from your records who have: moved with no forwarding address, provided incorrect addresses, refused your mail, etc.
	International Mail Industry FAQs
		What's the difference between U.S.P.S., Remail, Direct Entry, and Office of Exchange mail?
		All forms of international mail are consolidated similarly. However, when the mail leaves Asendia USA it is treated differently: U.S.P.S. consolidation is considered A –B mail. The mail is permitted by the U.S.P.S. in the United States (A) and is flown as mail to the destination country (B). Remail, or multiple point posting mail, is called A –B –C mail. The mail travels from the United States (A) as airfreight to the country that is permitting the mail (B), and then it travels as mail to the destination country (C). Direct Entry mail is called A –BB mail. The mail travels as airfreight from the United States (A) to the destination country (BB) where it is posted as mail from that country and sent directly to the recipient. Office of Exchange mail is called A –C mail. The mail is posted in the United States (A) as a foreign postal administration’s (B) mail. It is then flown to the destination country (C) as mail where it is distributed to the recipient. Asendia USA offers U.S.P.S., Remail, Direct Entry, and Office of Exchange mail options.
		What does REIMS mean?
		REIMSis an abbreviation for Remuneration Exchanges of International Mails. It is the agreement that most Western European countries have with each other concerning the sharing of postal revenue. The countries bound by the REIMS agreement are: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungray, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swedan, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the Vatican. Under the REIMS agreement mail is separated into three categories: letters, flats and packets. Category Definitions: Letters: up to 3.53 ounces, 6.5 x 9.65 x 0.2 inch maximum, Flats: up to 17.64 ounces, 12.01 x 15 x 0.79 inch maximum Packets: up to 4.4 pounds, oversized mail Each category of mail is priced separately and usually as a per piece plus per pound cost format.
		What is an International Service Center?
		An International Service Center (ISC) is a U.S.P.S. international mail acceptance center. They are located in New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Depositing your U.S.P.S. mail at an ISC makes you eligible for additional discounts off of U.S.P.S. international list pricing.
		What are Terminal Dues?
		Terminal Dues are payments that a postal authority makes to destination countries for the costs incurred from accepting inbound international mail, such as delivery and distribution.
		Can I process my own international bulk mailings?
		Yes, but you won’t have access to the postal options, savings, and time saving advantages Asendia USA can provide you. The U.S.P.S. accepts international bulk mail at full bulk mail prices. To qualify for bulk mail rates you must: Obtain a mailing permit and pay an annual mailing fee Pay postage using one of the following methods: precanceled stamps, postage meter, permit imprint Make sure your mailing piece is the appropriate size, shape and weight and that you have the proper volumes for the service your are selecting Ensure that your addresses are accurate and formatted properly Presort the pieces (usually by country or zone) Fill out the appropriate forms and/or customs documents Take your mail to the post office where you hold your mailing permit Asendia USA also offers discount sharing options. You can prepare your international bulk shipments, and mail them using our permit to receive discounts off of your U.S.P.S. shipments.
		Do you have a list of the most commonly thought of International countries which are actually domestic countries?
		The following territories are considered domestic municipalities of the United States, and thus any mail going to these regions is considered domestic mail. American Samoa Common Wealth of Puerto Rico Common Wealth of Northern Mariana Islands Saipan Rota Tinian Federated States of Micronesia Truk Yap Kosrae Pohnpei Guam Republic of the Marshall Islands Ratak Chain Tallk Chain Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Republicof Palan U.S.Virgin Islands St. John St. Croix St. Thomas Military Personnel Only Uninhabited Posessions Pacific Ocean JohnstonAtoll HowlandIsland Kingman Reef JarvisIslands Midway Islands BakerIslands Sand Eastern Wake Island Caribbean Sea WilkesIsland Navassa PealeIsland Privately Owned Palmyra APO/FPO
		What is the Universal Postal Union?
		The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is an international organization that oversees the cooperation between state postal authorities and insures a universal network of international postal services.
		How many countries belong to the Universal Postal Union?
		191 countries belong to the Universal Postal Union.