Brokers Worldwide FAQs International Mail Industry FAQs
	Brokers Worldwide FAQs
		How long have you been in business?
		Brokers Worldwide was incorporated in 1986.
		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 Brokers Worldwide?
		When you become a Brokers Worldwide 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 Brokers Worldwide’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 Brokers Worldwide?
		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 Brokers Worldwide 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.
		How has your relationship with the French Post Office, La Poste, changed the way you do business?
		Our relationship with La Poste allows us to expand our international postal network, and thus offer you more services than ever before – at an additional savings!
		What hubs do you use?
		Brokers Worldwide has a national presence with facilities in Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. We most commonly utilize the International Service Center airports associated with these cities: JFK (New York), ORD (Chicago), and SFO (San Francisco). However, we frequently mail out of the remaining two International Service Centers: MIA (Miami), and LAX (Los Angeles).
		Can Brokers Worldwide mail be tracked?
		We have the ability to track your mail until it is accepted by the appropriate postal administration. However, if you have chosen a service that includes international tracking, such as Global Express Mail, your mail can be tracked until it is in the hands of the recipient.
		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 your consolidator 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. Brokers Worldwide offers U.S.P.S., Remail, Direct Entry, and Office of Exchange mail options.
		What does REIMS mean?
		REIMS is 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 Brokers Worldwide 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 Brokers Worldwide 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 Republic of Palan U.S. Virgin Islands St. John St. Croix St. Thomas Military Personnel Only Uninhabited Posessions Pacific Ocean Johnston Atoll Howland Island Kingman Reef Jarvis Islands Midway Islands Baker Islands Sand Eastern Wake Island Carribean Sea Wilkes Island Navassa Peale Island 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.