FAQ's

CREATING A LETTER

How do I create a letter?

There are two ways to do this.  You prepare your letter using your usual software, making sure the address is in the correct position. Then print it as usual, but select Automail from the printer list instead of printing to your local printer.

Alternatively, you can create and upload a letter to our web portal and send it from there.

Does it matter where on the page I put the address?

Yes. The address must be in the top left corner of the page, positioned so it will appear in the window of the envelope. Read more about address positioning. (need to add address template)
Only the address must show in the window of the envelope image, that you will see when previewing your letters before sending them.

What if I don't know the full address?

Your letter needs to include a full, accurate address, including the postcode.  

Can I print my company logo in colour?

Yes, you can print in either colour or black-and-white.  If you upload your jpg logo onto your letter template it will print, recommended file size id 300 x 300 dpi.

Can I print double-sided?

No, this is not available at present, but will be offered in the coming months.  Contact us if this a feature that is useful.

Can I sign my letter?

You can include a digital image of your signature, but you cannot physically sign the letter.  If you upload your jpg logo onto your letter template it will print, recommended file size id 300 x 300 dpi.

Can I have my letterhead on my mail?

Yes, you can include a digital version of your letterhead in your letter. There are detailed instructions on how to do that here. We print on state of the art printers, we are confident that your letter can look just as good as if it was printed onto your pre-printed letterhead stock.

What will my letters look like when they get there?

Your letter will appear just as if you had printed it in your office and posted it yourself, as long as you have positioned the address correctly.  We will print a barcode on the right hand side of your page that assists us with matching and printing your return address on the outside of the page.

The only other thing we will add are small codes near the address and at the bottom right of the page to help the sorting process. If your address is not listed in the Postcode Address File, we will endeavour to correct it if we can.

Can I include signatures and photos in the body of the letter?

Yes. As long as the address is positioned correctly your letter can contain any imagery. When including images please ensure that the resolution is no more than 300 dpi in order to maintain a file size that can be processed quickly and still maintain excellent clarity.

What size paper do you use?

We print on A4. We fold to DLE, and insert into an envelope.

What weight of paper do you use?

We print on 90gsm paper.

Can I select the colour / type of paper?

No, at the moment we print on white, 90gsm A4 paper. We will offer a wider range of paper stock in the near future.

Can I select the colour / type of envelope?

No, at the moment we use white DLE envelopes. We hope to offer a choice of envelopes in the future.

How many pages can I send within my letter?

Up to 7 pages paper single side. This limit is set by the number of sheets that will safely fit into the envelopes that we use.

Do I need to write the letter online?

No. Write your letter in the normal way in your usual software, press print and select "Send it Automail" from the list of printers. Alternatively, you can create or upload a letter to our web portal to do the mail merge from there.

Do I have to scan in my letter?

No. Write your letter in the normal way in your usual software, press print and select "Send it Automail" from the list of printers. Alternatively, you can create or upload a letter to our web portal

Will it work with any software?

Yes, as long as you can print your document. Write your letter in the normal way in your usual software, make sure the address is positioned correctly, press print and select "Send it Automail" from the list of printers. Alternatively, you can upload a letter to our web portal.

If I don't have word processing software can I write a letter using your software?

Yes using Automail Direct, which is our web hosted mail merge portal.

Can I send a letter from my laptop, or a computer if I'm abroad?

Yes. You can use the Automail print driver on any Windows computer (running XP, Vista or windows 7). Or you can log into the Automail webportal and upload a letter there.

Can I add an insert to my mailing?

Only if your insert is A4 folded to DLE, and the total number of sheets in your letter is 7 or fewer.  When you print a letter with the print driver application, you can add a document (pdf) to be printed and inserted with it.

Do all letters have to be folded?

Yes. Folding your letters allows us to offer you the lowest postage prices. We fold and insert your letters into DLE envelopes.

Can I send a letter to any address?

You can send a letter to any NZ address, we don't currently offer international delivery, but hope to add this during 2010.

Can I send a letter to a foreign address?

Not yet, we hope to offer international delivery during 2010.  Please let us know if this is a requirement.

Can I send a letter to the NZ from overseas?

Yes. You can send a letter from anywhere in the world to any NZ address.  However, we will require your credit card details and set you up with a prepay account.

Can I send a mail merge document?

Yes. You can send a mail merge document using the Automail print driver, or you can create or upload a bulk mailing to the web portal.

How many letters can I send?

As many as you like, there is not a minimum or maximum volume.  However, if you are sending more than 3,000 letters at a time, we can review ways to reduce your cost.

Is there a limit to the size of file I can send?

Yes. In order for your document to be processed quickly we strongly recommend that each side of a document should not be larger than 400kb. There are a number of practical reasons for this, around security and processing and there should never really be a reason for the files to be very big. If you are sending imagery within the document, please make sure that the resolution of the images is not unnecessarily high. If you are inserting pictures into a Word document from a file on your computer then you can reduce the size of your document considerably by saving these as lower resolution images before inserting them into your letter.

How long does it take to process my letter?

Around 30 seconds, however do not be concerned if this process takes slightly longer as factors such as time of day and file size can make a difference.  We will then process it on the same day and lodge it with NZ Post for delivery, if it is sent before midday.

Is there a cut off time for printing?

For same day lodgement with NZ Post, letters need to be sent to us by 12 midday.

Can I recall my letter after sending it?

Yes, your letters can be deleted by logging into your account on the Automail website, review sent letters in the archive and select delete.  This has to be done before midday, the same day in order to remove from our print file.

Why is it better than e-mail?

The system provides the impact of a letter with the simplicity of sending an e-mail. Letters do get a better response & read rate than digital media.

How do you handle return mail?

All letters mailed will be inserted into an envelope with your return address printed on the outside.  The barcode we print on your document allows us to match your return address with your letter.
 

Can you help with Creative ideas for our Direct Mail?

We can help with your creative design, we also have design partnerships setup with various design agencies.

What type of Printing equipment does Automail use?

We use the latest Fuji Xerox technology to print your documents, all printing is done at 2400 x 2400 dpi, in either colour or grey scale.