diff --git a/docs/new-sector-compliance-targets.md b/docs/new-sector-compliance-targets.md index 7e843cd..028031a 100644 --- a/docs/new-sector-compliance-targets.md +++ b/docs/new-sector-compliance-targets.md @@ -201,3 +201,69 @@ Ranked options to reach them on cheaper/faster channels: > If email-native outreach (like FCC RMD) is the hard requirement, the better > targets are state license boards (contractors/CSLB, insurance producers, NMLS, > cannabis/ABC) that publish licensee email directly. Worth a separate survey. + +--- + +## 5. Postcard Print-and-Mail Vendor Pricing (Lob vs PostGrid vs Click2Mail) + +For our use case (targeted list of named license holders with mailing addresses, +personalized + QR to the free compliance-check tool, API-driven like Listmonk), +a print-and-mail API is the right tool — no USPS permit, no presort, no BMEU +drop-off. Per-piece is all-in (printing + postage + address verification). + +Rates verified from live pricing pages on the session date. Confirm before +committing volume; these vendors change rates and gate some behind sales. + +### Lob — VERIFIED from lob.com/pricing/print-mail +4x6 postcard, "starting at" per-piece by plan tier (volume + automation lower it): + +| Plan | Monthly fee | 4x6 postcard from | Notes | +|---|---|---|---| +| Developer (free) | $0 | **$0.872 / postcard** | up to 5 templates, low limits, good for testing | +| Growth | **$260/mo** | **$0.612 / postcard** | 10 HTML templates, address verif. included tiers | +| Enterprise | **$550/mo** | **$0.582 / postcard** | 25 templates, custom volume, lowest per-piece | + +- Letters from ~$0.806 / check ~$1.159 (for reference). +- Address verification (US) ~$0.05/lookup pay-go, cheaper bundled. +- Strong API + webhooks (in-transit tracking), best docs of the three. +- Best fit if we want to wire postcards into the existing pipeline cleanly. + +### PostGrid — quote/login gated (not publicly itemized) +- Pricing page does not publish per-piece; requires signup/sales for the rate + card. Historically positioned **slightly under Lob per-piece** (~$0.50–$0.80 + range for 4x6 depending on volume) with pay-as-you-go + no mandatory monthly + minimum on the entry tier. +- US + Canada print/mail, address verification (CASS/NCOA, SERP for Canada), + good API. Often pitched as the cheaper Lob alternative. +- **Action:** get an actual quote keyed to our expected monthly volume before + choosing — the public "slightly cheaper" claim is unverified here. + +### Click2Mail — login/quote gated, but the cheapest at low volume historically +- Public pages (postcards / cost-calculator) gate exact rates behind an account; + rates depend on size (4x6, 4x9, 5x8, 6x9, 6x11), class (First-Class vs + Standard/Marketing Mail), and quantity. +- Historically the **lowest all-in for small/medium runs** (often well under + $0.50/4x6 First-Class at modest volume) because it's a self-serve mail house, + not a developer-API-first platform. Has an API but less polished than Lob. +- **Action:** run their cost calculator logged in for a real number on a sample + 4x6 First-Class run of ~1,000 and ~5,000 pieces. + +### Practical comparison + +| | Lob | PostGrid | Click2Mail | +|---|---|---|---| +| Per-piece 4x6 (4x6) | $0.58–$0.87 (verified) | ~$0.50–$0.80 (quote) | typically lowest at low vol (quote) | +| Monthly fee | $0 / $260 / $550 | none on entry (quote) | none (self-serve) | +| API quality | Best | Good | Basic | +| Address verif (CASS/NCOA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | +| Best for | API-wired campaigns at scale | cheaper Lob-style API | cheapest small/medium runs | + +### Recommendation +- **Start on Click2Mail (or Lob Developer free tier) for the first test batch** to + validate conversion at the lowest fixed cost — no $260/$550 monthly commitment. +- **Move to Lob Growth/Enterprise (or a PostGrid quote) once volume justifies the + per-piece drop** (~the monthly fee pays for itself only at several thousand + pieces/month). Lob's API is the cleanest to wire into our existing pipeline. +- Always personalize with the detected deficiency + a **QR code / short URL** to + the relevant free lookup tool — that QR is our tracking + conversion bridge, + the same role the email CTA plays today.