The international language of mail.

From direct mail services to catalog fulfillment to worldwide shipping procedures, the international mailing world has a language all its own. Because most businesses are not fluent in mail, we have provided this extensive listing of important terms and their definitions.

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Back End
The activities necessary to complete a mail order transaction once an order has been received and/or the measurement of a buyer’s performance after he has ordered the first item in a series offering.
Bangtail
Promotional envelope with a second flap which is perforated and designed for use as an order form, usually an outer envelope with a tear-off coupon. The customer completes the coupon, tears it off and inserts it in the outer envelope with the statement an
Bar Code
The nine-digit ZIP Code translated into a coding structure of vertical bars and half bars used in order to speed the sorting of mail and enabling mailers to take a discount on postage.
Batching
The gathering and organizing of incoming orders.
Bilateral Rates
Delivery rates established between two postal operators outside other terminal dues systems.
Bingo Card
A reply card inserted in a publication and used by readers to request literature and samples from companies whose products and services are either advertised or mentioned in editorial columns.
Blue Bag
A colored bag used by postal administrations to denote conveyance by air.
Blueline
A photo print made from negatives or positives, used as a proof.
BMC
Acronym for “Bulk Mail Center,” a type of USPS processing facility.
BOL
A Bill of Lading (BOL) is a document that functions as a receipt for the goods or merchandise to be shipped, and as evidence of the contract of carriage by setting out the rights and obligations of the sender and the carrier, as well as placing limitations on the carrier’s limitations of loss, damage or delay in the goods. It is not a document of title to the goods.
BOL Number
All BOLs are numbered in sequence. These numbers are used to identify a shipment at each stage of its progress through the system. Most importantly, it is used by customers as the reference number for each shipment.
Bounce Back
An offer enclosed with mailings sent to a customer in fulfillment of an order.
BRC
Acronym for “Business Reply Card” (see definition below).
Brown Bag
The colored bag used by postal administrations to denote surface conveyance.
Bulk Mail
Mail that is rated for postage partly by weight and partly by the number of pieces in the mailing.
Business Delivery
A business that is operated out of a residential location is considered a business delivery. Such a business might be recognizable by any of the following: a posted sign, logo or trade name; posted hours of operation; obvious business activity conducted during “business hours” and on “business days” that are customary in that country.
Business Reply Card
A return card, often with respondent’s name and address information printed or affixed on it, which is included in the package to facilitate responding to an offer. Postage is paid by the advertiser.
Business Response Envelope
A return envelope supplied by the advertiser to the recipient for use as a ready response device.
Business to Business
Abbreviated as B2B, this term refers to the use of direct marketing in the promotion of goods and services from one business to another.