Business reply envelopes allow recipients to pay postage, increasing the chances of receiving a reply. They are also used for returns and are risk-free for businesses as they only pay for delivered envelopes. However, abusive use can result in legal action.
A business reply envelope is an envelope that allows the recipient, rather than the sender, to pay postage. The process of charging recipients for mail is known as commercial reply mail. Post offices offer this as a service to businesses who want their customers to be able to post their items to them free of charge and there are a number of ways these envelopes can be used. A license is required for this service, and people can apply to the post office to receive one.
A common reason to use a reply envelope is as an attachment in a mailing that will increase the chance of a reply. Recipients may be reluctant to return surveys, signup forms, and other materials if they have to pay shipping costs. Enclosing a commercial reply envelope increases the chances of a shipment getting a reply as postage is not a barrier. This practice is also used by some government agencies who want to make sure they get responses to certain types of mailings.
Business reply envelopes and business reply labels are also used by businesses to provide a method of postage for the return of faulty, unwanted or damaged goods. Consumers can return the goods in the envelope provided for repair, replacement or a refund without having to arrange for the shipment. In such cases, this type of envelope is used as a customer service technique to make things easier to return and increase customer satisfaction.
The post office only charges businesses for envelopes that are actually delivered. If a business sends 10,000 Business Reply envelopes and receives 3,000 replies, for example, they will only pay postage on the 3,000. This makes the envelope relatively risk-free for the business, as it only pays postage if a customer responds.
Historically, some pranksters recommended responding to junk mail and other junk mail by placing heavy items in business reply envelopes and mailing them back, attacking the business with the high mailing bill. Both businesses and the Post Office have become adept at this practice, and the Post Office may choose not to deliver commercial reply mail that is clearly being mailed abusively, such as a commercial reply envelope taped to a brick or piece of wood. It is also possible for people to be charged in court for engaging in such practices.
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