The Secret to Handling Odd EDDM Bundle Sizes (Finally Explained!)

You know what's funny? After years of helping businesses with direct mail, the #1 question I keep getting asked isn't about design or targeting - it's about those pesky odd-numbered bundles. Like, what the heck do you do when USPS wants everything in neat stacks of 50 or 100, but you've got 787 pieces to mail?

The Bundle Puzzle That Makes Everyone Crazy

Let me tell you, I totally get the frustration. The post office hands you this paperwork showing route quantities like 550 or 787, then basically says "good luck!" with zero instructions on how to handle those weird leftover numbers. (Thanks for nothing, USPS!)

Here's what makes it extra tricky - mail carriers need these manageable bundles so they're not juggling loose postcards all over their truck. Makes sense, right? Especially with those super glossy cards that love to slide around like they're at a skating rink.

Here's How to Actually Handle Those Odd Numbers

Okay, let's break this down with a real example. Say you've got 787 pieces to mail. First thing - don't panic! Here's the simple math:

• Take your total (787)
• Make as many bundles of 100 as you can (that's 7 bundles)
• Whatever's left becomes your "oddball bundle" (87 pieces)

So you end up with:

• 7 bundles of 100 pieces each
• 1 bundle of 87 pieces

The Secret Sauce: Facing Slips

Now here's where it gets good (and where most folks mess up). Those facing slips - you know, those little papers that go with each bundle? They're actually your best friend.

For your regular 100-piece bundles, just mark them as "Bundle 1 of 8" through "Bundle 7 of 8" (or however many you have). But for that oddball 87-piece bundle? Just write "87 pieces" on its slip and make it Bundle 8 of 8. That's literally all there is to it!

Pro Tips From Someone Who's Been There

Honestly, after helping countless businesses with their EDDM campaigns (I run printing4supercheap.com - yep, shameless plug, but hey, we really do have the lowest prices!), I've picked up some tricks:

• Tuck those facing slips right under the twine or rubber bands - keeps everything neat and professional
• Put your odd bundle first or last in the sequence - makes it easier for everyone to keep track
• If you're counting pieces yourself, please don't do it one by one (I've got another video about speed counting - trust me, it's a game changer)

A Real-World Example That'll Make You Laugh

I was just helping this restaurant owner in Georgia with his EDDM campaign (guy's got this amazing-sounding Cajun seafood menu that was seriously making me hungry while I was working on it). He had this exact issue with odd bundles, and you should've seen his face when I explained how simple it really is. Sometimes the things that stress us out the most have the easiest solutions, you know?

Need More Help?

Click the button to join the Skool group above to join a thriving community of 9x12ers who help each other with pro tips, advice, resources and more.