Business

What is a USPS Postal Qualified Wholesaler (PQW)?

What is a USPS Postal Qualified Wholesaler (PQW)? What should I look for in a USPS PQW? How can I locate a USPS PQW? These are just a few of the questions I hear daily from companies in the United States and I will cover these aspects in this article.

A USPS Mail Qualified Wholesaler (PQW) is a distinction given to very few commercial shippers in the United States. This designation provides assurance to companies that this company (PQW) has undergone a rigorous investigative process with the United States Postal Service. It conveys a level of confidence that PQW business processes fully comply with all United States Postal Service mail and data preparation requirements. The PQW must undergo a rigorous screening process, meet certain volume requirements, and demonstrate the ability to prepare manifests and transmit the appropriate electronic data to USPS acceptance facilities.

Qualified USPS mail-order wholesalers have access to USPS-offered mass mailing products that are not available to the general public. In essence, a PQW levels the playing field for many small business senders, allowing them to access discounts normally reserved for only the largest senders in the country.

USPS PQW will have access to several levels of service, including the following:

  • USPS International Priority Air Mail (transit time 3-7 days) – This service is perfect for business senders looking to send urgent items abroad. Typical senders using this service would be sending invoices, statements, financial documents, and e-retailers. This is the perfect service for companies selling products on eBay and Amazon to ensure the timely delivery of their customers’ orders while saving a significant amount of shipping costs.
  • USPS International Surface Airlift (transit time 7-14 days) – This service is perfect for business senders who have less urgent material that is shipped internationally. This is a perfect service for companies that send applications, magazines, newsletters and newspapers.

What Should You Look For In A Qualified USPS Mail Wholesaler? While there are several PQWs in the United States, there are only a couple of them that fit the following recommended criteria:

Rentals, Rentals, Rentals

When selecting a Qualified Postal Wholesaler, you want to ensure that you are selecting one that has multiple locations. Disaster recovery is becoming increasingly important in today’s global economy. Working with a PQW that has locations throughout the United States will ensure that your mail moves regardless of your local situation, as the East Coast of the US realized during Hurricane Sandy, when most of the coastline Eastern US was closed. The ability to mail your material, even during natural disasters, is a great way to stay ahead of your competition.

Software integration

Working with a PQW that integrates directly with your current software platform just makes sense. For e-commerce companies that use Endicia, Shipstation, Shipworks, Sellercloud, Teapplix, and all other order management systems out there; You shouldn’t have to switch to another software platform to use that PQW service. It is PQW’s responsibility to integrate directly with your software application. If they don’t integrate with your current application, use a different PQW.

Creation of shipping control documents online

In these times, using paper documents as evidence of your shipment with that PQW is inconvenient and ridiculous today. A shipping department should not close because it didn’t realize it used its last pre-printed shipping control document. Make sure your PQW can provide you with a username and password so that you can create your shipping control documents and view your previous shipping history online. In today’s electronic age, if your PQW doesn’t have this basic feature, you need to find a different one.

Volume, volume, volume

Be sure to ask your PQW how often they ship to the USPS International Classification Center (ISC). Not all PQWs have the same volume, some can only deliver mail to an International Classification Center once or twice a week. Make sure the PQW delivers the mail to the USPS ISC at least once a day. Some PQWs drop off mail multiple times during the day at ISCs. The more frequently your mail is brought to ISCs, the faster your mail will be en route to its final destination.

How do I locate a PQW?

Get started with your USPS Global Account Manager, they are experts in international mail solutions and will be able to help you through the selection process. If you are unfamiliar with your global account manager, ask your USPS shipping solutions specialist for their contact information. Knowing that your PQW has an active and healthy relationship with their USPS representatives says a lot about their ability to provide the services you are looking for.

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