USPS EDDM Facing Slips: What They Are and How to Stop Handwriting Them

Facing slips are the paperwork that tells the post office what is in each bundle and where it goes. They are simple, they are mandatory, and preparing them by hand for a multi-route mailing is one of the worst uses of an operator's time.

What goes on a facing slip

Each bundle of mailpieces needs a slip identifying the destination ZIP code, the carrier route number, the piece count in that bundle, and your mailer information. The slip sits face up on top of the bundle so a clerk can verify the bundle without opening it.

Bundling rules to follow

• Bundle by carrier route, never mix routes in a bundle
• Keep bundles to a size a person can lift and a band can hold, commonly 50 to 100 pieces
• Face all pieces the same direction
• Place the slip on top, face up, under the banding

The paperwork that travels with the drop

Along with the slips you bring the completed EDDM Retail form (PS Form 3587) and payment. Piece counts across your slips must total the count on that form. A mismatch is the most common reason a drop gets held at the counter.

Why handwriting slips fails at scale

A fourteen-route mailing at 10,000 pieces is well over a hundred bundles. Handwriting slips takes hours, invites transcription errors, and a single wrong route number can send an entire bundle to the wrong carrier.

Where RapidSlips fits

RapidSlips takes your route data and generates every facing slip as a print-ready PDF, organized by route and bundle, in one pass. Your subscription includes 50,000 mailpiece facing slips per month, which covers several full mailings.

A clean bundling day checklist

1. Confirm the final piece count per route matches your route plan
2. Print all facing slips before the pieces arrive from the printer
3. Count, band, and slip one route at a time
4. Stage bundles by route order on the pallet or in the vehicle
5. Bring the completed 3587 and payment method to the accepting post office
6. Get your receipt and file it with the mailing record