Table A3-40
Standard Mail from Mail Order Companies
Reaction to Mail Piece by Shape
(Percentage of Pieces)
Postal Fiscal Years 1987, 2006 and 2007
(Diary Data)
Shape  Read Immediately  Set Aside Found Useful
1987 2006 2007 1987 2006 2007 1987 2006 2007
Letter size envelope 42.7 38.2 43.9 4.1 3.6 3.2 29.9 26.0 35.9
Larger than
Letter size envelope
48.2 45.7 44.4 10.4 5.1 4.5 41.1 35.7 32.2
Postcard 60.4 47.4 53.2 4.2 2.1 2.1 51.8 34.8 35.9
Catalog not in envelope 40.9 44.0 43.1 17.1 17.4 15.9 48.9 52.5 52.3
Flyers 39.8 38.5 45.3 7.8 12.8 4.5 32.9 45.3 42.4
Newspapers/Magazines 57.0 51.6 47.7 0.0 14.1 21.3 62.3 56.5 50.0
Shape Will Respond Percentage of Pieces Received
1987 2006 2007 1987 2006 2007
Letter size envelope 12.3 8.8 10.7 20.8 6.1 7.3
Larger than
Letter size envelope
18.0 13.0 13.5 22.0 8.8 9.6
Postcard 18.6 13.3 10.6 0.8 1.3 0.9
Catalog not in envelope 15.8 10.6 11.9 48.5 74.2 72.8
Flyers 10.0 11.2 8.2 7.0 4.0 3.9
Newspapers/Magazines 19.8 7.0 11.8 0.2 2.2 2.0
NOTE: Percentages represent row percentages within each shape category;
these do not sum to 100 due to the inclusion of multiple questions in this table. 
  Fluctuations may be due to small sample size.