# Business Reply Mail - will this work

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-reply-mail-will-this-work/151532>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 30, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-reply-mail-will-this-work/151532 "2003-01-30T03:42:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-reply-mail-will-this-work/151532/1 "2003-01-30T03:42:33Z")

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We all get these annoying envelops for extra low APR credit card deals. So usually I sent back the business reply mail envelopes with coupons or paper shreds or something that means nothing to me. But I’m wondering since it says “NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES” that it means I can duck tape a brick to it and mail it back having the postal service charge them for the mailing fee of a 2 pound brick?

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**Author:** ![Catfood\_Purrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-reply-mail-will-this-work/151532/2 "2003-01-30T04:23:18Z")

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Cecil did a column on this, and basically, no, not anymore. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_356.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_356.html)

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-reply-mail-will-this-work/151532/3 "2003-01-30T06:08:20Z")

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You would not want to do this even if it were possible. Many of the business reply envelopes also have bar codes on the flap identifying **your** solicitation account.

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**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-reply-mail-will-this-work/151532/4 "2003-01-30T06:48:51Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Duckster \*  
> \*\*You would not want to do this even if it were possible. Many of the business reply envelopes also have bar codes on the flap identifying **your** solicitation account. \*\*

Bar codes are easily foiled by adding in a single line parallel to the lines of the code, preventing the scanner from getting a clear scan. They don’t hold up well to scissors, either.

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**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-reply-mail-will-this-work/151532/5 "2003-01-30T06:50:12Z")

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That sounded snippy, I think… 'Twas not my intention at all, **Duckster** , my apologies.