General
These Terms and Conditions are an agreement between the Customer and WICMA Ltd., operating as The Standard Press (“The Standard Press”), and govern every mail project The Standard Press prepares for the Customer. They supersede all prior representations, understandings, or agreements, whether written or oral, and shall prevail notwithstanding any variance with terms and conditions of any purchase order or customer documentation. Canada Post is not a party to this agreement; references to Canada Post below describe its role so the Customer understands where The Standard Press’ responsibility ends.
The Standard Press may revise these Terms from time to time. Each mail project is governed by the version in effect on the date the Customer authorized it or placed the order, and a revised version applies only to projects authorized or ordered after it is published. The version date appears at the top of this page.
Pricing & Payment
Quotes are valid for thirty (30) days from the date issued. A quote may be revised before the project is approved if quantities, weight, specifications, or Canada Post regulations change. Postage is charged at the actual rate Canada Post assesses at the time of mailing; any difference between estimated and actual postage, including differences arising from Canada Post’s final counts, will be billed or credited accordingly.
Payment for all mail projects, including printing, mail preparation, and postage, is due prior to delivery to Canada Post. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by The Standard Press, payment must be received no later than one (1) business day prior to the scheduled delivery date. Failure to meet payment deadlines may result in delayed delivery, rescheduling, or cancellation of the mailing. Customers with an approved charge account are invoiced on the terms of that account. Overdue balances bear interest at 2% per month (26.82% per annum) from the due date until paid.
Proofs, Changes & Cancellation
The Customer is responsible for reviewing every proof, including content, spelling, addresses, postal indicia, and mail-piece dimensions. Once the Customer approves a proof, The Standard Press is not responsible for errors in the approved proof. Changes requested after approval may affect cost and schedule.
If the Customer cancels or postpones a project after production has begun, the Customer will pay for all work performed, materials purchased, and third-party costs incurred up to that point. Postage is non-refundable once a mailing has been delivered to Canada Post.
Quantities
Printed quantities may vary from the quantity ordered by up to 5% to allow for press and mail-preparation spoilage. Mailing quantities are based on the counts Canada Post publishes at the time of mailing, and the Customer is billed for the pieces actually mailed.
Responsibilities
The Standard Press
The Standard Press is responsible for producing printed materials and delivering completed mailings to Canada Post on the date specified in writing by The Standard Press. Delivery dates are estimates and may be affected by unforeseen circumstances in manufacturing, material supply, equipment availability, or mailing preparation. If no delivery date is requested or confirmed in writing, The Standard Press will determine the delivery date at its discretion without prior notice to the Customer. The Standard Press does not guarantee delivery dates to final recipients.
The Standard Press does not exercise editorial control over the content of Customer mailings and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or compliance of customer-supplied content. Any review, check, or tool The Standard Press provides, including automated compliance checks, is offered as a courtesy only; it does not constitute legal advice and does not transfer responsibility for content or compliance to The Standard Press.
Canada Post
The Customer acknowledges that Canada Post alone is responsible for each mailing from the point of acceptance through final delivery, for following the instructions on the Statement of Mailing prepared by The Standard Press, and for delivery timelines, which are governed by Canada Post’s published delivery standards. If the Customer believes Canada Post has failed to meet its delivery obligations, The Standard Press will facilitate initial communication with Canada Post and provide relevant documentation to support any investigation; however, The Standard Press is not responsible for Canada Post’s delivery performance.
The Customer
The Customer is responsible for reviewing and understanding the most current mailing requirements, regulations, and delivery standards issued by Canada Post, which may change without notice. The Customer is responsible for ensuring that all materials, artwork, data, mail lists, and specifications comply with Canada Post regulations and applicable laws. If the Customer maintains a separate agreement with Canada Post, it is the Customer’s responsibility to comply with that agreement and to provide The Standard Press with all necessary instructions or restrictions arising from it.
The Customer represents and warrants that it has the legal right to use all content, data, and mailing lists supplied, and that any personal information in those lists was collected and may be used for the mailing in accordance with applicable privacy law. The Customer will indemnify and hold harmless The Standard Press from any claim, penalty, or cost arising from customer-supplied content, data, or mailing lists, or from the Customer’s breach of these Terms.
Political & Election Communications
For mailings by or on behalf of a candidate, registered party, elected official, third party, or other political participant, the Customer is solely responsible for compliance with the Canada Elections Act, The Elections Financing Act (Manitoba), and any other applicable election law, including required authorization statements (for example, “Authorized by the official agent”), spending and reporting obligations, and blackout periods.
Confidentiality & Mailing Lists
Mailing lists, mail plans, and related files provided to or generated by The Standard Press are treated as confidential and will not be released to third parties except as required to complete the mailing (including to Canada Post) or as required by law. Customer-supplied mailing lists are used only for the Customer’s mailings and are deleted within ninety (90) days after the mailing date, unless the Customer asks in writing that they be kept for future mailings or deleted sooner.
Neighbourhood Mail (Unaddressed)
Unaddressed mail counts are set by Canada Post. Households that have registered with Canada Post’s Consumer’s Choice program (the “red dot” opt-out) do not receive unaddressed advertising, and The Standard Press will use the corresponding Consumer’s Choice counts wherever Canada Post requires them. Items Canada Post delivers to all households regardless of that choice are mailed at full counts. Which count applies to a given mailing is determined by Canada Post’s policies, and the Customer is billed for the pieces actually mailed.
Personalized / Addressed Mail
The Standard Press is not responsible for additional costs incurred if a mailing is reclassified by Canada Post (including but not limited to Lettermail, Addressed Admail – Machineable, Addressed Admail – Special Handling, or Publication Mail). It is the Customer’s responsibility to ensure that all mail pieces meet the physical, content, and preparation requirements of the intended mail classification, and that mailing lists are current. Charges for undeliverable or returned mail are the Customer’s responsibility.
Claims
Any claim regarding a mail project, including printing quality, quantity, or mail preparation, must be made in writing within ten (10) business days of the mailing date. Claims not made within that period are deemed waived.
Limited Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, any liability of The Standard Press, whether arising from breach of contract, negligence, error, omission, delay, or any other cause of action, shall be strictly limited to the amount paid by the Customer to The Standard Press for the specific mail project giving rise to the claim, excluding postage, taxes, and third-party costs. In no event shall The Standard Press be liable for indirect, consequential, incidental, or special damages, including loss of revenue, loss of profits, or reputational harm.
Force Majeure
The Standard Press shall not be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, fire, flood, pandemics, labour disruptions, material or supplier shortages, utility or network outages, governmental actions, or disruptions at Canada Post.
Governing Law & Severability
If any provision of this agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Manitoba and the laws of Canada applicable therein.
Authorization
I have read and understand the Terms and Conditions above and authorize WICMA Ltd., operating as The Standard Press, to proceed with mailings on behalf of the organization named below. This authorization covers mailings the organization places with The Standard Press until withdrawn in writing.