US Patent 7171449 Friend-to-friend mail systems and methods

Methods and systems are provided for a three party mailing service. The process may enable a first party, such as an advertiser, to create a mailpiece, such as a postcard, marked with a unique code. The mailpiece may be provided to a second party, such as a household, who can send the mailpiece without adding any postage to the mailpiece. The mailpiece may then be delivered to a third party, and the first party may be billed for the postage due for delivery of the mailpiece from the second party to the third party.