Editing Self-addressed stamped envelope

{{Short description|Postage-paid envelope for return service}}
{{Refimprove|date=July 2018}}
A '''self-addressed stamped envelope''' ('''SASE'''),<ref name=Collins-SASE>{{cite web | url = https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/sase | title = SASE | date =  | work = Collins English Dictionary | publisher = HarperCollins Publishers | access-date = 9 July 2018 | archive-date = 9 July 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180709185559/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/sase | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=Cambridge-SASE>{{cite web | url = https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/sase | title = SASE | date =  | work = Cambridge Dictionary | publisher = Cambridge University Press | access-date = 9 July 2018 | archive-date = 9 July 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180709185217/https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/sase | url-status = live }}</ref> '''stamped self-addressed envelope''' ('''SSAE'''),<ref name=Abbreviations-SSAE>{{cite web | url = https://www.abbreviations.com/term/1406655 | title = What does ssae mean in General? | date = 8 June 2012 | work = Abbreviations.com | publisher = STANDS4 LLC | access-date = 9 July 2018}}</ref> or '''stamped addressed envelope''' ('''SAE''')<ref name=Collins-SAE>{{cite web | url = https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/sae | title = sae | date =  | work = Cambridge Dictionary | publisher = Cambridge University Press | access-date = 9 July 2018 | archive-date = 9 July 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180709185422/https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/sae | url-status = live }}</ref> is an [[envelope]] with the sender's name and address on it, plus affixed paid [[postage stamp|postage]], that is mailed to a company or private individual.

== Uses ==
Important uses for SASEs are when requesting information about products or services, or when sending manuscripts to literary agents.

SASEs are used when communicating with [[companies]], [[charities]] or celebrities (for fan post), in cases where each recipient can afford the cost of a single stamp and envelope, but it would be a burden on the organization to pay for the postage on all the letters it sends out.

One of the most common uses is when companies are legally required to send something upon request, such as a "winners list" at the end of a [[sweepstakes]]; the company will require a SASE to be included with the request to avoid paying postage.

SASEs are also vital in the hobbies of [[autograph]] collecting and [[amateur radio]]. An enthusiast will send an autograph request to a [[celebrity]] or [[sportsperson|athlete]] through the mail and include a SASE, which the celebrity or athlete will use to return the autographed item. In the case of amateur radio, operators will send a SASE when requesting another station's [[QSL card]].

==Alternatives==
In Japan, [[return postcard]]s are used for similar purposes.

SASEs cannot easily be used for international mail, since senders rarely have supplies of mint foreign stamps. Instead, [[international reply coupon]]s (IRCs) can be purchased at post offices, although they are no longer sold in some countries, including the United States.  Users of IRCs will often, as a courtesy, also send a self-addressed envelope to save the receiver the cost and time of buying and labeling an envelope.

== See also ==
* [[Freepost]], also called Reply paid or Business reply mail
* [[Envelope stuffing]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope}}
[[Category:Envelopes]]
[[Category:Postal systems]]