Direct Mail supports two billing models: resource plans (prepaid subscription) and pay-as-you-go (billed after usage).
Prerequisites
Identity verification is required to purchase or activate Direct Mail. Ensure you have:
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An Alibaba Cloud account with completed identity verification
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Identity verification for the China (Hangzhou) region, if you plan to use Direct Mail in the Chinese mainland
Choose a billing model
| Feature | Resource plan (subscription) | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | Prepaid | Billed after usage |
| Validity | Six months from purchase | N/A |
| Refund | Not eligible for cancellation or a refund after use or expiry | N/A |
| Best for | Predictable sending volumes | Variable or unpredictable volumes |
Purchase a resource plan
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Go to the Direct Mail product page and click Buy Now.
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Select the resource plan specifications and quantity, then click Buy Now.
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On the Confirm Order page, review the order details and the Direct Mail Resource Plan Terms of Service, then click Pay.
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Confirm the payment details and click Pay.
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Click Management Console. If pay-as-you-go is not enabled, the console prompts you to click Activate Now. Otherwise, you enter the console directly.
Resource plans expire six months after purchase. After a plan is used up or expires, the unused portion is not eligible for cancellation or a refund. The system sends expiry reminders by text message, email, and internal message — monitor these and use your quota before it expires.
To allow a RAM user to purchase resource plans, grant these permissions in the RAM console:
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AliyunDirectMailFullAccess -
AliyunBSSOrderAccess
Enable pay-as-you-go
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Go to the Direct Mail product page and click Activate Now.
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Review the billing standards and the Direct Mail Activation Agreement, then click Activate Now.
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After activation, open the Management Console to begin sending emails.
Next steps
After activation, configure sender addresses and email templates before sending emails. The User Guide walks you through the full setup.