Recently updated on November 5th, 2024 at 06:40 am
Informed Delivery by USPS is a service that allows you to receive your mail on your phone or tablet, giving you more control over when and how you want to get it. It can also be used as an online service, letting you see what’s in your mailbox before it arrives at your home or office.
It has been providing mail delivery services to the American population for a long time and is one of the most trusted brands in the country.
This article will guide you on Informed Delivery. Let’s go! ☕
What is Informed Delivery?
Informed delivery is a feature offered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) whereby you can preview your incoming mails and manage package deliveries digitally.
If you sign up for informed delivery, you’ll be able to digitally manage your packages and preview your emails that are scheduled to arrive soon via emails, mobile apps, or an online dashboard.
You can also directly interact with digital content provided by business mailers from informed delivery.
Informed delivery also allows you to perform limited actions like receiving USPS tracking updates for your packages, providing delivery instructions, scheduling re-delivery, and managing notifications.
However, Informed delivery doesn’t allow you to open and scan your mail like a PostScan Mail.
History of the United States Postal Service Informed Delivery?
The birth of Informed Delivery dates back to 2014. This is probably in response to Jerry Seinfield’s plea to digitize mail in February.
It was first released as a pilot program in some selected Zip codes. In 2017 expanded into most of the Zip codes in the U.S., and it quickly grew, with almost 15 million users using it as of 2020.
There’s still ground for USPS to cover until it reaches mainstream America. However, there’s a high satisfaction rate among customers. About 89% reported they’re satisfied with United States Postal Service informed delivery features, while about 90% claim they’ll recommend it to a family or friend.
►Read More About USPS Informed Delivery vs. PostScan Mail
How Does USPS Informed Delivery Work?
Before your mail is delivered, USPS will scan the front of a letter-sized mail that runs through automated mail sorting machine. These images will be sent to you as an email notification to ensure you have a preview of your emails in advance.
Once you sign up for the informed delivery, you’ll be required to add an active email address to receive updates. You can preview a maximum of 10 mail items in your daily notification from USPS.
This limits the number of emails sent to users due to security concerns.
The automatic scan machine doesn’t image some mail items like magazines and journals. So if a scan is detected on these mail items, you’ll receive a message saying, “A mailpiece for which we do not currently have an image is included in today’s mail.”
The informed delivery dashboard displays mail images for up to a week, while packages will be displayed on the dashboard for up to 15 days after they’ve been delivered.
What does USPS informed delivery show of your mail?
USPS Informed Delivery provides a preview of your incoming mail by showing grayscale digital images of only up to 10 pieces of mail a day. This means you’ll see:
- The front of the envelope: Including the recipient and sender addresses, postage, and any other markings on the front.
- The size and shape of the envelope: Giving you a sense of the size and thickness of the mail piece.
However, you cannot see the contents of your mail through USPS Informed Delivery. It will not show:
- The message or information inside the envelope.
- Any attachments or inserts.
- The color of the envelope or any handwritten information.
While it doesn’t reveal contents, this service can be helpful for managing your mail by:
- Knowing what mail to expect and when. (e.g., important bills, deliveries, etc.)
- Prioritizing important mail based on the sender or type.
- Deciding whether to physically check your mailbox for specific items.
Remember, only letter-sized mail is typically shown, with a daily limit of 10 images. Packages and oversized mail are not included, and the service may not be available in all areas or ZIP codes. You can check your eligibility on the USPS website.
If you require access to the actual contents of your mail digitally, alternative solutions like virtual mailbox services might be more suitable. However, these services often come with a subscription fee.
Why Should I Use Informed Delivery?
If you’re a business owner who travels a lot or often has misdirected packages, informed delivery will help you know what is happening to your direct home mail delivery.
And since you can Manage your Mails and Packages online, you can leave delivery instructions or re-schedule a delivery if you won’t be available to receive the first one.
Informed delivery allows you to keep track of your mails and packages and calls more to action for your brand.
How to Sign Up for Informed Delivery?
USPS has a complete guide that will walk you through signing up for an informed delivery. Some things are required of you:
- You must have a residential address or rent a P.O. box for personal use.
- Your address and Zip code must be eligible for united states postal service informed delivery.
- You must complete an I.D. verification Process.
Here are the five steps to signing up:
- Visit the USPS informed delivery site and click on Sign up for free.
- Enter your P.O. box address or residential address to check if you’re eligible for the Informed Delivery service.
- Create a USPS personal account if you don’t have one. You’ll be asked to select a username and password for it.
You’ll also be required to add your security questions and contact information. Read the privacy information and click on continue, to be redirected to the I.D. verification page. - Verify your identity by requesting a code via your email or phone number.
You’ll be asked to add your phone number if you verify your identity online.
A numeric OTP will be sent to you via text message. However, if you choose to verify your identity physically, you’ll request for an invitation code to be sent to your residential address. - After you’re done with identity verification, you’ll be shown a confirmation page from where you’ll be redirected to your informed delivery dashboard.
How Much Does Informed Delivery Cost?
The delivery pricing of USPS is always pocket-friendly. Usually a dollar or so.
In case of informed delivery, it is free to use the service. Therefore, individuals and business owners are encouraged to use a digitized mail system to preview and track their mail and packages.
Does USPS Informed Delivery filter out junk mail?
No, USPS Informed Delivery does not filter out junk mail. It provides a digital preview of all incoming mail, including both desired and unwanted items, without discrimination.
Does USPS Informed Delivery only support USPS?
Yes, it’s reasonable that USPS Informed Delivery exclusively displays mail and packages from USPS due to its association with the postal service. However, it’s important to note that mail originates from various carriers like FedEx, DHL, UPS, and others. While Informed Delivery offers a preview of your mailbox, it’s not intended as a comprehensive mail management solution. A virtual mailbox could be a suitable alternative, for example, a” PostScan Mail virtual mailbox,” for those seeking such functionality.”
Is Informed Delivery Available to P.O. Box Customers?
Yes. Informed delivery is available for P.O. box customers. All USPS consumers are eligible for informed delivery whether they receive their mail at a post office or through a zip code.
However, if you receive mails at both your residential address and P.O. box address, you’ll have to set up a separate USPS informed delivery account.
Is USPS Informed Delivery Available Everywhere?
No. Informed Delivery is not everywhere in the U.S. However, it is available to eligible P.O. boxes and residential addresses located in the majority of the zip code locations of the state.
Am I Eligible to Use Informed Delivery
Yes, you can use informed delivery as long as your residential address or P.O. box is qualified and located in a zip code where informed delivery is offered.
You can check here to see if your address is eligible for the service.
What Are Others Saying about Informed Delivery?
Statistics have shown that 89% of informed delivery users are happy with the services and features it offers.
Also, about 90% of its users said they’ll recommend the service to their family and friends since they’ve benefited.
What Does the USPS Get Out of People Using Informed Delivery
Since it’s free, USPS doesn’t get anything from people using an informed delivery service.
Can You Track USPS Certified Mail?
You can track your USPS-certified mail using the barcode you received when you purchase the mailing form at your local post office.
Once you’ve your mail piece number, you can input it on the USPS official website to track your parcel.
If you don’t have access to the internet, you can contact USPS, and share your tracking number, and USPS will provide you with details on your package.
However, this tracking service is only available to senders; if you’re a receiver of USPS-certified mail, your only tracking option is the United States Postal Service Informed Delivery.
►Read More About Does USPS Deliver on Sunday?
How to Remove Someone From Informed Delivery
If a roommate or relative moved out and you want to kick them off your informed delivery, you can either contact the USPS customer service line at 1-800-275-8777 or sign in to your informed delivery account and do so.
Why is my Address not Eligible for Informed Delivery?
There are still some Zip Codes in the United States that aren’t eligible for USPS informed delivery. If your zip code is one of those, your address will not be eligible for informed delivery.
Sometimes, your zip code will be eligible for the service, but your address is not. This happens when you’re living in a multi-unit apartment that has not been uniquely coded at the unit level. Therefore if your address isn’t coded, you can’t sign up for informed delivery.
Is USPS informed delivery available for businesses?
Unfortunately, USPS Informed Delivery is not available for businesses. The service is currently limited to residential addresses and PO Boxes in eligible ZIP codes. Businesses do not have access to Informed Delivery, regardless of their location.
However, there are alternative options businesses can explore for mail and package management ex:
Virtual Mailbox Services: These services provide a business address where mail and packages are received and scanned. You can then view scans online or have the items forwarded to another location. These services often offer additional features like mail opening, shredding, and document management.PostScan Mail is the best Virtual Mailbox Service provider
How to Talk to a Person on USPS Customer Service?
Talking directly to a USPS Staff on the phone is the best and quickest way to solve your issues or get an insight on what to do.
Here is the step to follow & talk to a human on USPS customer service:
- Call USPS Customer service via 1-800-275-8777.
- Once it starts calling options, say ‘Carrier’ or ‘Agent’ or ‘Customer Service ‘ severally, the call will be handed over to a human.
Does Informed Delivery Show All Mail?
The USPS Informed Delivery is not showing all mail. Customers sometimes receive letters that have never been previewed on their informed delivery account.
Also, Informed delivery is limited to previewing letter-sized mail only, so if you’re receiving magazines, newspapers, catalogs, and other large-sized mail, you won’t get a preview. Since informed delivery is a USPS service, it doesn’t also scan mail arriving from other carriers like UPS, DHL, or FedEx.
Is there a USPS Informed Delivery App?
Yes, a USPS Informed Delivery App lets you preview mail and track packages from anywhere. The app is available on both the Play store and Appstore.
How to get USPS Mail Notifications for your mail?
To get notifications from USPS on all mail and packages arriving, you can download the Informed delivery app and sign up for the service.
After you sign up and verify your account, go to your Informed Delivery settings to adjust your notification preferences:
Why are my Packages not Showing up on Informed Delivery?
The USPS Informed Delivery only shows notification for mail processed by the USPS automated equipment. Packages that aren’t processed that way cannot appear on the Informed Delivery notification.
Is USPS Informed Delivery available for all mailing classes?
Unfortunately, USPS Informed Delivery is not available for all mailing classes. While it covers a large portion of mail categories, some specific types are excluded. Here’s a breakdown:
USPS Informed Delivery covers:
- First-Class Mail: This includes letters, postcards, flats (like magazines), and large envelopes.
- Priority Mail: This includes packages and envelopes with faster delivery times.
- Retail Ground: This is a more economic ground delivery option for packages.
- USPS Marketing Mail®: This is discounted mail for businesses and organizations.
USPS Informed Delivery does NOT cover:
- Standard Mail: This is the most economical mail class, primarily used for advertising and non-urgent deliveries.
- Periodicals: Newspapers and magazines delivered under special subscription rates.
- International Mail: Mail originating from or destined for outside the United States.
- Special Services: Packages or mail requiring additional services like registered mail, certified mail, or return receipts.
Therefore, while Informed Delivery offers a great way to preview your incoming mail from several key categories, certain mailing classes like Standard Mail and periodicals are not eligible for the service.
It’s always advisable to check the USPS website or directly contact them for the latest information and specific details regarding Informed Delivery eligibility for your mail.
How to Check USPS Delivery Confirmation?
The easiest way to check USPS delivery confirmation is by calling them on the phone at 1-800-222-1811. This customer service’s working hours are 8. am to 8.30 pm E.T. from Mondays to Fridays.
How Long Does it Take for Informed Delivery to Update?
Informed delivery scans your mail and notifies you once you have new mail. This is usually done within a few hours, but in some cases, it might take some days.
Who Scans My Mail For Informed Delivery?
Your mail is scanned by significant USPS sorting facilities that are highly secured. Therefore there’s no need to worry about the privacy of your mail.
Why is My Mail Taking So Long To Be Delivered?
There could be a lot of reasons why your mail is taking longer to be delivered. One of the most common reasons is a backlog at your local post office.
Sometimes, your mail takes time to arrive because it has been tocked in transit. Whichever reason, the United States Postal Service will ensure they deliver your mail as soon as possible.
Security and Privacy Concerns
USPS has tried to ensure the privacy and security of all digitally scanned and delivered emails.
While scanning the mail, only the envelope’s exterior is scanned, with all the information inside the envelope not being known. Only the address of letter-size mail items can be publicly accessed by those who checked the email.
Moreover, USPS ensures mail protection since it must safeguard the USPS systems and the employees who deliver the mail.
In adherence to the Private Act, USPS ensures that private citizens’ information shared through the mail will remain confidential and can only be disclosed to a third party under strict conditions.
Informed delivery also uses knowledge-based authentication to verify the true identity of people signing up. The verification process includes answering multiple-choice questions to which only the real user knows the correct answer.
Manage Package Tracking Notifications:
Enable package tracking notifications to receive automatic alerts via text and/or email regarding your package status and delivery information.
Organize Mail Reminders:
Set up email reminders for significant mail items: Simply click “Set a Reminder” from your Daily Digest email to receive extra notifications for important mail you wish to keep track of.
- Step 1 – Set a Reminder When viewing your Daily Digest email, select the “Set a Reminder” button beside an eligible mailpiece (any letter with a greyscale or representative image. image).
- Step 2 – Select Date to Receive Reminder Navigate to the calendar, choose a date to receive your reminder email, and select “Submit”. Note: You can select a date for your reminder email up to 10 days after the date you received the initial notification for that mailpiece.
- Step 3 – Receive Reminder Receive an email reminder featuring the mailpiece image and any associated digital content on the selected day to your Informed Delivery account email.
Utilize USPS Electronic Signature Online:
Register your digital signature online for instances where you’re unable to sign for a package in person. We’ll safely deliver your Signature Required package to your mailbox or preferred delivery location.
A Better Alternative
As said earlier, USPS informed delivery would enable you to receive notifications about your mails and packages to be delivered. However, these emails will only show you the exterior part of the mail envelope or the package without giving you an idea of what is contained in the mail.
Informed delivery doesn’t allow you to view your mail contents online for many security and privacy reasons. Still, informed delivery can be a good option for those that want to preview their emails online.
However, others will love to see their full mails online, where innovative mail companies like PostScan Mail come into play.
These companies brought virtual mailboxes which enable you to scan and view the exterior of your mails and packages just like informed delivery. But they’re a step ahead of the former, as you can request for mail scanning of the actual documents within your envelope or what’s contained in your package.
With PostScan Mail, you can Scan, Forward, Shred, Recycle, add multiple recipients, and more, all at a token price. To save time, save pennies with the PostScan Mail.
Final Thoughts
This article has provided an overview of the benefits of informed delivery.
Informed delivery is a service that lets you know the contents of your mail before you open it. You can also have it delivered to an alternate address. This service can help you save time and money on deliveries and reduce your environmental footprint.
We hope that you found this article helpful. Our experts at PostSan Mail are committed to providing our customers with the best quality of service.
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- How to Forward Postal Mail to Someone
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- How to Get a Physical Mailing Address?
- Why Should You Use PostScan Mail Forwarding Service Instead of USPS Mail Forwarding?
