How to Find Out if Your Mail Has Been Delivered

The majority of us have minimal knowledge of direct mail and how it works. For example, most of us do not know the postage charges for sending direct mail or how long it takes to deliver.

Yet, today, direct mail is a communication medium loved by many, especially businesses. But why the sudden love for direct mail, especially when the world has shifted to digital mediums for pretty much everything?

Digital mediums, including email, instant messaging, and even social media, have become the hunting ground for marketers. And as you would expect, the audience has also grown tired of people trying to sell things on digital mediums.

This is where direct mail comes into the picture. It offers a fresh way to reach out to the target audience. But most businesses or people do not know how long it takes to deliver direct mail services. It is also one of the reasons why businesses are sometimes reluctant to adopt direct mail marketing strategies.

So, here we will try to piece together all the information you need to determine when USPS will deliver your mail.

Not too long ago, the United States Postal Service introduced a new service called Informed Delivery. It allows you to check the delivery time of your mailers. However, that’s not all it does, but we will discuss that in detail as you continue to read on.

The Informed Delivery service is the short answer to the question “How do I know if my mail has been delivered?”. Now, there is a catch to the new service offered by the USPS.

The service is currently available to eligible residential and eligible PO Box™ consumers.

USPS Informed Delivery allows you to get a preview of your incoming mail and packages via the post office. You can get notifications that enable you to see pictures of all letter-sized mail. Though you can only get grayscale images of the address side, it helps you know what the mail is about and who sent it. Thus, you can choose whether to stay home to collect it (if it's crucial) or let the carrier drop it in the mailbox anytime.

The best part is that you can stay updated about the estimated arrival date and time—and it's free for everyone! You can navigate your Informed Delivery settings to manage your notification preferences:

Receive Mail Delivery Updates

This option lets you be notified whenever a postal carrier drops off a mailpiece or package at your doorstep or mailbox. Thus, you can ask someone to bring it in if you think the mail carries something significant. You must go to the settings and opt in to receive Mail Delivery Notification emails for free.

Source: USPS Informed Delivery

Package Tracking Updates

You can turn on mail item tracking notifications to automatically receive email and/or text updates about your package's status and delivery information. You can check the notification types you want to receive, such as when the package is available for pickup, the expected delivery date, in-transit news, etc.

Source: USPS Informed Delivery

Online USPS Electronic Signature

Since many USPS mailers require the recipient to sign a green card to receive their items, you might face mail returns whenever unavailable. Luckily, USPS has a solution—you can register your digital signature online if you cannot sign for a letter or package in person. The carrier will automatically drop off the item at your chosen delivery location or mailbox without asking anyone to sign.

More Things You Can Do With Informed Delivery

1. Leave delivery instructions for your carrier: Recipients can choose where they want the postal employees to drop off their packages and envelopes, despite these items having the mailing address. They can select their neighbor's house or a local postal facility on their way back from the office. It allows people to receive their mail without security threats and at their convenience.
2. Remove items you don't want to track: You need not get updates about all incoming mail. Add or remove items according to your preferences.
3. Schedule redelivery: If you don't want to get a package on the estimated arrival date, you can select another date that works for you.

Method 1: Using USPS Informed Delivery

Informed Delivery is a free service from the USPS. It is a notification feature that allows you to access a digital preview of your letter-sized mail. The feature also allows you to manage the soon-to-arrive packages.

However, the most significant advantage of using Informed Delivery is checking the delivery status from anywhere using any mobile device.

 Also Read: What is a Mail Stop Code?

We have made it clear that it is possible to determine the expected delivery time required for a mailer. However, there is still one question that remains to be answered, and that is: “How do I know if my mail has been delivered?”

To answer this, we have provided a step-by-step guide below that will help you determine when you can expect direct mail delivery from USPS.

Step 1: Go to USPS’s Informed Delivery Page

First, you need the official link for Informed Delivery by USPS. Once you arrive on the page, you will see the “Sign Up For Free” button. Click on it and register yourself.

Step 2: Start The Sign-Up Process And Fill In Your Address

Here, you must fill in your address so the system can determine whether you are eligible for the Informed Delivery service. Two criteria determine your eligibility for the service, and they are:

• Your ZIP code area must be eligible for Informed Delivery.
• Your individual mailbox must be uniquely coded.

(Note: According to USPS, some apartment buildings may not have a uniquely coded mailbox.)

After providing the necessary details, USPS’s system determines if you are eligible for their Informed Delivery service. If eligible, you will then be taken to a new page where you can create an account. Here, you will also be able to set up your username and password.

Step 3: Verify Your Address

At this point, you have already created an account for accessing the Informed Delivery service from the USPS. Here is where USPS will try and verify whether you really live at the address you just submitted to them.

In this step, UPSS will provide you with two options.

• Option 1: Verify your address via your mobile phone
• Option 2: Verify your address via paper mail.

The first option is pretty self-explanatory, and you won’t need any help to do it. Your second option involves receiving paper mail from the USPS. The mail will contain a code that you must then enter on the web page. Once you enter the code, the verification process is completed.

Step 4: Select a Post Office For In-Person Address Verification

Most of us will verify the address via mobile number because it is the more convenient option. But, it’s not necessary that the verify by mobile phone option will work for everyone. For example, if USPS fails to recognize a number, the address is not verifiable via mobile phone.

If USPS can’t verify your mobile phone number for Informed Delivery, you have a third option. So what is the third option? You can visit your local post office in person and verify the address. If this is your preferred choice, you may click on the “Visit a Post Office” option.

Step 5: Select The Post Office For Verification

After you click on the “Visit a Post Office” option, USPS will present you with a list of post offices. The post offices listed here are all eligible for verifying your address for Informed Delivery. You can choose a post office on the list that is most convenient for you.

Usually, people choose to select a post office that is nearest to their home. People also tend to choose post offices near their workplace or one that is on their daily commute. However, it would be best to remember that not all post offices are equipped for verification.

Once you fix the post office address verification, you may click on the “Continue to In-Person Verification” button.

Step 6: Obtain The Barcode

The screen will display a barcode after clicking on the “Continue to In-Person Verification” button. Additionally, the barcode will also be sent to the email address you provided. It is worth noting that this barcode is only valid for 30 days.

 Also Read: USPS Bulk Mail Tracking to Improve Shipping Process

Method 2: Using USPS Tracking Numbers 

Using Informed Delivery is ideal for letters and documents. However, you need a tracking number to receive real-time updates for packages and specialized mail. Unfortunately, these numbers are only available with Certified Mail or Priority Mail and are unavailable with First-Class Mail. A tracking number can help you fetch the step-by-step history of an item’s journey. So, you can be more sure about its deliverability. 

Where to Find Your Tracking Number?

The 22-digit tracking number is typically found in your Post Office receipt. However, this is only applicable if you sent the item in person. Look at the bottom of the receipt to locate the number. Besides, confirmation emails from USPS also provide the tracking number. Shipping labels also have this number on the barcode. If you are using Certified Mail, the number will be present on the green form (Form 3800) as a peel-off sticker. 

Instructions to Use the USPS Tracking Tool 

Visit the Official USPS Tracking Tool webpage and enter your tracking number. After entering and clicking the “Track” button, you will see a specific status. Here’s what each status means: 

1. Accepted/Picked Up: USPS is currently possessing the item at one of its facilities. 
2. In Transit to Next Facility: The item is moving through the USPS postal network between different processing centers. 
3. Out for Delivery: The item is present on a delivery truck and should arrive by the end of the day. 
4. Delivered: The postal carrier has scanned and successfully delivered the item to its final destination. 

Users will receive a notification the moment USPS delivers their package. So, they don’t have to constantly refresh the page. However, it is necessary to sign up for text or email alerts for notifications. 

Method 3: Visit or Call Your Local Post Office

It can be unsettling when your Informed Delivery notifications show you that your package has been delivered, but you didn't get it. Digital tracking tools might be great, but talking to an actual postal representative gives you more confidence and better insights. 

In such cases, you can take these steps:

1. Wait until the next tracking update: You can wait for USPS to update the status. Sometimes, instead of in-transit notifications, the postal employees might accidentally mark the package “Delivered.” Hence, waiting for further updates is a good idea.
2. Contact USPS via text: You can text 28777 (2USPS) with your tracking number to access the USPS Text Tracking capability. The reply will tell you your mailpiece's latest update, like the most recent scanned location. Thus, you can ensure your mail hasn't been delivered yet and that a technical error showed you an incorrect status.
3. Call or visit the post office: You can always visit or call the post office to ask for your item's tracking information. Provide the tracking number, name, posting date, etc., and they can update you on the status.
4. Check the delivery address: An incorrect, outdated, or incomplete address might have caused the USPS to deliver your items to someone and somewhere else. So even though you didn't get the mailpieces, they are delivered elsewhere. It is crucial to cross-check the mailing address, call the sender, and take action immediately.

Often, weather conditions, federal holidays, demand surge, etc., cause you to see an incorrect tracking status. Also, your status might remain unchanged for several days. Faulty scanning equipment or power shutdowns might also be why the postal employees do not update your delivery information. You can wait a few days and contact the post office facilities to stay informed.

Certified vs Registered vs First-Class Mail: Best for Tracking Delivery

You can track your items in many ways without using Informed Delivery. There are more reliable options for knowing the delivery details of your sent items (especially high-end packages or documents with sensitive information). They include:

Certified Mail Tracking

Certified Mail is one of the best USPS shipping options for tracked mailing. You can add it to First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, or Priority Mail Express. It does not speed up your deliveries, but the post office prioritizes Certified Mail shipments compared to other items.

You can ensure the postal carrier only hands over the envelope or package to a specific addressee or recipient. Also, you can rest assured that the person collecting your item signs a green card for official record-keeping. You may ask the USPS to mail this Return Receipt to your address for an additional fee.

Here are some Certified Mail delivery options you can select:

1. Adult Signature Required: You can ensure the carrier only drops off the mail item in the presence of an adult 21 years or older. If an adult is unavailable at the mailing location, they return the mailer to the post office and reattempt delivery later.
2. Restricted Delivery: Senders can direct mail delivery to specific people only (or to their authorized agents). The carrier can refrain from handing mail to any other person and reattempt delivery the following business day.
3. Adult Signature Restricted Delivery: Some senders might be unaware of the addressee's age when writing their name and address on the mailpiece. Hence, they can choose this option to ensure that only specific recipients (21 years or older) can receive the mailpieces.

PostGrid Print & Mail solution allows you to select Certified Mail with or without the return receipt. It lets you manage shipping based on your preferences and budget. Click here to know more about Certified Mail!

Registered Mail

According to the USPS, it is the most secure USPS shipping service because the postal facilities protect Registered Mail items with cages, safes, locks, and sealed containers. You can add this solution to First-Class Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Priority Mail. Hence, you can send valuable mailpieces using this method.

Regarding tracking, you can ensure the recipient signs to receive the package or envelope. Like Certified Mail, you can choose to deliver the mail to specific people or their authorized agents only.

However, senders only get the delivery or attempted delivery information when the mailer reaches the destination. You cannot track Registered Mail items on the way to the mailing location.

First-Class Mail

You cannot track First-Class Mail unless you buy an add-on, like Certified or Registered Mail. Thus, many businesses and individuals call it an untracked USPS mailing option. You get all the features, like delivery within one to five business days and low prices. However, you must pay extra to get the delivery status.

Comparison Table: Certified vs Registered vs First-Class Mail

Which Tracking Method is Best for You?

First-Class Mail + Certified Mail

Imagine you want to send an urgent contract to a long-term client. You fixed the agreement over the weekend and want it to go out on Monday. However, you are nervous about the mailpiece reaching some other recipient instead of the concerned person you have been in touch with. In such situations, you can choose First-Class Mail and add Certified Mail.

This combination allows you to get the lowest postage prices, but with a small fee to get the tracking information. Also, you can redirect delivery to the recipient to whom you want to send the mail. It allows you to reach the one person you have been speaking with in an office of 1000+ employees. Easy, right?

Registered Mail

However, what happens if you want to send a valuable item, say of +$1000, to a buyer? You can select Registered Mail instead of Certified Mail to ensure delivery to a specific recipient, while guaranteeing the USPS treats your mailpieces sensitively.

Hence, the correct tracking method for your business depends on what you want to send and to whom. Also, it depends on the distance between the mailing and destination addresses.

💡Also Read: certified mail signature requirements

When it comes to direct mail, people often ask themselves, “Has my mail been delivered yet?” Informed Delivery is a convenient answer to this question. However, it is not ideal for business applications and is best for personal use.

Businesses often send and receive direct mail in bulk. Therefore, it is impractical for businesses to go through the lengthy process for Informed Delivery. Furthermore, they would have to repeat each individual delivery process, which is highly impractical.

PostGrid is a Print & Mail solution that is specifically created for business applications. It allows you to verify addresses in bulk, standardize addresses, and access advanced direct mail insights. Finally, it even lets you automate the entire direct mail process to avoid any unnecessary errors.

So, it makes a lot more sense to use PostGrid for your business’s direct mail needs as it provides well-rounded features and capabilities.

Steps to Track Deliveries With PostGrid’s Dashboard

You can easily use the PostGrid dashboard to see where your mailpieces have reached in the printing and shipping processes. In the image below, you can see that the printing has been completed. You can cancel or change your orders until the printing has not started or is completed.

 Also Read: Best Direct Mail Marketing Companies

People often wonder how to find out if your mail has been delivered. Informed Delivery offers an efficient solution to this issue. However, there are specific criteria for accessing the Informed Delivery feature from USPS.

You may use the Informed Delivery feature from USPS for tracking and even reading your personal inbound direct mail. However, it is not an efficient tool for businesses or when a large number of direct mail is involved.

The best option for direct mail tracking for businesses is to use an automated direct mail system like PostGrid. You optimize all your direct mail processes, including personalization, printing, and Delivery. It also comes with robust tracking and insight capabilities to better streamline your direct mail process.

 Also Read: Is The Mail Delivered On Monday