Have you ever thought the USPS was flagging your yellow letters to be returned?

Question

I've had a ton of returned letters lately.  I check the address on the county website for the property and the envelope has the address correct.

I know it's possible they moved, but it sure looks like a LOT of people have moved!

Am I just being paranoid or does the USPS ever tag you as a mass mailer and just return to sender?

....I'm using first class stamps.

Jason Farmer · Answer

@Dan Costantino

dont let this thread take you away from the original point @Michael Quarles said it perfectly, NCOA is all you need, you will still get mail returned but it will be alot lower in %.....

NCAO isnt that cheap, but its worth it, i 3 different levels of address verification software....And i dont get many returns..Its expensive,but its worrth it...It suggest a compnay named melissa data ( dont work for them, nor have i ever mentioned them) but they have a product called listware that intergrates with Excell...Its pricey but again it will get your mail to the correct place. There are few good compays also like peachtree data, but you can get really into it and run Deceased searches see if the owner is till alive, you can get deeper and do PCOA - Proprietary Change of Address. Which can go futher than NCOA......All these are great servies to use to get your mail more deliverable....Again this stuff can cost but its worth it. I use all of it....County records are usually very old and really out of date. Nothing is 100% but it can get you some where around the 90-95% range..

Michael Quarles · Answer

@Dan Costantino

First the post Office isn't that coordinated. That would take intelligence that far exceeds and outreaches their ability.

And @Joe Gore you have some great post and good insight however this post isn't one of them... It absolutely doesn't matter where you send them from. They all go to a processing center and are dispersed from there.

Here are two of the components that mater.

1) can their readers read the address... The Post Office has great automation however it is limited by what and how and where we write. If you want the best chance of being read by their scanners then put the last line of the address 5/8 of an inch from the right and 1/2 inch from the bottom.

2) Dont use or current or the like on a yellow letter. Instead run the list through the NCOA system and grab the forwarding addresses. That said you are still going to have a 6% failure rate. Just know that and be happy we still have a 94% quality system.  It could be worse we could have to send via FedEx at $21.00 a mail piece..

Bonas... Bitch to your local Post Office if you get returns after running thru the NCOA.... It wont help on you last mailing but it will on your next as at times the Postal Carriers are so backed up that they let mail sit or throw it away and telling the local PostMaster of your issues will go a long way.

Rick H. · Answer

Joe is not completely incorrect, by any means. It IS possible to split a mail drop between different regional postal processing centers.

For example, my local post office is Chino Hills 91709, which is served by City of Industry center (Los Angeles county). I get my mail in Brea, which is served by Anaheim (Hills) center, although Corona is just down the freeway a bit.

My point: if you really care to test, it is most certainly possible. I loved my Brea post office staff however my printer does my monthly attorney newsletter drop (about 8,000 pieces) in at Corona, via pre-sort first. It's interesting to see how long it takes them to deliver some pieces.

With consumer pieces I value nixies much more than delivered mail. Tells me that most people are not reaching the target, so I get to go to Level 2 Marketing (desk skip trace).

Account Closed · Answer

You might consider putting a few in different drop box and not all in one box.

Joe Gore

Dan Costantino · Answer

@Michael Quarles I've not heard of using a NCOA system before.  I'll research that.  Thank you for your help!!!

Account Closed · Answer

@Michael Q.,

You might be right on this one, but the postal service could get up to 96% quality system if they get rid of the union and get someone in there that want to work.

Joe Gore

Ben Daniel · Answer

were most marked "refused", "addressee not known", "insufficient postage", "forwarding expired", or what? There's more than one reason for a letter to be returned. You can always take a handful and ask your friendly local postal worker (well, they're friendly in my town, anyway, but it's a small town) and they'll tell probably be able to tell you right away what's going on.

Chris K. · Answer

I was definitely surprised at the number of my letters that were returned. Next time I mail them I'm going to put "Or Current Resident" under the owners name that way they should leave it there either way.

Have you ever thought the USPS was flagging your yellow letters to be returned?

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