Re: OT: USPS "informed delivery"

On Tue, 19 Nov 2024 21:57:47 -0700, Don Y
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:

On 11/19/2024 9:18 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:07:51 -0700, Don Y
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
 

I'm trying to figure out the business sense of this.
It obviously costs something to implement.  What is
the expected (long-term?) payback?  Do they expect to
eventually allow people to READ their mail BEFORE it
is delivered?  Simply knowing that <something> is
on its way doesn't really seem to be much in terms
of added value...

 
Informed Delivery
<https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm>
 
Informed Delivery can act as proof of delivery in case the mail or
package is stolen.

>
Can it similarly be used as evidence of process service?

No.  The process server has to identify the recipient and then hand
them the subpoena or whatever.

Unfortunately, the service costs me $216/year.  My rural mailbox is
located at an inconvenient distance from my house because the letter
carrier will not deliver on my marginal owner maintained dirt road
(even though UPS, FedEx and others do deliver).

>
But, is the POBox really any closer?

No.  It's about 1.5 miles away from my house.  (1 mile by winding
mountain road and 0.5 miles on state Hwy 9.  Besides being close, the
advantage for me is that the PO Box is fairly secure.

How does USPS expect The Masses the *want* this?  "Oh, my VISA
bill is on its way!  I can hardly wait!"

I don't know what the USPS expects from the service.  I want it
because it was the only way I could receive a warning that a
potentially important document has arrived in my rural mailbox.  If it
is stolen after delivery, I have proof that something was delivered.

Note that Informed Delivery is described as:
<https://postalpro.usps.com/storages/2017-02/PBSAGuide.pdf>
"The United States Postal Service® offers customers in approximately
6,400 offices throughout the country the option of using a PBSA as an
equivalent of the customer’s traditional P.O. Box-style address."

There are "boxes" that can be rented from non-USPS providers.  You
get an address like:
     John Doe
     <address of facility>
     Suite <box number>
     <city> <state> <ZIP>
>
These have some advantages:
- pricing
- no rule that the owner of the box be disclosed (as with USPS)
- packages accepted (because the sender doesn't know it's a "box")
- *possibly* better hours (though the boxes at our PO are open 24/7)
- if you develop a rapport with the operator, they can accept
  and store perishable items for you
>
They also can give the illusion that you have a "real business" and
not just a "POBox" somewhere.
>
[A friend gave me his business card.  I noticed the address was just
a mile or so from my home and decided to drop in to see him one day.
Surprising to see that it was just one of these retail outlets
renting a (shoebox sized) "suite" to him!

The nearest such mailbox service is 6.9 miles away in Scotts Valley.
The next nearest is about 10 miles away in Santa Cruz (city). 

I appreciate you taking the time to pass judgment on my business
practices.  However, I was under the impression that you asked the
question related to your business activities, not mine.  What I
provided is an example of what you might do with the service.  You
didn't ask about other options, so I didn't provide any.


--
Jeff Liebermann                 jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272      http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann      AE6KS    831-336-2558