Re: OT: USPS "informed delivery"

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?

 I've been told (and have not confirmed) that the
USPS photographs and archives everything that is "interesting" which
is delivered to a mailbox.  Because they already do most of the work,
the added cost of giving customers access to the information is very
small.

I think most mail is photographed as part of the address scanning
and routing process.  Humans don't do the sorting.

I've been using Informed Delivery for the rural mailbox for mail
addressed to my physical home address since the service was announced.
For everything else, including packages, I use my PO Box address.
 Guide to Post Office Box Street Addresses (PBSA)
<https://postalpro.usps.com/PBSA>
<https://postalpro.usps.com/storages/2017-02/PBSAGuide.pdf>
 Street Addressing Service for Your P.O. Box
<https://postalpro.usps.com/node/2728>
<https://postalpro.usps.com/storages/2016-12/2728_PBSACustomerAgreement.pdf>
 Mail theft was a big problem for me until I began renting a PO Box.

Yes, we don't have anything sent to the house.  And, many transactions
are done via ecommerce so there is no real "paper" involved.

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?

I thought I could survive without the rural mailbox and use my PO Box
for everything, but that didn't work.  There are some companies
(Amazon) and government agencies who refuse to deliver to a PO Box.
When something important is delivered to my rural mailbox, I am
notified via Informed Delivery.

OK, that makes sense.  But, I would see that as a special case.
How does USPS expect The Masses the *want* this?  "Oh, my VISA
bill is on its way!  I can hardly wait!"

I then rush to the rural mailbox
before the thieves arrive.  Otherwise, I wouldn't know anything had
arrived until I eventually clean out the accumulated junk mail.

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!