![]() ![]() Once the direct mail reaches the destined post office, the first 5-digit of the ZIP code becomes practically irrelevant other than cross-checking the address. At this stage, there is no point in bothering with the ZIP 4 code at this point. The first five digits are used at this stage to ensure that the direct mail is sent to the correct post office. In case the post office handles postal services to more than one ZIP code, it will have more ZIP codes assigned to it. Now, here is where the ZIP code comes into the picture for the first time during the travel of your direct mail.Īs mentioned before, the ZIP codes are assigned to post offices all around the country by USPS, and each post office has at least one ZIP code assigned to it. The mail first needs to be forwarded to the appropriate mail carrier, which in this case is the state of New York. For example, consider a direct mail is sent to New York City from Dallas, the carrier that first receives your mail from Dallas needs not to know the exact delivery address of the recipient. The 9-digits full ZIP code works in parts. And the cherry on top for the businesses using the ZIP+4 code is that they can help with getting your business bulk mailing discounts. In Layman’s terms, an address with a ZIP 4 code can be sure to exist and also deliverable. In other words, in order to get the ZIP+4 code of an address, it must first be standardized and validated to exist. This is evident from the one or two-day deliveries made by the USPS.īut perhaps what can be considered the most significant benefit of the ZIP 4 code, especially for businesses, is that the ZIP+4 codes require address validation. It further goes on to boost the delivery speed and accuracy of the USPS mailing significantly. The role of the ZIP 4 code doesn’t end there either. As per the data from USPS, out of a whopping 158 billion mailed items in 2013, only a mere 4.3% of them were marked “Undeliverable as Addressed (UAA).” Had it not been for the ZIP 4 code, this number could have been a lot worse. According to a recent study by the USPS, about 40 million Americans move every year, that is, 40 million address changes every year and potentially 40 million undelivered letters/packages every year.Īlthough 40 million may not be the real number of undelivered mailings, it is safe to say that a large number of mailings may not be delivered or shipped to the wrong address if it wasn’t for the ZIP 4 code. However, that’s not all the ZIP 4 code does. The ZIP 4 code was brought in later to accommodate the growing population. It significantly simplified the way the USPS functioned and streamlined its operations. When it was first launched, the five-digit ZIP code was a revolutionary step for the US postal service. There is no need for carrying out a ZIP 4 lookup for each and every address, all you need is a CSV file, and you can easily get the data you need with a few clicks. What makes it even better is that you are able to do this in a matter of seconds, and it only takes you a few clicks. Hence, businesses must turn to advanced address verification tools like PostGrid that can provide a complete address, including the full 9-digit ZIP codes for your address database. When working on a deadline, speed is vital, and the post reaches the customers even more urgently. When it comes to businesses that send out regular direct mails to their customers, this question is even more crucial because they often work on deadlines. The question now becomes how do I find the full ZIP code to the address I want to send a direct mail to. Therefore, it is always best to provide the full 9-digits ZIP code if you want the letter or package delivered sooner rather than later. The ZIP codes divide the country into different zones enabling the USPS to accelerate their postal sorting and delivery process effectively. ![]() The ZIP code or Zone Improvement Plan was something the USPS came up with to make the postal service easy and quick across the country. Although the post can be sent without the ZIP 4 code, it would be considered slow to move along and can take a while before it reaches the recipient. ![]() Apart from this, most people are unaware of the full 9-digits ZIP code for the direct mails they send out. Many people are often unaware of their ZIP code’s last four digits, and their number is surprisingly high. ![]()
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