The extra cost and hassle of certified mail aren't worth it for most eCommerce packages. No signature required is a popular delivery option, because it lets people get letters and packages when no ane is home to receive them. Notwithstanding, if yous demand proof that your package or alphabetic character was delivered to the recipient, you can't do meliorate than sending by USPS certified mail.

USPS logo

What is USPS certified mail?

Certified mail service is a service offered past the United States Mail service. A certified item needs a delivery signature; it can't be left in a mailbox or on a doorstep. Certified mail service is only bachelor on first class mail.

USPS lets you get a signature from the person who received the postal service, such as a receptionist. Or you can specify that the addressee must sign for the package or letter of the alphabet. That way, you know the article was delivered to the right person.

You tin check the commitment status of a piece of USPS certified postal service online or past telephone. If you ship a lot of certified mail, you tin can become delivery confirmations through a bulk file transfer.

An add-on service with USPS certified post is a return receipt. You can have a receipt mailed to y'all or sent past e-mail. This service is of import for items such equally legal paperwork where y'all might need to prove that it was delivered on a certain engagement. This service is different from a certificate of mailing.

Which carriers accept certified delivery options?

USPS is the only place to get official certified mail. Nonetheless, both FedEx and UPS offer signature requirements and commitment confirmations that are similar.

Yous can specify signature requirements for FedEx envelopes and packages. You can remember proof of delivery, including a scan of the signature, on your tracking page.

UPS delivery confirmation services will mail service you a commitment receipt. This is closer to certified mail. However, if you demand delivery confirmation for legal reasons, your best pick is withal USPS. Some courts and authorities agencies volition not accept annihilation but certified mail as proof of commitment.

How much does USPS certified post cost?

USPS certified mail costs $3.55, in the improver to the stamp needed to mail service your detail. If y'all want to add a render receipt, that is an additional $2.85 for a postal service receipt or $1.70 for e-mail.

How to send certified mail

USPS certified mail form 3800

You need to go to a post function in person to transport USPS certified mail. At a post function or other mailing centre, y'all tin pick up copies of Form 3800 and attach them to your certified parcels yourself. You may too exist able to print out certified mail labels online. However, if y'all need proof of mailing, you'll need to present it at the counter. A postal worker will postage your mailing receipt as verification of the date you mailed it.

USPS certified mail return receipt

What happens if the recipient doesn't sign for a certified parcel?

The post person can't leave certified mail without a signature. If no one is home to receive it, the postal worker volition exit a note that a delivery endeavor was fabricated.

USPS only makes one delivery attempt. Later on that, the carrier returns the letter of the alphabet or package to the nearest mail part. You lot tin sign the receipt and have someone else pick upwardly the item for you lot unless information technology was sent with restricted commitment. In that case, the person the certified postal service was addressed to must go to the post function and show ID to pick it up. The post part will hold undelivered USPS certified mail for 15 days before returning it to the sender.

FedEx Ground, UPS Ground, USPS Priority Mail shipping line

If you need aid deciding which USPS services are right for your eCommerce business, reach out to your 3PL services company. At Red Stag Fulfillment, function of our services is helping clients sympathize the best eCommerce aircraft options for their order fulfillment.