In our predominantly digital lives, it’s understandable that in-person visits to the post office are uncommon.
But on the rare occasion when you do need to pop by the post office, the friendly clerk often asks, “How do you want to send that...first-class mail?”
Awkward silence. The clerk looks impatient.
Hmmm…is there an advantage to first-class mail? Is it worth it?
The USPS offers six mail classes with varying postage, delivery times, and price points.
First-class is the meat and potatoes when sending light envelopes and small packages.
And since it’s economical for basic day-to-day snail mail correspondence, it’s understandably popular with entrepreneurs and growing businesses to meet basic postal needs.
In terms of expediency, in many cases across the country, first-class mail arrives at its destination in one to three business days. Not too shabby.
There are, however, some frequent exceptions…
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Far Flung – With first-class mail, USPS does their best to stay under three days but doesn’t guarantee delivery times, especially if the mail has to voyage to a distant ZIP code.
- If you’re sending urgent letters or documents to a faraway destination, consider upgrading to priority mail or priority mail express. These have a faster turnaround.
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Feeling Under the Weather – Hat’s off to the USPS for doing their level best through all types of weather, but sometimes it’s too extreme. First-class mail delays often occur when weather is severe, which these days are more frequent and unpredictable.
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Peak Experiences – Delays are common during holidays, so leave a generous time cushion if you send things out in November or December.
- Also, remember that USPS doesn’t deliver mail on federal holidays, so first-class and other correspondence can take longer than planned. Watch your calendar carefully. Think ahead.
You can.
Tracking is one way to get peace of mind, and USPS tracking is available online or in person at the post office.
- If you’re mailing first-class from the post office, tracking is enabled when you pay for postage. Make sure to ask for your receipt with your tracking info.
- You can also create an online USPS account to generate labels and receipts and track your package through the USPS app.
When we contemplate the role that sending and receiving mail plays in our lives, it’s hard to deny that snail mail is still necessary.
It was the Pony Express back in the day, but today, a virtual mailbox is practicality redefined. It allows you to receive packages and letters on your time, no matter where you are in the world.
And with Anytime Mailbox, getting started is easy:
- Select a real street address from over 2,028 locations in the U.S. or abroad from our website.
- Pick the plan that works for you. Plans start at around $6.99, and it’s like having a virtual assistant for your mail.
- Complete and submit a notarized Form 1583. You can’t skip this step as USPS requires it. Don’t worry, this will take only minutes. Watch our video guide HERE.
Once your account is approved, your mail will be delivered to your selected staffed location, and you can start managing via your phone or computer. You’ll receive notifications every time a mail item or package arrives, and you can request open & scan, forward, shred, or recycle with just a couple of swipes on your phone.
In mail, as in life, being adaptable and efficient is always a first-class approach.
To learn why snail mail is still necessary and efficiently managed with a virtual mailbox, click here.
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