RAVE - New U.S. Postal Service Mail Notification

[Drake3287]

Never thought you'd see a Rave about the Postal Service did you! Just found out about this new service the other day and it's actually a great idea that really works.

It's a new service called "Informed Mail" where they email you everyday with a scanned photo of any mail your going to receive that day. The idea is if your mail gets stolen or delivered to the wrong address, you know what's missing instead of never knowing about it. It's a photo scan of your envelopes, not the mail itself.

I guess when the Post Office computer system sorts the mail it automatically takes a photo of each piece of mail. This in turn is emailed to the customer each morning prior to delivery.

I started last week and it works great. Besides knowing about lost and stolen mail, you can also see what was delivered while your away from home. It's being rolled out right now so it's not available everywhere yet I guess.

Here's a link if it works. https://informeddelivery.usps.com/bo...o/start.action

[kork13]

That's pretty cool, I'll have to remember to sign up when it's available in mid-April. It'll be nice to know if it's worth stopping at my street's multi-box. Between the cold/snow/ice and the short walk up the street (I'm lazy sometimes, I know), I normally only check the mail 1-2x weekly... And it's always disappointing when there's nothing but junk mail.

Separate note, it's shocking how much junk mail we get! As with online banner ads & telemarketers, I'll never understand how the postage costs of direct mail advertising are worth the few sales that may come from it.

[Thrif-t]

OMG would so love this when/if it becomes available in my area

[creditcardfree]

Op, that is great to know! Thanks for sharing. I can see using this service.

Separate note, it's shocking how much junk mail we get! As with online banner ads & telemarketers, I'll never understand how the postage costs of direct mail advertising are worth the few sales that may come from it.

You might like knowing that you can opt out of some junk mail here, and you can opt out of catalogs here for free.

My understanding on 'junk' mail is that the more you send the less it cost per piece to send, probably based on a bulk rate.

[kork13]

You might like knowing that you can opt out of some junk mail here, and you can opt out of catalogs here for free.

That's fantastic, thank you very much! I didn't realize that it was even possible to do that. Hopefully it'll staunch the flow.

[creditcardfree]

That's fantastic, thank you very much! I didn't realize that it was even possible to do that. Hopefully it'll staunch the flow.

It works for us! We still get some, but some days I don't get any mail. Also, you can opt out of credit card offers here.

It does seem like the postal service just delivers paper for me to recycle! Ha, ha.

[MooseBucks]

I just signed up and will post a review.

[Drake3287]

Of course this now takes the surprise out of checking your mail box! I believe they only scan a photo of mail that goes through the letter processing system. Packages, magazines and such are't included yet but they said eventually they will be.

So far it's been 100% accurate for me, most days I get the email around 9:30AM or so. One day it arrived at 1PM.

[saver17]

Of course this now takes the surprise out of checking your mail box! I believe they only scan a photo of mail that goes through the letter processing system. Packages, magazines and such are't included yet but they said eventually they will be.

So far it's been 100% accurate for me, most days I get the email around 9:30AM or so. One day it arrived at 1PM.

I kind of like the surprise factor too and would rather find out when I get home lol

[disneysteve]

I wish I could see what was coming and check off what they could not bother to deliver and just recycle at the post office. I'm sure 95% would get eliminated that way. It is such a huge waste of paper and resources.

[saver17]

It works for us! We still get some, but some days I don't get any mail. Also, you can opt out of credit card offers here.

It does seem like the postal service just delivers paper for me to recycle! Ha, ha.

Those credit card offers saved me from being homeless so I try not to get too upset at those lol

[QuarterMillionMan]

I signed up for the service yesterday and today I got my 1st notification on a condominium I own in Hawaii, good stuff.

[QuarterMillionMan]

For those who like the surprise factor please tell me you are not serious. When ever I walk to my mailbox and nothing is in it I feel like I just wasted time and energy. Now with this notification I know ahead of time whether to get the mail or not.

[PeggyHefferon]

For those who like the surprise factor please tell me you are not serious. When ever I walk to my mailbox and nothing is in it I feel like I just wasted time and energy. Now with this notification I know ahead of time whether to get the mail or not.

Love this point. My particular neighborhood is the end of the carrier's route, and he comes anywhere between 2pm and after 5. So there has been many occasions where I have checked the mail, found nothing, and checked again later and it was there. Not the end of the world, but on days of no mail it is a pain in the rear because unless you see him come through you don't know if it is a no mail day or he still hasn't arrived.

This service will at least notify me the days I am getting mail (letter size), so less of a guessing game.

[Drake3287]

Now I'm just jealous of QuarterMillionMan's Hawaii condo! Have thought about doing the same thing many times.