A certificate of mailing proves that an item was mailed. It can only be purchased at the time of mailing. It does not provide insurance coverage for loss or damage or provide proof of delivery. Your post office can provide a certificate of mailing for a fee, but no record is kept at the post office.
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Certified mail provides a mailing receipt, and a record of delivery is kept at the recipient's post office.
A return receipt to provide the sender with proof of delivery can also be purchased for an additional fee.
Certified mail service is available only for First-Class Mail or Priority Mail. Certified mail is not available for
international mail. For valuables and irreplaceable items, use insured or registered mail.
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COLLECT ON DELIVERY (COD)
COD service is used when the mailer wants to collect for merchandise and/or postage when it is delivered. COD service can be used for merchandise sent by First-Class Mail, Express Mail, Priority Mail, third-class mail, or fourth-class mail. The merchandise must have been ordered by the addressee.
Fees charged for this service include insurance protection against loss or damage. COD items may also be sent as registered mail. The maximum amount that can be collected for a COD article is $600. Insurance coverage is also limited to $600. (For further details, see Insurance.) This service is not available for international mail.
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You can purchase insurance coverage up to $600 for third-class and fourth-class mail, as well as for third-class and fourth-class matter mailed at the Priority Mail or First-Class Mail rate.
Insurance coverage up to $25,000 can be purchased on our most secure service registered mail.
For articles insured for more than $50, a receipt of delivery is signed by the recipient and filed at the delivery post office. Do not insure your packages for more than their value. The amount of insurance coverage for loss will be the actual value, less depreciation. No payments are made for sentimental losses or for any expenses incurred as a result of the loss. (For information on Express Mail insurance, see Express Mail.)
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Merchandise return service is available to mailers authorized by prior arrangement with us. This service enables the recipient to return a parcel and have the postage paid by the sender. Under this arrangement, the shipper provides a special label with instructions to attach it to the returning parcel. Apply this label to the parcel and deposit it at a post office or in a mailbox. Remember, unless the postage payment is provided by the shipper, you must pay the required postage charges.
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Registered mail is the most secure option offered by the Postal Service. It provides added protection for valuable and important mail. Registered articles are placed under tight security from the point of mailing to the delivery office. Insurance can be purchased on domestic registered mail up to $25,000 at the option of the mailer. Return receipt and restricted delivery services are available for additional fees. Registered mail to Canada is subject to a $1,000 indemnity limit. For all other foreign countries, the indemnity limit is currently $32.35. First-Class or Priority Mail postage is required on domestic registered mail.
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Restricted delivery means that the mail is delivered only to a specific addressee or to someone authorized in writing to receive mail for the addressee. Restricted delivery is available only for registered mail, certified mail, COD mail, and mail insured for more than $50. Restricted delivery mail addressed to officials of government agencies, members of the legislative and judicial branches of federal and state governments, members of the diplomatic corps, minors, and individuals under guardianship can be delivered to an agent without the addressee's written authorization.
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This is the sender's proof of delivery. A return receipt can be purchased for mail sent COD, Express Mail, insured for more than $50, or registered or certified. The return receipt shows who signed for the it em and the date it was delivered. For additional fees, the sender can get the addressee's correct address of delivery or request restricted delivery service.
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RETURN RECEIPT FOR MERCHANDISE
This form of return receipt service provides a mailing receipt, return receipt, and record of delivery. It is available for merchandise sent at the First-Class, Priority Mail, third-class, and fourth-class postage rates.
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You can obtain special delivery service on all classes of mail except Express Mail and bulk third-class mail. This service provides for daily delivery even on Sundays and holidays, as well as delivery beyond normal delivery hours.
Special delivery service is available to all customers served by city carriers and to other customers within a 1 -mile radius of the delivery post office.
The purchase of special delivery does not always mean the article will be delivered by special messenger. Special delivery
may be delivered by your regular carrier if the mail is available before the carrier departs for morning deliveries. Call your post
office about the availability of special delivery service.
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Special handling service is required for parcels whose unusual contents require special care in transit and handling except those sent by First-Class Mail. Examples of such contents include live poultry or bees. Special handling is available for third- and fourth-class mail only, including insured and COD mail. This service provides preferential handling to the extent practical in dispatch and transportation, but does not provide special delivery.
Special handling service is not necessary for sending ordinary parcels even when they contain fragile items. Breakable items will receive adequate protection if they are packed with sufficient cushioning and clearly marked "FRAGILE." Use insured or registered mail for valuable or irreplaceable items.
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You should place all markings for special services above the delivery address and to the right of the return address on all articles. This requirement applies to endorsements for registered, insured, certified, COD, and return receipt for merchandise services, as well as endorsements for special delivery, restricted delivery, and return receipt requested.
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Express Mail, Express Mail Custom Designed Service, Express Mail Next Day Service, First-Class Mail, INTELPOST, the Postal Service logo, Presort First-Class Mail, U.S. Mail, ZIP Code, and ZIP+4 are registered trademarks of the U.S. Postal Service. The stamp designs are the copyrighted property of the U.S. Postal Service and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the Postal Service.
Mailgram is a registered trademark of Western Union Corporation.