Certified vs. Registered Mail
Do you know the difference between Certified and Registered Mail? Knowing the difference can save your department $$$$$.
Certified mail provides you with a receipt at the time of mailing and a record of delivery. Certified is a good choice when you want to prove that you mailed something and that it was received. Items travel as first class mail. When combined with Return Receipt, your return receipt shows the signature of the person who accepted the package.
Cost $3.10 for certified plus $2.55 for the return receipt, plus postage, for a total cost of $5.65 plus first class postage. OR $3.10 for certified plus $1.25 for an email receipt, plus postage, for a total cost of $4.35 plus first class postage.
Registered mail is a highly secure form of delivery that is documented at each step of the way. Registered mail is best for sending documents or items that have an intrinsic value, where security is important. Mail takes approximately one day longer than certified mail to arrive as it has to be accounted for at each step along the way. This mail is kept under lock and key during its journey. Registered mail may be insured for up to $25,000 at your Post Office.
Cost $11.00 for registered handling plus first class postage.
For more information on the extra services the US Postal Service offers, click here.
Postal Savvy
Let's test your knowledge of the U.S. Postal Service. Knowledge of postal services can save your department time, money and aggravation.
1. Registered mail must be sent and rated as which class of mail?
a. First-Class Mail (which includes Priority Mail)
b. Periodicals
c. Standard Mail
d. All of the above
2. Certified mail must be sent as which class of mail?
a. First-Class Mail (which includes Priority Mail)
b. Periodicals
c. Standard Mail
d. All of the above
3. Certified mail may be addressed for delivery to which locations?
a. United States and its Territories and possessions
b. Army/Air Force (APO) and Navy (FPO) post offices
c. United Nations Post Office, New York
d. Canada
e. Mexico
f. only a, b, and c
4. Return receipts may not be purchased with which of the following services?
a. Registered mail
b. Unnumbered insured mail (insured for $50 or less)
c. Collect on delivery (COD) mail
d. Certified mail
e. Business reply mail
f. B and e
Now the answers. How well did you do?
- A. Only matter prepaid with postage at the First-Class rates may be registered.
- A. Only matter prepaid with postage at the First-Class Mail rates may be accepted as certified mail.
- F. Certified mail may be addressed for delivery only in the United States and its territories and possessions, through Army/Air Force (APO) and Navy (FPO) post offices, or through the United Nations Post Office, New York.
- F. Return receipt may be purchased only for mail sent as Express Mail or mail sent with certain other special services (certified, COD, insured for more than $50, or registered). Special services are not permitted with business reply mail.
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