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It may surprise you to learn that the foundation for today's current postal service was established over two centuries ago. In the last 200 years, a large number of features have been added to conventional mail services. Services such as Certificate of Mailing and Certified Mail offer peace of mind for the sender.
However, not everyone knows the difference between a Certificate of Mailing and Certified Mail. Let's examine the key information you should keep in mind.
What Is a Certificate of Mailing?
A Certificate of Mailing is a receipt that declares the time and date a postal service provider received a piece of mail to be sent. You can obtain it from your local Post Office when you send mail through them.
A Certificate of Mailing is useful for keeping records of the mail you send. It can also be used to provide proof that you sent a respective mail piece. For instance, the recipient may attempt to claim you never sent the mail as a reason why they haven't received it.
Your certificate can easily dispel this belief. Most people prefer to receive a Certificate of Mailing to protect against lost or stolen packages.
Keep in mind, not all United States Postal Service (USPS) services allow you to get a Certificate of Mailing. You can generally do so with the following services:
- First-class mail
- Priority Mail
- Package service
- Parcel Select
USPS doesn't let you insure your mail against loss or damage if you don't have a Certificate of Mailing. This is a preventative measure to avoid fraudulent behavior.
For example, someone could insure their package, neglect to send it, and then claim it was lost in transit. Keep this in mind so you can avoid complications in the future. This will streamline the mailing process.
What Is Certified Mail?
Certified Mail is a USPS service that provides the sender with proof of delivery. This is invaluable information to have for your records. It prevents the recipient from claiming they never received their mail, as the delivery is documented by USPS.
Certified Mail is often used when mailing legal and compliance documents. A common situation is when someone moves out of a rental property and the landlord imposes a fee for damages.
The notice is most often sent via Certified Mail, so the recipient cannot claim they did not receive the letter. It also ensures the mail is delivered to the right location by requiring a signature. Certified Mail requires a signature upon delivery. If a delivery attempt is made and no one is available to sign for the mail, the Postal Carrier cannot legally deliver the mail piece.
In most cases, this is the intended recipient. However, the recipient can appoint someone to sign for the package on their behalf. You can select Return Receipt Electronic when mailing and they will receive a PDF copy of the recipient’s signature once it’s delivered.
If the package is only intended for a specific individual, you can use the "restricted delivery" service. This requires that the specified recipient signs for the package.
You can obtain Certified Mail service for First-Class Mail and Priority Mail. Many people think of Certified Mail as an enhanced or luxury version of conventional mail.
Choosing Between Certificate of Mailing vs Certified Mail
The choice between Certificate of Mailing and Certified Mail depends on your specific needs. However, between the two options, Certified Mail is the better value. Especially, when mail with Certified Mail Labels.
| Certificate of Mailing | Certified Mail | |
| Proof of Acceptance | YES | YES |
| Proof of Mailing | NO | YES |
| Proof of Delivery | NO | YES |
| USPS Tracking | NO | YES |
| Signature or Receipt Provided | NO | YES |
USPS warns that they do not key copies of Certificate of Mailing receipts. So, it is the sender’s responsibility to retain their receipt.
Learn more about Certified Mail Labels 10-year complimentary data archive.
Common Issues to Avoid
One of the most important mistakes to avoid is failing to organize your mailing items. Ensure everything is properly accounted for before you send your mail. You should also thoroughly proofread the addressee's information.
Double-check details like their name, address, apartment number, zip code, etc. Taking this extra step can eliminate a large number of potential issues. You should also avoid overlooking the type of service you need.
If you need comprehensive records for your mail, Certified Mail is the best option. This allows you to track key info about the mail piece you sent throughout the entire mailing process.
Obtaining Certified Mail Labels at Home
Not only is Certified Mail Labels the most cost-effective way of sending Certified Mail, but our easy online platform allows you to skip the trip to the Post Office altogether. Quickly create USPS Certified Mail® labels, Priority Mail labels and Express Mail labels with live USPS Postage. Then, print your USPS Certified Mail label from the comfort of your home or office.
Certified Mail Labels allows you to forego the long lines at the Post Office. This alone saves you a substantial amount of time and $3.15 on postage for each Certified Mail® (form 3800) green card receipt. Senders receive email notifications with Electronic Delivery Confirmations, Return Receipt Signatures, tracking, and access to a complimentary 10-year data archive.
You’ll have constant access to proof of mailing, letter tracking, and delivery confirmation for each of your compliance letters. With no monthly fees, contracts, or specialized software Certified Mail Labels is an affordable and efficient solution to Certified Mail.
Learn more about how the process works why Certified Mail Labels is the industry leader in online Certified Mail. Schedule a demo with our Customer Support Team today.