Adding Tracking to First Class Mail in US

Joe Picard · February 2023

Most US sellers who sell on 'the little e site' are aware that there is an option for shipping stamps in a normal first class letter with a tracking number (albeit with some limitations). It is nice though to be able to provide the tracking number which is crucial for both seller and buyer protection. I've seen others lament the fact that Hipstamp doesn't offer such an option. I'm here to report that I've found a solution called Letter Track.

https://www.letter-track.com/registerap.asp?AFID=7104

For as little as $0.18 this system generates a shipping label with an embedded tracking number just like the one on the other site. It also sends e-mails when the letter is scanned during its trip.

I've just started using it and it seems to work pretty well.

Joe

Robert Maddox · February 2023

Good call Joe. I have been using Letter Track for awhile.

Note that Letter Track actually doesn't provide a tracking number. The website is useful and allows you to print out a label with a bar code that contains encoded information read by the USPS Informed Visibility(IV) System. This tells you when the letter hits your local distribution center, the destination distribution center and the destination local PO(when the letter goes out for delivery). So this is close to tracking but not exactly the same. You can't offer up a tracking number to a customer/and or really research a letter if it goes missing. What it does let you know is if the letter makes it through the system to the local PO... and if it goes missing then... well let the speculation begin.

Obviously it is a much cheaper option and I use it for orders over $50. Once an order gets over $100 I tend to use true tracking which requires package rather than letter rates. A difference of around $4.

I have found Letter Track support to be timely and helpful. The service is useful once you understand the limitations.

Bob

Henry Brooks · February 2023

Reading the home page it tracks up until arrival at the destination post office and marks it "out for delivery". There is no verification of actual delivery.

Not sure they did their homework either - they suggest using it on bubble mailers. Anything in a bubble mailer is required to go first class parcel which comes with free USPS tracking as standard - no extra charge.

Just an opinion but I doubt that either Paypal or your insurance company will accept "out for delivery" as proof of delivery. Comments appreciated

Joe Picard · February 2023

Agree with both comments so far. This tracking does not provide proof of delivery, but rather proof of mailing.

As for the bubble mailers, they do not always have to be sent as a more expensive first class package (with full tracking included). This depends on the thickness of your bubble mailer. Once packed, if your bubble mailer is 3/4 of an inch thick or less, it’s considered an envelope. If your bubble mailer is over 3/4 of an inch thick, it’s considered a package.

Joe

Joe Picard · February 2023

@Robert Maddox I'm interested in your experience with Letter track. The system on 'the other site' also uses IVMT but it actually shows a delivery as well. For example, here is the track of a recent envelope I sent over there.

Feb 6, 2023 12:07pm Delivered 07109

Feb 6, 2023 2:03am Out for Delivery KEARNY, NJ 07099

Feb 5, 2023 11:19pm Out for Delivery KEARNY, NJ 07099

Feb 5, 2023 3:04pm Destination processing KEARNY, NJ 07099

Feb 1, 2023 11:31pm Origin Processing ORLANDO, FL 32862

Feb 1, 2023 11:24pm Origin Processing ORLANDO, FL 32862

Feb 1, 2023 11:21pm Origin Processing ORLANDO, FL 32862

Feb 1, 2023 10:15pm In Transit ORLANDO, FL 32862

Feb 1, 2023 9:30pm In Transit ORLANDO, FL 32862

I've just started using Letter track so I don't have a set of full scans from a delivered package yet. If letter track provides less tracking, I wonder what 'the little e site' is doing to get so much more information out of their IVMT codes.

Joe

Robert Maddox · February 2023

Joe

I don't use that other site anymore so I can't speak to what kind of deal they have struck with the USPS. Appears to be some kind of hybrid between IV and actual tracking but I could be wrong on that.

What I have learned about IV is that you can set up a business account with the USPS that will allow you to generate the barcodes for your mailings yourself. I thought my time could be better spent elsewhere and Letter Track provides a simple interface to print the labels(I use the Avery 1.3 x 4 inch style... I still haven't figured out how to do batch printing so I do them one at a time when needed), store the customer addresses and receive the email updates. Thought that was worth the 18 cent per label pricing. Plus as I said before, the support is very responsive(e.g. I have fat fingered the printing and was able to get credits for my mistakes).

I have sent about 130 envelopes this way and have only lost one.... for awhile anyway... It eventually showed up. USPS is becoming less reliable IMHO. Again I use this service for the "in between" value envelopes.... and that of course depends on your risk tolerance and learned experience in terms of material getting lost in the system. Note that I generally self insure and I only deal in the US.

It is not perfect but it does provide an ability to see how long an envelope takes to get through the postal system. This in itself is kind of eye opening and allows you to provide some limited info to your customers as well as yourself. If something gets lost from the local PO to the customer door then you have to make a judgement as to how that might have happened. The vast majority of philatelists seem to be responsible adults so probably in that case the item was truly lost. If it happens more than once then there might be a different issue at hand.

That is pretty much what I know.

Bob

Henry Brooks · February 2023

Joe,
If you use the USPS site to figure postage and click through for the results using "envelope" - if you scroll to the bottom and find "first class envelope" it states that maximum thickness is 1/4 of an inch. At the post office they use the USPS go - nogo slotted gauge. The bubble envelopes I use measure 0.27 without compression when empty. The post office says that makes it one of the $4.00 += "parcels"- anything that doesn't make it through the 3/4 inch slot (or weighs over 13 ounces) is a "package".

Would love to prove them wrong but it happens so seldom it seems hardly worth the effort - I am at that age/health where it's best to avoid confrontation, mostly (yes, there are exceptions).

Bill O'Malley · February 2023

Henry,

Yes First class envelopes can only be 1/4 inch thick. If you do not follow that the Post Office will charge your customer postage due or they will send it back with postage due.

Joe Picard · February 2023

As a follow up. The Letter Track system does in fact provide proof of delivery. I've now used it on 2 first class letters and both show a delivery at the mailbox. Here is the track it provided me (and the buyer) for one of my shipments from Florida to California:
2/10/2023 7:30:59 PM Scanned at USPS Sort Facility Orlando FL
2/11/2023 8:06:29 PM In-Transit to Destination Post Office
2/15/2023 6:31:28 AM Scanned at USPS Sort Facility Santa Ana CA
2/15/2023 2:17:04 PM Scanned at Destination Post Office Pomona CA
2/16/2023 9:26:23 AM Delivered in Mailbox Pomona CA

So this does provide a tracking method for first class letters.

Joe

Robert Maddox · February 2023

Joe

Thanks for the heads up. I have sent nearly 150 envelopes using this service. Only the last 2 have indicated "Delivered in Mailbox". I got the following response from Letter Track Support...

"Yes, since the USPS has now geo-fenced most of the mailboxes in the US and has also equipped their mail carriers with geo-enabled devices, the final tracking event for most envelopes will be Delivered in Mailbox."

So this is very good news indeed.

Bob