In the world of television and film production, life is anything but predictable. As a freelance crew member, your days are long, locations change like the weather, and 'home' is a concept rather than a place. Amid this whirlwind lifestyle, keeping track of something as mundane as your mailbox can be a challenge. Enter USPS Informed Delivery – a game-changer for those of us who make a living behind the scenes.

What is USPS Informed Delivery?

USPS Informed Delivery is a free service that provides a digital preview of your mail. Sign up, and you'll start receiving daily email notifications with grayscale images of the front of your letter-sized mail, along with tracking information for packages. It's like having a personal assistant who checks your mail for you.

Imagine you're on a remote shoot in the mountains, and you're expecting a check in the mail for your last gig. With Informed Delivery, you can see that it's arrived, giving you the chance to alert someone back home to look out for it. Or, consider being out of town for weeks, and a package you weren't expecting shows up. Now, you can arrange for a neighbor to pick it up, rather than leaving it at the mercy of porch pirates.

The Benefits

Mail Preview

The Mail Preview feature of USPS Informed Delivery provides users with a digital snapshot of the exterior, address side of their incoming letter-sized mailpieces. This is done via grayscale images that are sent to the user's registered email address or can be viewed on the USPS website or mobile app. This digital glimpse into your mailbox is typically available early in the morning, offering a preview of what's expected to be delivered that day.

Package Tracking

Users can also track the status of their incoming packages, offering peace of mind and the ability to plan for the arrival of important shipments without the constant need to hunt for the tracking info from the vendor in an email. Knowing what's coming in the mail can help you prioritize your tasks and manage your time more effectively.

Convenience

It offers the convenience of checking your mail even when you're not at home. This can be especially useful when you're told "the check is in the mail". For freelancers, the Mail Preview feature is a significant advantage. It enables users to anticipate the arrival of important items, preparing you to take immediate action upon receipt, whether it's paying a bill, receiving a check, responding to an official letter, or simply connecting with a loved one.

Delivery Notifications

The service sends daily notifications to your email, providing a regular update on what's coming to your mailbox. This feature is particularly useful for staying on top of important correspondence. In addition to daily images of your mail, you also get advance notice of what to expect later in the week as it becomes available.

Increased Security

By knowing what to expect in your mailbox, you can quickly identify if something is missing or potentially tampered with. In cases of mail theft or loss, having a digital image of the mail provides a reference point for reporting and resolving such issues.

Accuracy

We had low expectations when we first tested this out. I mean, very few government entities are leaders in technological innovations for consumers. We've tracked the accuracy over a 2-week period and have found that it is remarkably accurate where it needs to be. If you're looking for scanned copies of your local Costco sale items, look elsewhere. Informed Delivery does not seem to include most mass mailings, better known to most as junk mail. Over a two-week period, there was only one real letter was wrong. In this scenario, it was actually delivered but a day earlier than was was listed in the daily summary that's emailed directly to us. Otherwise, it was spot on with letters.

With packages, it was slightly different. There were several inbound packages that we did not know had been shipped until we caught them in USPS Informed Delivery. Additionally, there were two packages that were delivered by USPS but were not in the Informed Delivery daily digest. It's worth noting, though, that these packages were originated by UPS SurePost and DHL, respectively. The collaboration amongst delivery services has somewhat blurred the line between providers once Amazon entered the mainstream delivery industry, so that is something to be aware of. The fact is simply that the Postal Service both competes and collaborates with the private sector. UPS and FedEx pay the Postal Service to deliver millions of their ground packages, and the Postal Service pays UPS and FedEx for air transportation.

The Downsides

It's not all perfect – the service doesn't cover larger packages or show the inside content of the mail, and there are valid concerns about digital privacy. But for someone whose office location changes more often than their socks, it's a minor trade-off for convenience and peace of mind.

Limited Mail Preview

The service only provides images of the exterior, address side of letter-sized mailpieces. It does not include images of the contents or larger packages and magazines, which can be a limitation for users expecting a complete preview of all their mail.

Privacy Concerns

Some users may have concerns about the digital handling and viewing of their mail, which could raise privacy issues. The idea of mail images being accessible online might be uncomfortable for some.

Accuracy and Reliability

At times, there may be discrepancies in the mail preview versus what is actually delivered. This can happen due to operational errors or technical issues, leading to confusion or missed expectations.

Security Risks

While it can increase security by alerting users to expected mail, it could also potentially be exploited. It can also allow thieves to sign up for the service and track valuable mail coming to your house –unless you first enroll in the program that effectively blocks others from creating an account in your name.

One additional feature that USPS has been able to incorporate is a digital advertisement to go along with a physical piece of mail. It stuck out to me as a creative strategy for them to sustain a financial future without raising the prices to consumers or rely on a divisive Congress to rescue them. For example, if we have some promo mail coming from Hello Fresh with an offer we may also receive a full-color ad at the top of the daily digest with a link that I can click to claim or share the offer rather than following the instructions on the physical mail. While we don't all like to be targeted by advertisers, nothing in life is free and I find this to be a mutually beneficial feature to keep the service operational and free of charge to the end consumers.

Signing up is straightforward. Visit the USPS website, create an account, and follow the instructions. Pro tip: Set your preferences to receive notifications at a time that works best with your unpredictable schedule.

For freelancers in the film industry, staying on top of your mail can be as critical as nailing that perfect shot. USPS Informed Delivery bridges the gap between our nomadic work life and the stationary world of snail mail. It's worth giving a shot – after all, in our business, staying informed is half the battle.

Sample advertisement inside a usps informed delivery email