Hi everyone,
Like many of you, I always try to use actual stamps as postage when mailing out philatelic orders. Buyers appreciate receiving a nicely franked cover, and it's a great way to utilize discount postage.
However, the biggest headache has always been the tracking. Upgrading a small order to a $5+ Ground Advantage package just to get a USPS tracking number completely ruins the margins.
To get around this, I've been using the USPS Informed Visibility service by printing the Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) directly onto my envelopes alongside the physical stamps.
For those who haven't used it, this tracking is strictly for the seller—there is no public link to send to the buyer. But what it does is practically take the envelope out of human hands. The barcode routes it automatically through the high-speed sorting machines directly to the destination point. While it doesn't necessarily deliver the item faster than usual, it certainly doesn't take any longer.
The biggest hidden benefit I've found is the loss protection. Because the IMb stores my specific seller account info, any return-to-sender or undeliverable mail gets automatically routed back to me the exact same automated way, without a postal clerk ever needing to manually read my return address or get involved.
I was curious how many other sellers here are utilizing this for their standard envelope orders?
Replies: 0 / Views: 76
Posted Yesterday 6:31 pm
