{"id":27753,"date":"2021-05-06T13:50:32","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T13:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/suprefreshprod.wpengine.com\/\/?page_id=27753"},"modified":"2025-09-17T15:25:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T20:25:24","slug":"dealing-with-return-mail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/direct-mail\/dealing-with-return-mail","title":{"rendered":"Dealing with Return Mail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You\u2019ve Got (Return) Mail: Here\u2019s What May Be Happening<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Picture this: You\u2019ve worked with Smartpress to create a direct mail<\/a> campaign. You\u2019ve designed custom mailers<\/a> for online printing and had them sent out to target audiences<\/a> and your distribution lists<\/a>. A few days pass and suddenly you start receiving return mail of your own mailer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what happened? If you\u2019re wondering why you\u2019re getting returned mailers, you\u2019re not alone. On average, about 10% of every mailer is returned. Check out the most common USPS return mail reasons and how to reduce address-related delivery issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to Read and Understand USPS Return Mail Labels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, it\u2019s important to point out that only First Class mail with a return address can be sent back to you. If mail doesn\u2019t have a return address, the post office will simply toss it and you may never even know it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second most important detail is the yellow label that gets placed on the mail piece:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In this example, the label lists Return to Sender, Not Deliverable as Addressed and Unable to Forward on three lines. And in mailing terms, each one of those lines has a specific meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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What \u201cReturn to Sender\u201d Means on a USPS Label<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On any yellow label like the one above, the first line lets you know this piece isn\u2019t intended for you and the possible outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this example, Return to Sender means send the piece to the return address on it, if available. Another example is Return to Postmaster. The postmaster will then decide if it’s possible to find the owner, to return the piece to a mailing agent or dispose of it.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Common USPS Reasons for Why Mail is \u201cNot Deliverable as Addressed\u201d <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The second line on the label will provide the main reason your mail has been returned. There are several possible messages that can appear here, but the post office will list the most relevant. Some common messages are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not Deliverable as Addressed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n