SCROLL DOWN for the daily post - and exchange sign-up.
This is mostly for the exchangers - but there might be non-exchanging-readers who send mail and who have had envelopes that accidentally get *delivered* to their own address on the return address label. I had the perfect solution going for quite a while - but because there are aliens lodged in my head, they made me forget about the solution. I had to return to the USPS to get my common sense restored.
Here you go - the *sideways* option - and it is 100% fool proof.
Actually, I have provided this tip previously. It is included in the tab at the top of the blog with a long list of details (rules) about the exchange - but I'm not sure anyone reads it. I direct newcomers to it -- but I don't do any pop quizzes. Quite a bit of the mail seems to go through without problems.
Is it an overstatement to claim that this is a 100% fool proof way to insure the scanners do not read the return address - whether it is a label or hand written? I don't think so. I finally found someone to talk to at the USPS who was super helpful and he guaranteed me that the scanners will not read things that are written sideways on a rectangular envelope. He talked me through all the possibilities and everything he said made sense.
So - here's the new rule -- put your return address sideways. That means perpendicular to the bottom edge.
If you have a circular return rubber stamp - I assume the scanners do not read circular information...although the USPS guy and I did not talk about that. We talked about other things --- which I will cover at a later date. I just wanted to get this important info out there so we can all enjoy the peace of mind it will bring to our frazzled lives.
My new friend at the post office assured me that he would put Liz's envelope back into the system. He was going to cover up the bar code that was on the back. I hope Liz lets me know that it has arrived. If it shows up at my house again --- I'm going to be very disappointed.
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There is another fool proof option -- write the recipients address clearly on the back - so if the scanner sees an address on the back - and uses it - it's the same as the one on the front. This only works for people who are ok with not having their actual return address on the envelope.
I have done this when I feel like the address on the front is hard to read. The reason I do not do it all the time is because I do not enjoy writing long addresses twice.
I hope this helps. Here is an example from Leslie where my address is written on both sides.
