Postal code after - question

[kb 24]

I placed an order on Beckett and on the invoice the shipping address misses the last number of the postal code with -. The address on my account I used is correct so I sent the full number but not sure if the seller received the correct number after seeing the invoice.

Let's say postal code is 12345-6789, so it's missing the 9 on the invoice. I need to worry and try all to contact the seller or it's a system issue and it's all good or the number after the - doesn't affect that much?

[shrevecity]

That +4 number is rarely used for shipping purposes. If everything else is correct it will not affect anything.

[dictoresno]

the last 4 digits show the specific delivery route within the first 5 digit zip code area. the important part is the 5 digits, as when the scanners read the addresses, its the first thing they use to sort the mail to its destination post office which is the important part. the other 4 really dont have any outcome really and probably only have true meaning to the destination post offices carriers. from what ive read, these 4 digit postal route digits can change often depending on the routes the destination office changes or even manpower issues within the office and how that effects their routes.

tl;dr - dont sweat it. as long as the first 5 are correct, it will deliver.

[frenchquarter]

Actually, the last 4 digits identifies the block and the side of the street that you are on. For instance, my zip & 4 is 53805-1728. There are 5 houses on my side of my block and all of them have the 1728 identifier. The 5 houses on the other side of my block all use 53805-1729. Yes, this 9 digit number does send the letter to the correct route.

When you look at a letter, you will see a black intelligent mail barcode sprayed on the bottom of the letter and that is the same barcode that is generated when you print the Standard Mailing shipping label on eBay. If you look on the back side of the letter you will see a pink barcode. That is the barcode that contains more details that actually sorts the letter into deliver order for the carrier so he/she doesn't have to sort it manually.

After spending some time looking at my results on eBay, I think I may have an answer for some of the instances where there isn't tracking on your Standard Envelope. If you drop your letter in the blue box that letter will not be handled manually and when it goes through the system it will receive the scans. If you hand your letter to the clerk inside the PO, that clerk may be putting your letter in with the non-machinable letters, and they do not go through the machines, so there won't be tracking info on them.

So, unless it is really non-machinable, make sure that it is going through the regular letter mail system. Just drop the letters in the blue box or in the letter mail slot in the PO. I noticed that with the clerks in my local PO. One of the clerks just put my letters in with the outgoing mail, but another clerk would date stamp them and put them in the non-machinable bin.

It may be worth a try. :)