Now Available! Send Registered Mail Through LetterStream

We’re excited to announce that sending Registered Mail online is now available in your online portal. If you’re a company or someone who is required to send letters internationally with tracking then this product is definitely for you. We’ll dive into what Registered Mail is, the reality of sending letters this way, alternative options and how to access this feature in your account. Let’s dive in!

What is Registered Mail?

If you’re not sure what Registered Mail is here’s a quick overview:

USPS Registered Mail is basically like sending Certified Mail except it’s to international locations. You are supposed to get proof of mailing, a unique tracking code, proof of delivery and a signature confirmation upon delivery.

Now, here’s the thing, it is technically considered to be a more secure process than Certified Mail tracking is. With Registered Mail tracking the sender can potentially get more progress updates than one would if sending a Certified letter. Tracking Registered Mail is considered to be a more in-depth process. A Registered letter can be tracked from the beginning, starting with the person at the USPS Post Office, then to each location it arrives at and when, to its delivery status, delivery confirmation and recipient signature.

Sending A Registered Letter Isn’t For Everyone

With that being said, we want to be completely up-front and transparent about this new product offering. We go more in-depth about it on our blog post here, but the reality behind sending Registered Mail is that it actually isn’t as secure as the USPS claims it to be especially when sending to international addresses. After our part is done it gets sent to the Post Office and then shipped out from there. Once the letter lands in the destination country, a new courier is responsible for delivery. Because of that they may or may not follow the proper protocols and that is beyond our control.

Something else to keep in mind, the delivery timeframe can take a very long time, the cost is a lot higher (more on those later) and a signature confirmation is also NOT guaranteed.

Again, we’re only stating all of this because we want to make sure you’re aware of what to expect when sending your letters this way.

Ok, now let’s get more into the details of sending a registered letter.

The Pink Slip

Registered Mail pink slip on an envelope of an international letter

If you’ve never heard of a pink slip in the mailing world than let us explain. A Registered letter pink slip is the equivalent of a Certified Mail green card (which is also known as a Return Receipt or an Electronic Return Receipt). The pink slip is placed on the back side of a mailing envelope. It covers the envelope flap to help secure the mailing. The Post Office will also stamp on and around both the pink slip and the envelope flap so that the sender and receiver can see if either has been tampered with. Again, this is not guaranteed but it is essentially what is supposed to take place.

Registered Mail Cost

Let’s briefly talk about price. It’s important to know that the cost of sending a Registered letter is on the higher end, especially compared to sending regular mail. Since Registered Mail is sent internationally, the location changes the cost of sending it. When sending through LetterStream, the price for sending Registered Mail starts at $30 and goes up from there. Not so great, we know.

Delivery Time

Ok, here’s the other not-so-great part. Sending a Registered letter can take a while to get to its destination. Again, this all depends on the location the letter is being sent to but it’s important to note that it can take a long time for a letter to arrive. How long you ask? It can take, on average, 15 days (about 2 weeks) to be delivered but it can also take anywhere from 6-8 weeks (about 2 months). And yes, you did, in fact, read that correctly.

If you have to send a letter internationally then Registered Mail is for you. However, if you’re looking to send a secure letter within the US then USPS Certified Mail is absolutely the way to go.

Access Registered Mail in Your LetterStream Account

To send a Registered letter online through LetterStream, simply login to your online portal (if you’re new you can create a free account here) and click on ”Send Letters.”

On the right-hand side there will be a section called “I would like my mailing sent” and below that you can choose to send your letter as Registered Mail. You can then go through the process of uploading a job to the website and proofing it. From there we handle the rest, including the printing, stuffing and mailing. After your letter is sent you can go back into your account and track the process of it. Keep in mind, that only 15 sheets of paper can be sent in each Registered envelope.

Although Registered Mail is the most obvious choice when you’re required to send mail internationally with tracking, it is important to remember that the process can be more promising than it seems. Unfortunately, tracking, signature confirmation, and delivery are not actually guaranteed. Sometimes the tracking is behind or it doesn’t actually track throughout the entire process. Sometimes you may not actually receive a signature confirmation and like we mentioned above, sometimes it can take a really, really long time to arrive at its destination.

With that said, we don’t recommend using Registered Mail unless it’s an absolute must and, in that case, we’re happy to offer this product to you.

To learn more about Registered Mail click here and to learn more about Certified Mail service with USPS tracking click here.

Everything You Need to Know About Registered Mail vs Certified Mail

We’re excited to announce that we recently launched the option to send Registered Mail from your online LetterStream account. Now we want to be upfront and clear with you when it comes to sending Registered Mail. This product is not for everyone. In fact, it’s not for most people but it is an option to use if you are required to send letters internationally and with tracking included. If that’s not something you need but you want to track your letters, that’s where Certified Mail comes into play and is a much better and cheaper option. Ok, now that we gave you that quick overview, let’s dive a little deeper into each one to compare USPS Registered Mail vs Certified Mail so you can make a more educated decision for yourself.

Registered Mail vs Certified Mail

Basically, what we just said was that when it comes to mailing important documents, there are two options to securing your mailings using tracking and confirmation of delivery. These options include the United States Postal Service Certified Mail and USPS Registered Mail.

However, there are very key differences between Certified vs Registered Mail and we’re here to help you choose the best fit for your specific needs.

Ok, let’s start with the basics. What is Registered Mail vs what is Certified Mail?

What is Registered Mail?

According to the United States Postal Service, USPS Registered Mail is “the most secure mail service” that they offer. It offers the highest level of security, tracking, and accountability for valuable and sensitive items or information that has to make it to a specific place. You can also send Registered Mail internationally.

Registered Mail tracking is supposed to happen at every stage of the process, providing a secure chain from sender to recipient. It’s supposed to include when it goes from person to person at the post office, to tracking when it is sent off to its destination. It is then tracked when it arrives at the next post office location and then its arrival at the required destination.

The Reality of Sending Registered Mail

Because we like to be transparent with our customers and about our product offerings, it’s important for us to tell you some of the realities about sending a letter as Registered Mail.

LetterStream does not send Registered Mail domestically (within the US) and that’s where Certified Mail comes into play, but more on that later. We currently only send to international addresses.

Like we mentioned above, Registered Mail tracking is included but it’s really important to know that updated and accurate tracking details are NOT guaranteed. It’s a bummer and we wish it were different but unfortunately, once the letter lands in the destination country, a new courier is responsible for delivery. Because of that they may or may not follow the proper protocols and that is beyond our control. This can also cause a delay in the timeframe of which the letter can believed. And it can sometimes take a really long time…like weeks. Unfortunately, there is one other catch, the signature confirmation is also NOT guaranteed, which is very important to be aware of. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news here but it’s just the reality.

What is Certified Mail?

Ok so let’s talk about Certified Mail, a product that is a bit more promising for customers.

USPS Certified Mail is a service offered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that provides a higher level of assurance over First-Class Mail for senders.

Certified Mail offers a mailing receipt that provides proof that the item was mailed, along with verification upon delivery. With Certified Mail you also have the option to add on a Return Receipt, also known as a green card, or an Electronic Return Receipt (ERR), which is where you get a returned signature confirmation sent to you electronically.

Certified Mail is sent only within the US but it is way more reliable than Registered Mail. That’s not to say Certified Mail is a perfect service either when it comes to the USPS delivery of it. We can guarantee your bulk mailings will go out perfectly but once it goes to the post office that part is out of our hands. Sometimes the letters may take a little longer to be delivered than what was anticipated but overall Certified Mail is a reliable service to use.

Understanding the distinction between Registered Mail and Certified Mail is crucial for effective mail handling. At first glance it may seem like Registered Mail and Certified Mail are essentially the same and to be honest you’re not fully wrong.

Security Levels

Registered Mail is supposed to be like having an armored transport for your mail. provides maximum security, making it ideal for highly sensitive or valuable documents. While going through the postal service in the US, Registered Mail pieces are not left unattended and for added security, they are stamped with a seal to showcase that the letter has not been tampered with. Again, once it leaves the country and ends up in another, the guarantee of security is no longer there.

On the other hand, Certified Mail offers a standard level of security, suitable for important but less sensitive materials. The process documents when it is mailed and then delivered. For an added fee you can get a signature confirmation in the form of a Return Receipt or Electronic Return Receipt.

Proof of Mailing and Delivery

Like we just mentioned, Certified Mail offers a simple receipt as proof of mailing and delivery confirmation along with an electronic signature confirmation for an add-on. Registered Mail, can take it up a notch with step-by-step documentation that includes postal workers’ signatures throughout and then also a return receipt that includes the recipient’s signature, providing concrete proof of delivery. Just again a reminder, this is not guaranteed.

Tracking Abilities

While both services offer tracking, Registered Mail is supposed to provide more detailed tracking information. Certified Mail tracking technically is not as in-depth (although with the reality of Registered Mail, it actually can be), but we do have an in-depth explanation of it on our blog, here.

Here’s something fun to keep in mind. If you use our website to send letters then you can get Certfied Mail tracking and Registered Mail tracking updates instantly in your online portal whenever updates are made without ever having to type in the tracking number. Pretty cool isn’t it?

Cost of Registered Mail vs Certified Mail

To put it simply, the cost to send Registered Mail is more expensive than Certified Mail, especially when the international fees are included. Again, because we like transparency, sending a Registered letter through us starts at $30 a letter and can go up from there.

Certified Mail, is a more standard service and is definitely more affordable. Our prices start at $7.34 each.

Timeframe of Delivery

Certified Mail is typically faster than Registered Mail. Certified Mail takes about the same amount of time as First-Class Mail to be delivered, which on average is about four days. Now keep in mind, that that could change. Read more about that here.

Registered Mail, however, can take about 15 days to be delivered and sometimes it can take anywhere from 6-8 weeks depending on where it is going.

To Sum It Up

All-in-all, when choosing between Registered Mail vs. Certified Mail, it really all comes down to your needs, requirements and what works best for you. LetterStream now offers both options to cater to your specific mailing needs. Our services are tailored to ensure your important documents are printed and mailed out on time and with complete security included on our end each and every time.

To send a Certified letter click here. To send a Registered letter click here.

Please note: We don’t recommend using Registered Mail unless you’re required to do so. Tracking, signature, and delivery are not guaranteed. Delivery can take 3-6 weeks, or more, depending on destination country. All of your addresses must be international (outside of the US) and include the country. We cannot send more than 15 sheets of paper.

2017 USPS Price Changes

At the start of each new year the USPS typically announces new pricing, and this year is no exception. Effective January 22nd, new USPS prices will take effect.

You might recall our post from last year regarding the 2016 USPS price changes. We talked a lot about the price of a First-Class stamp being decreased by $.02 (from $.49 to $.47). This year it’s going back up two pennies. Initially, this seems like a bit of a bummer. But look at the bright side. The decrease that happened last year was the first time the cost of postage went down since 1919. So hypothetically, had it gone up a couple cents last year and this year again, we would be closer to $.53. Let’s choose to be optimistic and still consider ourselves winners with the 4 cent swing.

You could also try and stave off the postal increase a little longer by purchasing a few extra forever stamps at your local post office before the new rates go into effect.

Below are some of this year’s notable changes (keep in mind, we are quoting the new USPS postage costs, not LetterStream prices. LetterStream typically increases prices only to the extent that the USPS fees increase, but for exact pricing review your LetterStream job invoice when creating mailings on our website):

2017 Postage Rates

– First Class Stamps up from $.47 to $.49
– First Class Postcard Rate staying at $.34
– Extra Ounces staying at $.21
– International Rates staying at $1.15
– Certified Mail up from $3.30 to $3.35
– Return Receipt up from $2.70 to $2.75
– Electronic Return Receipt up from $1.35 to $1.45
– Registered Mail staying at $11.70
– Flats (.0001 – .999 oz) postage up from $.95 to $.98
– Flats extra ounces up from $.20 to $.21

Standard Mail Now Marketing Mail

Another notable change moving forward is that Standard Mail will now be known as Marketing Mail. Not to add to the confusion, but Standard Mail is/was the name of what many of us know as Bulk Mail. Standard Mail should not be confused with First-Class Mail which is what most of our customers send regularly.

USPS Stamp Prices Going Down in 2016!

USPS Postage Rates 2016

The biggest news in the mailing business, in maybe forever, or since the forever stamp. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is LOWERING the price of a first-class stamp. The price DECREASE goes into effect on April 10, 2016, when your cost for a first class stamp will be reduced to 47 cents each.

The last time the USPS decreased the price of a first-class stamp was in 1919, when the price dropped a single cent from 3 cents each to 2 cents each. Now, the greatest price decrease in the price of a first class mail stamp since 1885; the USPS is cutting the price of a first-class stamp by a whopping 2 cents! For more information check out the wikipedia page on the History of United States postage rates.

Why are Stamp Prices Going to 47 Cents?

The federal regulatory body that governs USPS pricing is the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC)(https://www.prc.gov). This organization decides whether the Postal Service can raise prices and by how much. A year ago the USPS was given a special waiver by the PRC to increase prices by more than the maximum amount allowed (according to their rules), so now the PRC is making the USPS roll prices back.

It really makes no sense though, as the post office is still operating at a loss. Follow this link to read the USPS press release on the topic of lowing prices (https://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2016/pr16_009.htm).

What Other Postage Prices are Changing in April?

In addition to the decreasing price of a first-class stamp, other stamp prices are going down as well. In fact, nearly every increase that took effect in 2015 is being reversed. Seems a bit odd that the Postal Regulatory Commission and the USPS couldn’t work out a meet-in-the-middle solution, but their loss turns out to be mailers’ gain. Here’s a sampling of new postage rates:

First-Class Postcards will decrease from $.35 to $.34 each (reversing last year’s increase)
Additional ounces for First-Class mail will decrease from $.22 to $.21 (reversing last year’s increase)
Certified Mail base fees will decrease from $3.45 to $3.30 (reversing last year’s increase)
Certified Mail Return Receipt Green Card fees will decrease from $2.80 to $2.70 (reversing last year’s increase)
Certified Mail Electronic Return Receipts will decrease from $1.40 to $1.35 (reversing last year’s increase)
International First-Class Letters will go down from $1.20 to $1.15 (reversing last year’s increase)
One ounce First-Class flats will decrease from $.98 to $.95, and 2 ounce pieces will fall from $1.20 to $1.15 (reversing last year’s increase)
Registered Mail letters will decrease from $12.20 to $11.70 (falling more than last year’s increase by another 25 cents)
The price of a First-Class Stamp will fall from $.49 to $.47 (there was no increase in the price of a first-class stamp last year)

We encourage everyone to take advantage of the cheaper postage prices in 2016 and send more mail. If you need some help with that, give us a call, we are what you call experts.

New USPS Postage Rates Coming May 31st

It’s official; new postage prices go into effect on May 31st, 2015. On May 4th the Postal Regulatory Commission approved the USPS proposed price change request.

As a recap, the price of a USPS First-Class stamp remains unchanged at $.49. Therefore there is no need to stock up on Forever stamps.

However, most other postal mailing categories will see increases. Below are some of the highlights for First-Class Mail.

First-Class Postcards will increase from $.34 to $.35 each
Additional ounces for First-Class mail will increase from $.21 to $.22
Certified Mail base fees will increase from $3.30 to $3.45
Certified Mail Return Receipt Green Card fees will increase from $2.70 to $2.80
Certified Mail Electronic Return Receipts will increase from $1.35 to $1.40
International First-Class Letters will go up from $1.15 to $1.20
One ounce First-Class flats will increase to $.98, and 2 ounce pieces will be $1.20
Registered Mail letters will increase from $11.95 to $12.20
The price of a First-Class Stamp will remain at $.49

Keep in mind, we are quoting the new USPS postage costs, not LetterStream prices. LetterStream typically increases prices only to the extent that the USPS fees increase, but review your invoice when creating mailings online for exact pricing.

It’s generally difficult to find the new postage rate charts at USPS.com before a postage rate change is implemented, but with a little digging, the rate tables can be found. Follow this link for the new postage rates for 2015. You can download an Excel file in the left sidebar called “Mailing Services Prices excel – Proposed Updated 05/01/15”.

We don’t recommend using the “Calculate a Price” postage rate tool on the USPS website for mailings after May 31 until that date has passed. While the tool technically allows you to enter the future date of a mailing, it doesn’t take into account the new rate increases. (Don’t ask us why.)

If you’d like to see the complete PRC (Postal Regulatory Commission) document, it was published by the Federal Government Publishing Office on May 4, 2015 and can be found here: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-05-04/pdf/2015-10029.pdf