When it comes to mail delivery, there are two main types of carriers: private carriers and the United States Postal Service (USPS). While both types of carriers can deliver mail to residential addresses, there are some key differences between a private carrier’s definition of a “residential” address and the USPS’s definition.
A private carrier, such as UPS or FedEx, typically defines a “residential” address as any address that isn’t a business or commercial address. This can include houses, apartments, mobile homes, and even some multi-unit buildings. Private carriers generally offer delivery services to residential addresses during regular business hours and may require a signature upon delivery.
On the other hand, the USPS defines a “residential” address as a place of abode, which is a dwelling place used as a permanent or temporary residence, such as a house, apartment, or mobile home. USPS generally delivers to residential addresses during regular mail delivery hours and doesn’t require a signature upon delivery.
One of the main differences between a private carrier’s definition of a “residential” address and the USPS’s definition is that a private carrier will deliver to multi-unit buildings such as apartments, condos, and townhouses, as long as the address isn’t designated as a business address, while the USPS will only deliver to individual units within those buildings.
Another difference is the cost. Private carriers tend to charge more for residential delivery as compared to USPS.
It’s important to note that while private carriers and USPS both deliver to residential addresses, they may have different delivery schedules and require different levels of service. Businesses and individuals should be aware of these differences when choosing a carrier for their mail delivery needs.
While both private carriers and USPS can deliver mail to residential addresses, there are some key differences between the two. Private carriers tend to define “residential” more broadly, while the USPS has a more specific definition. Additionally, private carriers may have different delivery schedules and require different levels of service, which should be taken into consideration when choosing a carrier for mail delivery.