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11 Reasons to use Return Address Labels

Here are the top 11 reasons (in our opinion) why you should use return address labels:

1. Your time is valuable

Let's face it - you only have so much time (there's only so many hours in each day, and also your total time on earth is, shall we say, somewhat limited as well), and you have better things to do than spending time writing your return address on each letter you send.

2. It's nice to receive letters back from your friends

If your handwriting is as bad as mine, or you tend to hastily write your return address (to save time), your friends may misread your return address, and then later write you at an incorrect address.

3. You don't want to waste other people's time either

It's harder (both for your friends and for the USPS computers) to read handwritten addresses. Your friends will (hopefully) want to make sure that they have your current mailing address (so that they can write you back). If it takes them extra time to decipher your handwritten address, that's less time left to do other things (like write a nice letter back to you).

4. You want your mail back if it cannot be delivered

Whether a letter to an acquaintance (who has moved since you last wrote) or a check to a company, you would like it back if the mail cannot be delivered. If the return address is difficult or impossible to read, the post office may have difficulty returning it to you.

5. You want to use your correct return address

Ok, so even if you handwrite your return address, you can use the correct address; but do you? Do you know how many times I've seen return addresses written like 120 MAPLE ST (when the town has a 120 E Maple Street and a 120 W Maple Street), or even just 120 MAPLE (was that Maple Street, Avenue, or Circle?). When in a hurry, folks tend to just write (what they consider) the bare minimum (which may not really be quite enough).

6. You want your mail to be delivered quickly

Zip codes (and zip+4 codes, in particular) help speed the delivery of mail, your mail, both to your recipients, and then back to you from your friends or customers. When mail has to be returned to you (and when you friends copy down your return address for writing you back), it's nice to have that zip+4 to speed the letter on its way.

To help make sure you include your correct address and zip+4 on your return address labels, we have included a link (near the bottom of this page) to an address lookup and standardization website provided by Semaphore Corporation; you can type in your street address and they will help correct and standardize it, returning it in the proper format (including zip+4) that the post office prefers.

7. You want to express yourself

With return address labels, you can choose from thousands of designs, create your own unique design, or include caricatures for each member of your family. You can include stock photos or graphics, or upload your own photo or logo. Your return address labels represents you, your family, your home, or your business.

8. You want to make a positive impression

Before a mail recipient even opens your envelope, they start to develop an impression of you, based on what they see on the outside of your envelope. Which would represent you (or your family or business) better - a hastily written return address, or a handsome label with a design that expresses your individual interests?

9. You want to be an encouragement and blessing to others

The design of your return address labels, whether you include an American flag, a business logo, a picture of your home or pet, or a caricature of each family member, can put a smile on someone's face.

10. Your pens and pencils will last longer

I agree - this may not be the most overwhelming reason, but my wife thought of this and it is valid (and hopefully it even brought a smile to your face).

11. You can get quality Return Address Labels for Free!

VistaPrint, the high volume, low-cost, online printer which became known for offering 250 free full-color business cards, has since broadened their product line and, as an incentive to try their products, will give you 140 Free Return Address Labels (and you can choose from hundreds of designs or design your own)! You just pay a small shipping and processing fee.

You can first choose whether to use one of their thousands of existing designs or design your own, or create a custom caricature label for your family. To take advantage of one of these special free offers, click one of the special Vistaprint links below. We recommend trying both kinds of labels: Order a free set of designed labels; then return here and place a second order for a free set of the caricature labels.

The Free address labels are available as either

• 140 Free Return Address Labels
  (with hundreds of designs to choose from) or as
• 140 Free Family Caricature Labels
  (with a customized caricature for each family member).

VistaPrint also offers free business cards, free business card magnets, free postcards, a free rubber address stamp, and other Monthly Specials. Please check our Menu (on the left of this page) for more Free Printing links.

We also have some examples of various types of return address labels:

• Wedding return address labels
• Christmas return address labels
• Baby return address labels
• Dog return address labels
• Cat return address labels

Semaphore Corporation
If you would like to verify your "standard" address (according to the U.S. Postal Service), we recommend a visit to this webpage provided by Semaphore Corporation. They provide a free address lookup & standardization service. Enter your address (or as much as you know) and it will look up possible matches, standardize the address, and lookup the zip+4 code.