Have you ever put the "wrong" city/town name on a mailing address?

Try mailing something to yourself that way, with correct ZIP code, and see what happens. Omit a return address. Try it with an envelope and also with a small package.

An alternative is to use a post office box address or a proxy mailer for your return address.

You will probably get it, but it will take a little longer, and cause more work for the post people. Best would be if you use the 9 digit zip code to help the postal people along. That way it should at least get to the correct main post office closest to you.

I’ve just looked up my +4 ZIp code, and will use that. will that really help all that much?

If you narrow it down with a ZIP+4, anyone who wants to find out what town you’re really in can just look it up. Maybe you should take a P.O. box in the nearest town larger than yours.

@beccalynnx It should help. Why not get a post box one town over?

I’m considering getting a P.O. box soon. I’d be too expensive to do so right now.
Hmm.. i may just use my town name… i still feel a little funny about it. plus, using the big city name makes me feel like a big city life girl :)

What exactly are you worried about? I am pretty paranoid, and I don’t get why you are worried about security?

I do all of my business online, so nobody even needs to know my small hometown. I’d just rather now put it on there, I guess?

Do you have a friend you could send it to in the meantime, until you get a PO box? Have you ever googgled your name? Your town might come up anyway.

Good points. I guess it really doesn’t help my sense of security knowing that all the other info in my address still leads to my home, no matter what city I include.

I’m not trying to be critical.. Always good to be careful. Like I said I tend to be paranoid about things like this, but I have never been worried about receiving mail. Maybe you will get me started. LOL.

oops! I hope not! hehe.
i don’t know how it started, but i’m strangely paranoid over the oddest things lately…

and Thanks, btw! :)

If you use the correct zip code, it will always get there.You don’t have to use the +4 digits.

But @MissA, it will give away her town, and that’s what she’s trying to avoid.

When the city and ZIP don’t match, are you saying they always go by the ZIP and ignore the city?

I think they use the zip for all sorting, and then if it is not being found they start to analyze what city was written, and then the street? I’m not exactly sure how it works. If she put the correct zip the post office might have to put their thinking caps on a little more to get it to the receiver. My 5 digit zip is shared by two towns. If I use my correct zip I feel confident my letter would get right to me even if I used the big city I live near. My post office for my zip would recognize my street name.

But, let’s see what @MissA says, I think she might know more, I am just sort of guessing.

@Jeruba Yes, I understood that. It is my understanding that they use the zip and not the city. A couple of trial mailings, addressing that way, would be the best idea.

Oh, my real city itself is split into three different 5digit ZIPs. I’m pretty sure the Zip gives away a lot of information.

I think i’ll do some experimenting. time to buy stamps.

But, I just want to say again, that I think it is a little abusive of the postal system. When letters are not addressed properly it costs them time to figure out the correct address. And, time is money.