# If I put in the wrong address, will it be shipped to me?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-put-in-the-wrong-address-will-it-be-shipped-to-me/201497>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 14, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-put-in-the-wrong-address-will-it-be-shipped-to-me/201497 "2003-09-14T02:58:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-put-in-the-wrong-address-will-it-be-shipped-to-me/201497/21 "2003-09-15T20:09:50Z")

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The answer to this is that it truly depends on the carrier, and their mood at that moment.

A few years ago, I was involved with a small business in downtown Oakland (California) - the address was something like 16 14th St, Suite 1308. A package was mis-addressed as 14 16th St, Suite 1308, and UPS figured it out. It took them two extra days, but I was impressed that they did it at all as the business was only about two weeks old at the time.

And some distant Chicago exurbs have a similar address scheme as Scarlet67’s “fire numbers” that’s an extension of the Chicago street address coordinates. The main reason is so emergency services could look at an address in “unincorporated” areas and know where it was, rather than wondering where something like 35 Faraway Lane was. My brother’s address was “0N712 \<street\> West”

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**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-put-in-the-wrong-address-will-it-be-shipped-to-me/201497/22 "2003-09-15T21:15:09Z")

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Even if the street address is incorrect, wouldn’t a correct zip+4 pretty much specify the right house?

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**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-put-in-the-wrong-address-will-it-be-shipped-to-me/201497/23 "2003-09-16T00:55:39Z")

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My understanding is that the Zip+4 may specify a specific address, but that frequently they do not.

A full 9 digit zip will usually narrow down the delivery address to a specific block of a specific street or closer. For PO Boxes and high volume delivery sites such as large office buildings, then the 9 digit zip may designate the exact address.

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