# Return Address = Delivery Address **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 22, 2000, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-address-delivery-address/46790 "2000-12-22T00:55:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-address-delivery-address/46790/21 "2012-12-12T15:20:40Z")
> [@smaft](#): > > Not really relevant, but interesting… > > We get paperwork from one local law firm that wants return copies. They include an envelope pre-printed with their return address, but they don’t write a delivery address; i.e., they leave it blank. We put in their copy and mail it. The post office then “returns” this envelope to them, as it’s undeliverable- there’s nowhere to deliver it to. > They do pay postage, though so it’s for convenience’s sake only, but still, it’s a somewhat clever manifestation of laziness. Now that this zombie has been dug up, has anybody in the past 12 years managed to work out how the situation **smaft** describes is any different from just providing an envelope with the intended address written as the delivery address? They’re paying postage after all. Or was this a whoosh that failed to reach its intended recipient? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-address-delivery-address/46790/22 "2012-12-12T15:25:22Z")
We generally get strongly worded rebukes from the local postmaster when our law firm sends out envelopes with no delivery address and just the pre-printed return address on them. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-address-delivery-address/46790/23 "2012-12-12T15:25:41Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Now that this zombie has been dug up, has anybody in the past 12 years managed to work out how the situation **smaft** describes is any different from just providing an envelope with the intended address written as the delivery address? They’re paying postage after all. Or was this a whoosh that failed to reach its intended recipient? I don’t even understand how they would be paying postage if it was marked return to sender. Does the post office actually collect postage on items marked “return to sender”? And in the event that they really were/are paying the postage… you are entirely correct. Why do it that way at all if they are actually paying!? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-address-delivery-address/46790/24 "2012-12-12T18:14:49Z")
Okay, since this zombie has taken new life . . . I see those too, but not very often. Most of the return payment envelopes I get don’t have a pre-printed return address. But in those that do, what I’ve noticed is that the pre-printed return address is NOT the same as the delivery address on the payment stub that’s supposed to show through the envelope window. (Why don’t they just pre-print that on the envelope too?) So payments that get delivered via the pre-printed return address will get segregated into a separate P. O. box. Both addresses are invariably P. O. Box addresses. Big companies that get lots of mail often have a whole bunch of P. O. Box addresses for every imaginable different kind of mail they get. – One for bill payments, one for correspondence or questions, one for making claims, one for disputes, etc. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-address-delivery-address/46790/25 "2012-12-12T23:46:40Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Okay, since this zombie has taken new life . . . > > I see those too, but not very often. Most of the return payment envelopes I get don’t have a pre-printed return address. > > But in those that do, what I’ve noticed is that the pre-printed return address is NOT the same as the delivery address on the payment stub that’s supposed to show through the envelope window. (Why don’t they just pre-print that on the envelope too?) So payments that get delivered via the pre-printed return address will get segregated into a separate P. O. box. > > Both addresses are invariably P. O. Box addresses. Big companies that get lots of mail often have a whole bunch of P. O. Box addresses for every imaginable different kind of mail they get. – One for bill payments, one for correspondence or questions, one for making claims, one for disputes, etc. I’ve seen situations (really large organizations, federal gov’t, etc.) where the address on the envelope insert (form, stub, etc.) has a distinct address depending on region; i.e., a regional service center. The return address on the envelope would be some kind of central clearinghouse; the head office, for instance. In these cases, the intended delivery address may differ from the “return address” by more than just PO Box numbers. Usually, whole cities and states of difference. ---
**Author:** ![BlueOhio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@BlueOhio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueOhio)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-address-delivery-address/46790/26 "2012-12-13T13:29:40Z")
The 33 cents really threw me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-address-delivery-address/46790.md?page=1)