# Zipcode Policy Change effective Jan 1? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 25, 2001, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474 "2001-10-25T04:33:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Angelnside](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Angelnside](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angelnside)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/1 "2001-10-25T04:33:46Z")
Does anyone know if the USPS Policy regarding the use of 5 digit vs. 9 digit zipcodes is changing? I was told today by a salesman trying to get me to purchase a local city directory that I would need it come Jan. 1, because the PO would require the “complete” 9 digit zipcode in order to deliver the mail. I asked at my local PO, and the person I asked had not heard anything. I went to the USPS website and didn’t see anything. Is anyone here in the “know”? I’m just curious…I sure would hate to find out Jan. 1, that all mail required 9 digits. Thank you in advance for any information! Oh, I did “email” the USPS w/ my question…but, patience isn’t one of my top personality traits! FYI- Did you know that ZIP stands for **Z** oning **I** mprovement **P** lan? [Edited by bibliophage on 10-25-2001 at 12:52 AM] ---
**Author:** ![Angelnside](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Angelnside](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angelnside)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/2 "2001-10-25T04:39:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Angelnside \* > \*\*{snip…snip)… because the PO would require the “complete” 11 digit zipcode in order to deliver the mail. (snip…snip) … that all mail required 11 digits. > \*\* Ohhhhhh, I can’t believe I did that!! That 11 should be a 9! Can one of the dear moderators make the correction for me? Angel ::who is biting her lip and batting her eyelashes with the look of PRETTY PLEASE?:: ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/3 "2001-10-25T05:55:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Angelnside \* > \*\*Can one of the dear moderators make the correction for me? > \*\* My preferred bribe is twelve-year-old single-malt Scotch whisky. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/4 "2001-10-25T06:05:16Z")
But he’ll settle for a suitcase of Bud. ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/5 "2001-10-25T06:11:34Z")
Poor guy can’t sell anything better? USPS has a lookup site that gives you the last four digits for any address. More accurate and a lot cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/6 "2001-10-25T06:18:05Z")
Oh, and here’s the US Postal Service home page. [http://www.usps.com/](http://www.usps.com/) Right now they’re into safe packaging and bar codes. As to ZIP+4? Well, they didn’t have…zip. IMHO A legal requirement for ZIP+4 would not be limited to a guy trying to sell you a directory. It would be publicized on the news, vilified by Rush Limbaugh _and a huge subject on this message board_ (from Great Debates to The Pit). ---
**Author:** ![Angelnside](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Angelnside](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angelnside)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/7 "2001-10-25T12:00:06Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by bibliophage \* \*\* > [@](#): > > My preferred bribe is twelve-year-old single-malt Scotch whisky. \*\* Thank you **bibliophage**! So your preference is whisky? So the “batting of the eyes” and the “nibbling on the lower lip” didn’t get me anywhere?? How about if I commend you for doing such a wonderful job! You are _fighting ignorance_ even with this little deed. I actually looked up the spelling of “whisky”…I didn’t know it could be “-ey” or just “y”. 🙂 I learn something new everyday, especially if I hang out around here! ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/8 "2001-10-25T12:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DPWhite \* > \*\*Poor guy can’t sell anything better? USPS has a lookup site that gives you the last four digits for any address. More accurate and a lot cheaper. \*\* Cheaper? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/9 "2001-10-25T12:53:10Z")
[Simpsons]Those last four numbers are Citizen Relocation numbers. God willing, we’ll never have to use them…[/Simpsons] ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/10 "2001-10-25T13:42:24Z")
Well, FWIW, here’s the Zip Code FAQ, and I don’t see anything in there about mandatory Zip+4 changes in January. [http://www.usps.gov/ncsc/lookups/zip\_faqs.htm](http://www.usps.gov/ncsc/lookups/zip_faqs.htm) And here’s the [U.S. Postal Service Zip+4 lookup site.](http://www.usps.gov/ncsc/lookups/lookup_zip+4.html) Angel? Your salesman _lied_ to you. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/11 "2001-10-25T13:43:49Z")
[nitpick[ > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Angelnside \* > **I actually looked up the spelling of “whisky”…I didn’t know it could be “-ey” or just “y”. 🙂** Oh, no! If it hails from Scottland it has to be **whisky**. **Whiskey** on the other hand is the stuff made in Ireland. In general Canadian and American beverages are also called whisky and whiskey respectively. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/12 "2001-10-25T15:19:22Z")
Actually, there is no _requirement_ that you use zips at all. Mail will get delivered without a zip code but you can expect it to take a bit longer. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/13 "2001-10-25T15:24:23Z")
Or you can leave off the city and state entirely, just using the zip code. Make sure that it’s legibly written, though! ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/14 "2001-10-25T16:52:38Z")
For the last several years, the USPS has been tightening rules (with some financial inducements) for the quality and quantity of address information on _commercial_ mailings. (The closer you can get to their “ideal” address, the lower your postage when mailing in lots of hundreds or thousands.) Several of the new rules went into effect last January 1 and there may be some more rules coming this January 1. None of this has anything to do with requiring Zip+4 on personal letters or demanding more nearly “ideal” addresses on group mailings below whatever number is needed to get a rate break. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipcode-policy-change-effective-jan-1/89474/15 "2001-10-25T17:04:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SenorBeef \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by DPWhite \* > > \*\*Poor guy can’t sell anything better? USPS has a lookup site that gives you the last four digits for any address. More accurate and a lot cheaper. \*\* > > Cheaper? \*\* What could be cheaper than free?