USPS address change, do they only redirect mail?

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by Capitalprophets

Forwarding mail applies to all mail.

Not quite. I've never had junk mail forwarded. First class mail is forwarded for a year on a permanent address change. Magazines for 60 days.

[luv4horses]

The fun part is marketers become aware that there is a new guy in town and you get even even more junk mail aka special offers at the new address. So nice to be a target. Not

[writerwife]

Originally Posted by Capitalprophets

Forwarding mail applies to all mail.

Not really. Some of my utility bills from my previous address (still own the home) don't get forwarded. I had to call and give them a new forwarding address. My property tax bill was not forwarded, had to call about that one too.
There are some mail pieces that are marked to return to sender and not forward.

[Taiko]

Originally Posted by AlaskaErik

Not quite. I've never had junk mail forwarded. First class mail is forwarded for a year on a permanent address change. Magazines for 60 days.

Most commercial mailers send out a percentage of their advertising first class or leave off the "or current resident" endorsement and pay a premium over the bulk mail rate to get your new address. Carriers who see it everyday will recognize the forwarding service, electronic service or return service endorsements on the mailing. Some are forwarded for others the service sells your new address, if a permanent change of address, to the sender.

If they stop getting responses from those who used to respond you can be sure that they will spend a bit more and change the class of mail for a few pieces to get the information that you are not responding because you are no longer at the address that they have on you in their database.

And occasionally mail that is not supposed to be forwarded is missed by the carrier at the new address, the carrier from the original address who sent it to their central forwarding unit and the clerk at that unit who forwards the mail, or returns it to the sender, instead of sending it back to the original carrier to dispose of properly.