2 Privately Printed Extra Services Forms and Labels

2-1 Introduction

The Postal Service refers to privately printed forms and labels as those that are created by the customer. Customers who prefer to print their own labels rather than use the labels provided by the Postal Service generally do so in order to automate the label process.

There are five forms and labels that customers are permitted to privately print:

1. PS Form 3800, Certified Mail Receipt.
2. PS Form 3813-P, Insured Mail Receipt.
3. Label 200, Registered Mail.
4. PS Form 3811, Domestic Return Receipt.
5. PS Form 3804, Return Receipt for Merchandise.

Except for PS Form 3811, all of these forms have barcodes.

Privately printed forms and labels must be nearly identical in design and color to those printed by the Postal Service. The Postal Service must approve all barcoded forms and labels before use to ensure that they satisfy technical requirements.

The Postal Service scans the barcodes on extra services labels and creates electronic records of the scans. These records are stored in a centralized database that interfaces with many other Postal Service databases to permit retrieval of this information for internal purposes and for Postal Service customers.

Customers who print their own barcoded labels can receive delivery status information, which includes the date and time of delivery in bulk (see chapter 3). Even though PS Form 3811 has no barcode, customers can receive return receipts electronically in bulk by participating in the Bulk Proof of Delivery (BPOD) program.