Should You Put a Backup Shipping Label Inside a Package?

A common piece of advice for preventing package loss if the shipping label is lost or damaged is to put a backup label inside the package. But would this really work, and are there any other ways to ensure your package is delivered if there is a problem with the shipping label?

A shipping label serves two main purposes. Firstly, it contains all the information necessary to deliver your package, including a barcode for automated processing. Secondly, it proves that you have paid the correct postage. Therefore, simply writing the recipient’s address on the box is not enough to ensure that your package is delivered; without a tracking number and barcode, the USPS has no way of knowing from the package itself whether postage has been paid.

When you purchase and print shipping labels online yourself, you can print multiple copies of the same label. While it is illegal to use them to ship several different packages, you can put one of the copies inside a package as a backup in case the original label gets lost or becomes unreadable due to damage. But this will work?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is, “It’s complicated.” While USPS employees may open an unlabeled package to look for identifying information, such as a backup shipping label, there are some caveats. In most cases, USPS cannot open a package during transit without a federal warrant. There are certain exceptions, and an unlabeled package may be one of them, but a specific procedure must first be followed.

When a USPS employee encounters an unlabeled or inadequately labeled package in the mailstream, they cannot simply open it. Undeliverable packages are usually declared “dead mail” and transported to Mail Recovery Centers, which have the authority to open packages to identify the sender or recipient. This process takes time, so even if USPS employees find a backup label and relabel your package, delivery will be significantly delayed.

So, while placing a duplicate label inside a package may be useful in case the shipping label is lost or damaged, we recommend another method for providing identifying information about the shipment, which makes the information more easily accessible. Simply write the recipient’s address and the tracking number on the package with a permanent marker.

Keep a few things in mind. First, the package still needs a valid shipping label. The handwritten information is a backup in case the label is lost or damaged. Second, it is essential to write the tracking number in addition to the recipient address. USPS needs the tracking number to associate the package with the shipment record and verify that postage was paid and that your package has entered the system but has lost its shipping label at some point. They will also need it to relabel your package if necessary. Third, avoid writing identifying information next to the shipping label to prevent confusion.

You can also place a backup shipping label inside the package for peace of mind. Providing USPS with two ways to identify your package is better than providing none. You should also make sure the original label is securely attached to prevent situations where backup information is needed.