Safe Luxury

what's the safe way to send documents? what's the difference between certified and registered mail?

i need a safe option, but i don't want anyone sign for it (cuz no one is never home :/ btw what happens if i need to sign for some mail and i'm not home..? do they send it back right away or do they leave a note and i can pick it up from the post office?

Public Comments

1. With certified mail, there will be a signature required upon receipt. If nobody is home when it is delivered, the mail carrier will leave a notice and you have to go to the post office in person to sign the return receipt card and pick it up. They will keep the item at the post office for a few days for pickup, but if it is not claimed the item is returned to the sender. How long the post office holds the item I don't know -- call and ask! Registered mail is essentially the same, but the post office handles it a bit differently internally, and the contents are insured. Registered is a lot more expensive, too.
2. If no one is home, they will leave a note and it can be picked up at the post office. "Safe" is equal to "signs for" though... with registered mail you can insure stuff up to $25,000, certified mail doesn't include insurance and is better for documents, although you'd need a signature for both. Priority mail is a tracked mail that doesn't require a signature, but will provide a delivery confirmation if you pay for it.