Stop Wasting Money: The Simple Guide to Better Mail Delivery (UAA)

Mail that is Undeliverable As Addressed (UAA) is a huge, hidden cost for businesses. This happens when mail is incorrect, incomplete, or outdated, forcing the USPS to spend extra time handling it. For every piece of UAA mail, your marketing dollars are wasted.

The Problem: Massive Mail Waste

The numbers show just how big the waste is every year:

• First Class mail accounts for nearly 30 billion wasted pieces.
• Marketing mail accounts for over 17 billion wasted pieces.
• 5% of addresses on the average mailing list contain errors.
• 2.5 billion pieces are treated as mail waste annually.

Did you know? When Marketing Mail is UAA, it's often thrown away without the sender ever knowing their message didn't arrive.

The 3-Step Strategy: Complete, Correct, Current ("3C") 

To fix this, you need a smart, layered approach to address quality. BCC Software recommends a "Good>Better>Best" framework focusing on making your data Complete, Correct, and Current. 

1. GOOD: Make Your Addresses Complete & Correct with CASS 

The first step is verifying the format of every address using CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) certified software. 

• What it does: It checks your address against the official USPS database, corrects mistakes, and adds things like the full ZIP+4 code. 
• Tools: Solutions like BCC Mail Manager, Bulk Mailer® SMB, and BCC Architect handle this essential step. 
• Why it matters: If the address isn't structurally correct, nothing else you do will work. 

2. BETTER: Make Your Addresses Current with Move Updates 

The next challenge is: Did the recipient move? 

• NCOALink®: This tool uses the official USPS Change of Address records to update your mailing list before you mail. 
• PCOA (Proprietary Change of Address): Since not everyone tells the USPS they moved, PCOA uses other sources (like magazine subscriptions and utilities) to catch even more moves. 
• Why it matters: Keeping your list current drastically reduces the mail that will come back or disappear. 

3. BEST: Use Advanced Correction & Suppression Services 

The most successful mailers add extra steps to clean up their lists even further. 

• Why it matters: These tools shrink waste, protect your brand, and boost your campaign's performance. 

The Bottom Line: Quality Data is Not Optional 

Ignoring address quality is a strategic threat that leads to: 

• Wasted print and postage. 
• Lower response rates and lost sales. 
• Negative customer experience and brand impact. 

By adopting the "Good > Better > Best" framework, you can reduce UAA mail, increase deliverability, and see a better return on your mailing investment.