I remember when zipcodes were new. I was about six, and my dad worked in the construction on the new postoffice building. I boasted to my friends that our town was going to use “our” new zipcode—I thought it was our family’s special code. Knowing my stupid dad, he probably told me that pretending to be serious, knowing I wouldn’t realise he was kidding.
@orinocowomble – We must be the same age. I was either 5 or 6 when the zip codes were installed into our address. I remember thinking, “How on earth would anyone remember that?” , as I was, from the cradle, an idiot when it came to numbers. Never made sense to me. They still don’t over 55 years later! LOL
First the management of the Post Offal invented postal zones, so that when your mail didn’t arrive on time they could blame you for not using postal zone numbers.
Then they discovered that people were using postal zone numbers, so they needed a new excuse; thus ZIP codes. Your mail wasn’t getting delivered on time because you didn’t use ZIP codes.
Once people had gotten used to ZIP codes, the U.S.P.S. needed a new excuse; thus ZIP + 4.
I await the next step in the process with great interest.
Schulz was not a fan of zip codes when they were introduced, either. He even had a short-lived character whose name was a number, 555-something. His dad named his kids numbers in protest.
“TIP: the first 3-digits of your destination ZIP Code determine the Zone, or ‘prefix’. For example, the prefix for ZIP Code 67679 is 676.” SRC: https://www.pitneybowes.com/us/support/postage/understanding-postal-zip-zones-and-charts.html
What I miss more than the old and simpler address zones are the old and distinctive telephone number exchanges. Mine in New York City was Lorraine, and so I always remember our family’s telephone number as beginning with LO.
Templo S.U.D. over 6 years ago
I might have heard the Canadian postal code to Santa Claus was H0H 0H0 (what’s with zeros, not Os).
fourms20 over 6 years ago
Wow! pre-Zip code. Hate to age myself, but I remember plain postal codes. Ours was 18, later the last 2 digits of our Zip code!
orinoco womble over 6 years ago
I remember when zipcodes were new. I was about six, and my dad worked in the construction on the new postoffice building. I boasted to my friends that our town was going to use “our” new zipcode—I thought it was our family’s special code. Knowing my stupid dad, he probably told me that pretending to be serious, knowing I wouldn’t realise he was kidding.
dlkrueger33 over 6 years ago
@orinocowomble – We must be the same age. I was either 5 or 6 when the zip codes were installed into our address. I remember thinking, “How on earth would anyone remember that?” , as I was, from the cradle, an idiot when it came to numbers. Never made sense to me. They still don’t over 55 years later! LOL
The Brooklyn Accent Premium Member over 6 years ago
First the management of the Post Offal invented postal zones, so that when your mail didn’t arrive on time they could blame you for not using postal zone numbers.
Then they discovered that people were using postal zone numbers, so they needed a new excuse; thus ZIP codes. Your mail wasn’t getting delivered on time because you didn’t use ZIP codes.
Once people had gotten used to ZIP codes, the U.S.P.S. needed a new excuse; thus ZIP + 4.
I await the next step in the process with great interest.
GaryCooper over 6 years ago
This was back when zone numbers, now part of zip codes, were new.
bryan42 over 6 years ago
Schulz was not a fan of zip codes when they were introduced, either. He even had a short-lived character whose name was a number, 555-something. His dad named his kids numbers in protest.
Jogger2 over 6 years ago
ZIP stood for Zone Improvement Program.
Jesy Bertz Premium Member over 6 years ago
And let’s not forget Mr. Zip, USPS’ Zip Code mascot!
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mr.Zip-2003.PNG
BTO over 6 years ago
Santa has a Canadian Postal Code, and it’s H0H 0H0.
Brian Layman over 6 years ago
“TIP: the first 3-digits of your destination ZIP Code determine the Zone, or ‘prefix’. For example, the prefix for ZIP Code 67679 is 676.” SRC: https://www.pitneybowes.com/us/support/postage/understanding-postal-zip-zones-and-charts.html
I❤️Peanuts over 6 years ago
What I miss more than the old and simpler address zones are the old and distinctive telephone number exchanges. Mine in New York City was Lorraine, and so I always remember our family’s telephone number as beginning with LO.
bmckee over 6 years ago
“Return to sender.Address unknown.No such number.No such zone!”
alaskajohn1 over 6 years ago
North Pole, Alaska 99705
Jayneknox over 6 years ago
Santa’s from Schenectady! https://dailygazette.com/article/2015/12/16/santa-letters-ge-12345_wp