EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) is a USPS program that lets businesses send advertising mail to every address in a zip code or carrier route—without needing names or individual addresses. It's the mail marked 'ECRWSS' or 'Postal Customer' that you cannot opt out of.
What is EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail)?
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a United States Postal Service program launched in 2011 that allows businesses to send advertising mail to every residential and business address along specific postal carrier routes. The program was designed to make direct mail advertising more accessible and affordable for small businesses.
How Does EDDM Work?
Unlike traditional direct mail, EDDM doesn't require advertisers to purchase mailing lists or know individual recipient names. This is the critical difference: there is no mailing list to opt out of. If you have a mailbox, you receive EDDM mail. Period. Businesses simply:
- Select zip codes or carrier routes they want to target
- Print mail pieces that meet USPS size requirements (typically larger than standard letters)
- Bundle the pieces and deliver them to their local post office
- Pay discounted postage rates (approximately $0.20-0.23 per piece)—far cheaper than regular postage
The USPS then delivers one piece to every address on the selected routes—whether the resident wants it or not. At under 25 cents per piece, EDDM is incredibly affordable for advertisers, which explains why billions of pieces flood American mailboxes each year.
What Does ECRWSS Mean?
ECRWSS stands for Enhanced Carrier Route Walking Sequence Saturation. This postal code indicates that the mail piece is:
- Part of a saturation mailing (delivered to every address on a route)
- Pre-sorted in the order the carrier walks their route
- Eligible for the lowest bulk mail rates
When you see "ECRWSS" or "ECRWSS EDDM" printed on mail, it confirms that the piece was sent through the EDDM program to every address in your area.
Why Does My Mail Say "Postal Customer"?
EDDM mail is typically addressed to generic terms rather than your name:
- "Postal Customer"
- "Resident"
- "Current Resident"
- "Local Postal Customer"
This generic addressing is the key reason you cannot refuse or return EDDM mail. Since it's not technically addressed to you as an individual, the USPS considers it "unaddressed mail" and will not accept a refusal.
The Scale of the Problem
The USPS processes approximately ~3 Billion EDDM mail pieces annually. When combined with other bulk mail programs, Americans receive over 80 billion pieces of advertising mail each year—the majority of which goes directly into the recycling bin or trash.
Why Was EDDM Created?
The USPS launched EDDM in 2011 primarily for two reasons:
- Revenue generation: As first-class mail volume declined due to digital communication, the USPS needed new revenue streams. Advertising mail now represents a significant portion of postal revenue.
- Small business accessibility: Traditional direct mail required purchasing mailing lists and managing complex postal regulations. EDDM simplified this for local businesses like restaurants, dentists, and real estate agents.
The Consumer Perspective
While EDDM may benefit some small businesses, it creates significant problems for consumers:
- No consent required: Your address is included automatically; you have no say in whether you receive this mail
- No opt-out mechanism: Unlike email or phone marketing, there is no registry or preference service for EDDM
- Environmental waste: Most EDDM mail is discarded immediately, contributing to paper waste
- Time cost: Sorting through unwanted mail takes time from busy households
Examples of Problematic EDDM Content
EDDM allows virtually any content to be delivered to every home on a postal route, including materials many recipients find objectionable:
Tobacco advertising delivered to every home—including families with children
Religious materials delivered to all addresses regardless of recipient beliefs
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ECRWSS mean on my mail?
ECRWSS stands for 'Enhanced Carrier Route Walking Sequence Saturation.' It means the mail piece is being delivered to every address on a postal carrier's route. This is the technical designation for EDDM saturation mail. You may also see variations like ECRWSS EDDM, ECRLOT (Line of Travel), or ECRWSH (High-Density).
Why does my mail say 'Postal Customer' instead of my name?
Mail addressed to 'Postal Customer,' 'Resident,' 'Current Resident,' or 'Current Occupant' is EDDM saturation mail. Advertisers don't need your name or address—they simply pay to have mail delivered to every home in a zip code or carrier route. This generic addressing is why you cannot refuse or return this mail.
How much does EDDM cost advertisers?
EDDM postage rates are heavily discounted, typically around $0.20-0.25 per piece—far less than regular first-class mail. This low cost incentivizes mass mailings and makes saturation advertising economically attractive for local businesses.
Can I opt out of EDDM mail?
No. There is currently no legal mechanism to opt out of EDDM or saturation mail in the United States. Unlike spam email or robocalls, postal advertising has no federal opt-out registry. Services like DMAchoice and CatalogChoice only work for addressed mail—not EDDM.
Can I refuse EDDM mail or return it to sender?
No. You can only refuse mail addressed to you personally. Since EDDM mail is addressed to 'Postal Customer' rather than your name, the USPS does not accept refusals. Writing 'Refused' or 'Return to Sender' will have no effect.
What is the difference between EDDM and regular junk mail?
Regular addressed junk mail uses your name and address from mailing lists—you can opt out by removing yourself from these lists. EDDM requires no mailing list at all—it's delivered to every address on a route. There's no list to remove yourself from, which is why EDDM cannot be stopped.
How many EDDM pieces are sent each year?
The USPS processes approximately 3 billion EDDM mail pieces annually. When combined with other advertising mail programs, Americans receive over 80 billion pieces of marketing mail each year—the majority of which goes directly to recycling or trash.
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