3 ms·

here's a neat bit of address and zipcode esoterica that isn't esoteric at all, but apparently the people who code mailing address software (some of whom I hope

here's a neat bit of address and zipcode esoterica that isn't esoteric at all, but apparently the people who code mailing address software (some of whom I hope read HN) don't bother to learn how USPS addresses work. Here is a hypothetical New York City address (that I have faked/obfuscated). Note that a penthouse is not an apartment. Note also how the APT or the PH (or suite or floor) goes on the same line as the street address, not a line by itself. 750 5TH AVE PH 1 NEW YORK NY 10002-2590 I mention it because when you print it wrong, or don't allow me to enter it correctly as my address, it actually messes up the delivery. (Looking at you, Peapod grocery delivery) Here's where you can confirm how it is recommended that addresses be printed: https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action

smelendez 5y ago
Why does putting PH 1 on another line mess up the delivery? (I assume the other issue is that there's an APT 1 and a PH 1 in the building)?
- xeromal 5y ago
  Not the poster you asked, but a lot of times the address boxes will "help" you buy parsing what you write and correcting it. Maybe his penthouse address gets corrected to the second line and USPS delivers it incorrectly. My personal issus are the apartment selectors. I live in a complex with about 300 units and having to scroll all the way to the bottom is a huge pain in the ass. lol
  - swores 5y ago
    I don't know if this would be useful in your case, and it's desktop only, but in the UK because the convention is to have the house/apartment/anything number at the start of the line when I need to choose my address from a dropdown box I select the field, then type my numbers and it selects the right one. This works for dropdown boxes in general where you know the first letters/characters you are looking for (but I can imagine scenarios where it would be no hope, like if all the addresses are written with the differentiating number/detail at the end not the start). Page down / end keys are also useful for long lists (again, not so helpful on mobile).
  - hackernewds 5y ago
    USPS does parse address#2 on the same line now in the recommender - which was news to me
  - zbrozek 5y ago
    I live in Los Altos Hills but online correction software sees the zip (which we share) and corrects it to Los Altos, the next town over. This often causes confusion.
    - xeromal 5y ago
      It's so annoying. Everyone needs to offer a free form address field at least as an option.

smelendez 5y ago

Why does putting PH 1 on another line mess up the delivery? (I assume the other issue is that there's an APT 1 and a PH 1 in the building)?

xeromal 5y ago
Not the poster you asked, but a lot of times the address boxes will "help" you buy parsing what you write and correcting it. Maybe his penthouse address gets corrected to the second line and USPS delivers it incorrectly. My personal issus are the apartment selectors. I live in a complex with about 300 units and having to scroll all the way to the bottom is a huge pain in the ass. lol
- swores 5y ago
  I don't know if this would be useful in your case, and it's desktop only, but in the UK because the convention is to have the house/apartment/anything number at the start of the line when I need to choose my address from a dropdown box I select the field, then type my numbers and it selects the right one. This works for dropdown boxes in general where you know the first letters/characters you are looking for (but I can imagine scenarios where it would be no hope, like if all the addresses are written with the differentiating number/detail at the end not the start). Page down / end keys are also useful for long lists (again, not so helpful on mobile).
- hackernewds 5y ago
  USPS does parse address#2 on the same line now in the recommender - which was news to me
- zbrozek 5y ago
  I live in Los Altos Hills but online correction software sees the zip (which we share) and corrects it to Los Altos, the next town over. This often causes confusion.
  - xeromal 5y ago
    It's so annoying. Everyone needs to offer a free form address field at least as an option.