Certified or Not - does it really matter?

[mrykyle]

I bought my very first hand gun on Wednesday and did my CHL class yesterday (Friday, April 30) and will mail the package off on Monday. I was just going to send it regular mail, but it seems that sending it certified at lease gives me the certainty that it was received. But does sending it certified slow it down? I am always afraid there won't be anyone home to sign for the certified delivery. I just moved to the Houston area in November from NC and if the government agencies operate here as they did in NC, nobody may be at their desk to sign for the certified.

[Quahog]

I bought my very first hand gun on Wednesday and did my CHL class yesterday (Friday, April 30) and will mail the package off on Monday. I was just going to send it regular mail, but it seems that sending it certified at lease gives me the certainty that it was received. But does sending it certified slow it down? I am always afraid there won't be anyone home to sign for the certified delivery. I just moved to the Houston area in November from NC and if the government agencies operate here as they did in NC, nobody may be at their desk to sign for the certified.

I mailed mine on a Saturday at the APC (Automated Postal Counter) machine in the lobby, certified and it was shown to have been delivered by 11:00 on Monday. YMMV

[USA1]

Certified is the best way. You'll have proof that your packet was received and when it was received.

There's nothing wrong with regular mail, but with something this important do you want to risk it getting lost or DPS claiming they never received it? Chances of that are slim but it can happen.

[Travis]

Do it certified, it's only 650 or so to have piece of mind

[handog]

I hand delivered it to DPS. After running around to get a mug shot and finger printed it was no big deal.

[redlin67]

I believe that if I had sent mine next day mail and certified that I would have beat the FBI census slow down and either have the CHL in my hands or at least be at the manufacturing stage by now. This is not a normal situation with the background checks, so just sending it certified will not speed up the processing, but it will give you peace of mind knowing your package arrived safely.

[joe817]

As redlin67 said:

but it will give you peace of mind knowing your package arrived safely.

That's the ONLY reason I sent mine certified mail......

plus the bragging rights when I could put it in the signature line.

[dthlss1]

My CHL instructor said that when you send your packet with some sort of delivery confirmation, the turnaround time seems to be a little bit shorter. Apparently, DPS won't drag their feet (as much) if they know you know they got your packet already. I sent mine certified. The USPS website says it's been delivered a day or two ago but I haven't gotten the green postcard back yet.

[phrogg]

One of the guys that I took my CHL class with didn't send his Certified. When I got my plastic he expected to get his shortly thereafter. He finally called the DPS and they have never received his packet. So he's gathering mugshots, prints, and the whole packet again to send to them. I'm over a full month of having the plastic and he's still gathering all his bits together again.

In other words, send it certified

Phrogg

[ericlw]

i didnt send my certified and i got mine in 3 months.

[slinco]

I sent mine certified just in case. It does'nt cost much and it gives you a little peace of mind.

[dthlss1]

I sent mine certified and it was received May 6 and printed June 11.