Whether a package or a simple letter comes your way, you can find out what to expect before the mail item hits you. PostNL not only has a track and trace service for parcels, it has also introduced a system that allows you to see which mail is coming your way.
In the PostNL app you will find My Mail, a service that you have to turn on yourself, after which you can even receive push messages if you want when a letter comes your way. You can also enable this for packages. Please note, because especially with parcels, it is possible that both the app of the web store where you ordered and the PostNL app plus maybe even your email will send you messages about one delivery.
Sometimes that is a bit excessive, but in general 'My Post' is an ideal way to keep track of what you receive. Especially if, for example, you have your own company, so that you may also sometimes receive packages that you have not chosen yourself, then that keeps things nice and clear. If you have a track & trace code for a package, you can always enter it in the app to see where a package is.
Track & Trace
Track & Trace is a method that we have been using for years, but that does not apply to My Post for regular letters and postcards. This is a fairly new service from PostNL, which gives you a lot of insight into which mail you can expect. Often when you wake up you will have a notification on your phone that an envelope or card is coming your way and will probably be delivered today. To give you more insight, a scan has been made of that mail item.
Although this service is useful if you are very curious, or if you are on vacation, it also has drawbacks. Especially with a postcard without an envelope. This is because a scan of the text of the card is sent, so that before you even have the card in your hands, you already know who wishes you a happy birthday in a special way that day. You don't know what the front of the card looks like yet, but it's a shame that the contents are no longer a surprise.
However, it is usually useful to know which mail is coming. You used to have to wait for hours at the letterbox, hoping that letter from person x would arrive today. Now you already know through the app that you don't have to sit down that day. Or of course it is, because although Mijn Post knows a lot, it is not yet able to indicate when the letter will be delivered that day. After all, that depends on the working hours that your mail deliverer uses and whether the mail was delivered on time for him or her to walk or cycle.
postcard
If you would like to thank someone in advance for sending a postcard, you can share the scan of the mail item via WhatsApp. This is also useful, for example, if you have a roommate who does not use a PostNL app. This is also where one of the biggest drawbacks of the PostNL app comes in. If someone sends you a card or if you bought something special from a web store and you don't want your roommate/partner/family member to know, the PostNL app can betray you. You used to be able to make sure you were ready at the mailbox at home to intercept the mail item, but now the PostNL app will betray you. Then you have to divert to a personal digital message via email, WhatsApp or social media.
Now in most cases the mail flow is not that exciting and the 'My Post' option is mainly a godsend. For example, if someone invites you to a party by means of a card, you can still set in your agenda when you have to keep free without having received the card. Unfortunately, you also see that you receive a letter from, for example, the government because you were flashed when you thought you had escaped the dance. You cannot see how high the fine is, but when you get the scan of the envelope with the logo, you probably already know enough. So you already know in the morning that you might not want to buy that gadget that day, because you have to set aside some money for the consequences of your driving.
In short, there are many possible applications for the My Post option within PostNL. Are you interested in using this too? Then proceed as follows.
Set up My Post in the PostNL app
- Download the PostNL app (Android and iOS) and login to your account. If you don't have an account yet, you can create one in the app.
- Then you go to Account and click My Mail. Sign In.
- You will receive a letter at home that same week. You don't see it in My Post yet, because it comes with a code to activate the service.
- Activate the code and you can use My Mail. It is up to you whether you want to receive push notifications or only want to see the post when you open the app yourself.
It is also possible to remove the scans of mail items from the app. To do this, click on the relevant postal item and select the trash can in the top right corner. All you have to do if you really want to keep that letter a secret is make sure you get home early to intercept the letter. That is something that PostNL just cannot do for you.
You can also use the PostNL app to frank your mail. After purchasing a digital stamp, you will receive a number code that you write on the envelope. Handy, so you don't have to be at home to send mail and you no longer have to check whether you still have stamps at home. Read about this in our article: How to frank a letter with the PostNL app.
