What Does Return Receipt Mean?
Return Receipt is a proof of delivery provided by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), in the form of a document or electronic email. Return receipt also may refer to Microsoft Outlook’s Delivery and Read Receipt functions.
In English-speaking territories, the return receipt term is also known as acknowledgment of receipt or advice of receipt. Internationally, return receipt is also known as avis de réception (AR).
Techopedia Explains Return Receipt
Physical delivery mediums, such as the USPS Return Receipt service, ensure secure delivery because recipient verification is required prior to delivery.
However, email return receipts are potentially confusing, such as when messages are emailed via a computer network managed by the recipient. In Microsoft Outlook, for example, selecting the reead receipt option is not failsafe, as this action does not guarantee redirection of the read receipt email message, leading to miscommunication.