Zip Code Database

What I can use on my site to find out...

[mirceagoia]

I have a site, I put the customers to enter his zip and thus I find out his neighborhood (where he lives).

But...what I can use for that?

Is there a database of ZIPs or service which can be used on my site (integrated)?

What you use on your e-commerce site?

Thanks.

[Wlauzon]

My question is, why do you want to know "thus I find out his neighborhood (where he lives). "?

[mirceagoia]

Maybe for local advertisement?

Or, as Cingular does (or other merchants does), see their zip and tell them if a product is in stock at their local store or not?

[jatar_k]

there are a bunch of zip db's around, don't think there are any/many free ones

a couple searches should turn up something

[mirceagoia]

Yes, I've searched after them...and I've found several (mostly non-free).

So, those merchants uses these databases?
Not other who-know-what techniques?

[philbish]

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has a free one they let you connect to with XML if you only use it for USPS related shipping.

[jollymcfats]

We use a commercial zip code database. For each zip, it has additional info such as lat/long, county, census info, etc. We also use a area code (NPA/NXX) database from the same vendor.

The two are used in tandem during purchase as a fraud measure- it's easy to see rough distance between a billing address and billing phone number. There are legitimate reasons why they may differ, but it's a useful flag.

We use the zip code database for geographic reporting: how many orders come from local customers, distant customers; geographic distribution and other reports meaningful for our kind of widgets.

There are a lot of vendors offering the same data. One in particular is inexpensive and has good distribution and attention to detail. I won't name them, so let's just say they have a world of zip code and area code data.

[jsinger]

That site with a "world of zip codes" offers 20 free lookups a day. I can't see much use for Zip info on a nationwide basis. We've done some research on a state basis. Zip codes are too tiny.

Our UPS shipping computer will detect mismatched cities/zips, I believe.

We sell to many businesses which are often located in areas with low home values and average income. Separate ship/bills are common in our business and aren't significant indications of fraud.

In the rare case where we really want to research an order for fraud, the 20 free look ups might be useful and far more than we'd ever need. I've bookmarked that page.

[Tapolyai]

Wlauzon, et al. ZIP codes are often used to calculate the probability of fraud in a transaction, and/or credit worthiness of the individual making the transaction.

[mirceagoia]

Ok. So you use a database...

Can you give me indications about who sells the best database? And also have updating service too?And what experience you had with them?

Maybe on sticky mail if here isn't possible?

Thanks.

[Corey Bryant]

Check out zipcodedownload

-Corey