posted on October 27, 2000 09:34:22 AM
I think it just depends on where you live, how efficient your PO is and your volume of business. There are 3 PO's within 3 1/2 miles of where I live. Ninety-percent of the time, my wait in line is less than 5 minutes although it can take up to 15 minutes during the holidays. I have never tried Stamps.com but I would assume that it would take me the same amount of time to print the postage myself as it does the PO to print the postage. Even if I would have everything ready to go, I would still have to drive to the PO to drop it off as my Postman will only take it if it's on the street (which I'm not about to just leave it unattended) and only if he has room in his truck. The only time it would be worth it for me would be around the holidays the rest of the year it is just an added expense that I can't justify but I only ship between 30-40 packages/week. I sell books and the worst part is lugging it to the PO. If I could get my Postman to pick the packages up at the front porch consistantly, then I would consider it.
posted on October 27, 2000 10:17:26 AM
I happen to pass a first-rate post office every morning on the way to work. Typically I have about four packages each day and almost always I have a near zero wait to bring them to the counter for weighing and postage.
I can't see paying for a non-existent benefit. If I had a high-volume and/or could pass some of the added expense to my customers, I'd consider it. With higher postal fees ever on the horizon I really would hate to do that.
posted on October 27, 2000 10:21:52 AM
Thew convienience I was talking about is the fact that the Mail Person takes the parcels. No more trips to the PO.
No more lugging the parcels to the car, driving to the PO, lugging the pracels into the PO, waiting in line, driving back.
Saves me a lot of time and work. Worth it to me, but maybe not others.
posted on October 27, 2000 09:15:55 PM
One of the reasons is that you can package your Item and give true postage not estimated.
I am concidering stamps.com you get the scale a free postage to start out for the most part my shipping would be faster since the hours we work here we can only get to the PO once a week .
could ship most things right from home same day I get payment this way.
WWW.dman-n-company.com
posted on October 27, 2000 11:42:57 PM
Another benefit with stamps.com is that you can mail from anywhere there is a pickup....we have daily pickup at my work, and believe me, it is worth it!! I used to have to wait for HOURS at the post office. I guess we aren't as lucky here to have post offices you don't have to wait at. Also, no more lost stamps!! If I lose a $3.20 stamp, I get plenty mad......
posted on October 28, 2000 03:14:29 AM
I live close to office complexes and tons of apartments, and the guy in charge of the postal system in my city has cut the number of employees by several hundred, so every Post Office within miles of my home has waits of up to an hour, every day they're open. I've even been to the main post office that never closes (20 miles away) AT MIDNIGHT and had to wait in line for over 30 minutes. I also have to take my children with me, since the post offices all close before my husband gets home from work.
SimplyPostage is a lifesaver. I'll NEVER go back to PO lines again. NEVER.
I load up the packages and kids, drive to the closest PO, and let the kids drop the packages off at the counter while I wait in the car. They LOVE it--because it makes them feel grown up and capable--and I LOVE not having to make them behave while standing in line for 45 minutes.
I marvel at the people who say their postmen PICK THEIR PACKAGES UP AT THEIR HOMES!!! Boy, that would never happen here. They're doing good just to deliver mail to the correct address.
posted on October 28, 2000 06:07:35 AM
I mail EVERYTHING with DELIVERY CONFIRMATION -- therefore, online postage was a total WASTE of money for me! Ya have to stand in line anyway to get the DC scanned! I look at it this way: since I dumped Stamps.com, I've saved 10% on my postage costs!
posted on October 28, 2000 06:45:44 AM
It depends on your own personal circumstances.
I find that Stamps.com saves me 250 minutes a month standing in line at my post office.
I'm paying $3.83 and hour to get that time back.
Those extra hours with my kids are well worth $15.99 a month.
posted on October 28, 2000 01:38:54 PM
well, I gotta tell you, I REALLY like having Stamps.com
I don't drive and the PO is crosstown, so it's a real pain...
there's the waiting in line, I was always running out of stamps,etc.
now I can do up postage at ANY time, day or night...
I can postdate my postage for Monday if I'm doing it up Sunday,etc...
I'm also fortunate that my postman is willing to pick up...
I've even had 2 occasions to use their support system...they ALWAYS respond within 24 hours with either an answer OR an explanation why they can't get back to me right then...
so,until they or the program give me a reason to drop the service,I'll keep 'em!
p.s.I also REALLY like their payment options!
posted on October 28, 2000 01:49:21 PM
I send parcels insured and some with DC. I make sure I have included the fee along with the postage when I print the label. I fill out the forms, and give them to the Post Office person with the parcels in an envelope. He returns the validated forms the next day. He even takes my international stuff. He doesn't care as long as I have the forms filled out and the proper postage on the parcel. Actually the clerks at the PO prefer this method. They can check the parcels and stamp the forms when it isn't too busy.
For me it is penny wise and pound foolish to spend my time going back and forth to the PO.
posted on October 29, 2000 09:05:25 AM
Having a stamps.com or estamps account is just like having a postage meeter.
You have to pay "rent" on a postable meeter plus all the paper an supplies that go along with it.
posted on October 29, 2000 09:28:14 AM
Really with stamps.com you dont have to pay for anything but postage if you go out and get your own postage scale all you need is there program and buy the postage you want each time.
then you would pay only for postage and paper to print the stamps.no monthly fees.
another way to go would be to buy a postage scale and just run to the postoffice and buy a bunch of stamps no and then
WWW.dman-n-company.com
posted on October 29, 2000 10:04:12 AM
tomwiii- "I mail EVERYTHING with DELIVERY CONFIRMATION -- therefore, online postage was a total WASTE of money for me! Ya have to stand in line anyway to get the DC scanned!"
I have suggested putting a scanner into the automated machine in the lobby, but so far to no avail. The DC number could be printed on the receipt, so you would have proof of mailing. I used to love to go to the PO at midnite and just bang away at that sucker, posting package after package, but now that I have been forced to use DC I can't do it anymore. Sigh...ahhhh, for the old days.... :^)
