posted on March 3, 2001 08:28:24 PM
I've been looking for an online postage service, but I can't find any that say they let you do media mail postage. Since books are the only thing I sell, and media mail is the only way I ship anything, I haven't wanted to sign up with any of the services without knowing upfront that I'll be able to print the right kind of postage.
posted on March 4, 2001 01:45:06 PM
I took a look at the ClickStampOnline information and it looks so easy and simple! What kinds of hoops do you have to jump through to sign up and use it? I sell books and magazines so would need bound printed matter and media mail postage. One question: what happens if you mess up a label? How do you get a refund?
I've been totally delighted with ClickStamp Online. It has both bound printed matter and media mail (and library rate too--in case you ever ship to a library). Once I submitted my online info, I was printing labels in 4 hours.
I don't know how refunds are handled, but I've learned to be careful and check before printing. Once I printed a whole sheet of labels and my printer was out of ink . . .
posted on March 5, 2001 05:37:08 AM
can you tell me how to get to ClickStamp online. It keeps telling me that I am not authorized to use this page. Thanks,
posted on March 5, 2001 06:57:43 AM( I can't use ClickStampsOnline! Bummer! I signed up yesterday and downloaded the software and got my activation code today. However, it wants to make me take my packages to the post office for my physical address, which is a TERRIBLE post office (rude employees, long lines, terrible parking, plus an employee was recently convicted of dumping mail in the woods because he didn't have time to process it) plus the fact that it is twice as far a drive to my physical address post office as to my PO Box. I tried to change my address but it wouldn't let me do that. I called the ClickStamps and got a very rude tech support person who said to just change my address - well, it won't let me change the address. Guess I will have to cancel my account. Darn - I was looking forward to having my packages all ready when I got to the PO.
posted on March 5, 2001 07:48:12 AM
paintpower: My ClickStamp meter is registered for my physical home address, but I almost always drop my packages off at a different post office. I just leave them on the loading dock. In fact I've dropped my packages a 4 other post offices without any problems. I've also dropped smaller packages in the corner drop box.
I should add that I've been doing this for over 2 years (beta tester for clickstamp) and I ship 10 to 20 packages a day, 95% book rate.
[ edited by borgt on Mar 5, 2001 07:50 AM ]
posted on March 5, 2001 08:04:36 AM
I called PitneyWorks Tech Support and they said that the mail has to be mailed at the post office who's zip code is on your meter. I think I read somewhere you could drop mail at other drop boxes as long as they were all in the same collection zip code (whatever that means). I think mine won't work because the mail at my physical address PO goes to one regional sorting office and the mail from my PO Box PO goes to a completely different postal regional sorting office. I've emailed PitneyWorks customer service and am waiting to see what they tell me cause what the tech support man said won't work.
posted on March 5, 2001 08:09:24 AM
I have not really investigated the different online postage services, but I am interested in comments about what the benefits are of using one over a plain old scale and stamps- thanks.
edited to add...
I guess I should give you a little info regarding the kind of items I mail- 95% go first class in small bubble mailers and weigh 1 to 3 ounces. Once or twice a month, I have an item over 1 pound, packed in a small (6x4x2) box, which goes priority.
[ edited by mrpotatoheadd on Mar 5, 2001 08:14 AM ]
posted on March 5, 2001 08:25:41 AM
borgt: Here's what I read on the PitneyWorks FAQs for ClickStampsOnline - see the last line:
Description:
Do I need to go to the post office to mail packages over 1 lb.?
Solution:
No. Because the United States Postal Service (USPS) has your personal licensing information contained in your indicia (meter stamp), you won't be subject to the usual strict mailing regulations. With ClickStamp Online, you can mail any package exceeding 1 lb. in weight by depositing it in a home mail box, street drop, or USPS station drop, including metered mail drop boxes. Any deposits must be made within the area of the ZIP Code that you're licensed for.
posted on March 5, 2001 08:26:17 AM
mrpotatoheadd: My items are often over 1 lb, so the fact that I can simply drop them off on a loading dock saves me at least 20-30 minutes per day. I use u-pic for insurance so that also keeps me out of the line.
For your 1 to 3 oz items I don't see a huge advantage, provided you can use stamps without going over (ex: 2 - 34 cent stamps when only 55 cents is due, etc)
FYI - Online postage systems are not yet approved for international mailing - I wish the USPS would hurry up and approve it! It can be done with "conventional "red-ink" meters.
posted on March 5, 2001 08:35:13 AM
paintpower: Yes, that is the "official" regulation, but I go 70 mph on the freeway and don't get a ticket! I'm not saying it's never enforced, but I've mailed from all over, especially when I worked outside the home, and I've never had a problem.
I live in a different city from the post office I use (same reason as you, ineptness at the local PO). I've been using them almost daily and on occasion have even handed the items to the clerk who can clearly see the "other city" meter postage.
Why don't you ask the PO where you intend to drop off the packages if it's enforced?
I thought that might be the case (drop-off limit of 1 pound), but it never hurts to ask.
As far as going over on postage,
(ex: 2 - 34 cent stamps when only 55 cents is due, etc)
what I typically do is go to the PO and buy a bunch of self-adhesive stamps in various denominations (21, 34 and 55 cent stamps seem to cover most items) once a month or so, and I can make up whatever totals I need without going over.
posted on March 5, 2001 12:40:33 PM
I called both the PO where the meter license would be and the PO where I usually go and they both say that you MUST deposit your mail within the Zip Code of the PO where the meter is registered. This is the same regulation as having an actual postal meter in your business. I used to have one of those a long time ago and you were not allowed to take your mail anywhere but what the meter showed. Also, you HAVE to mail it on the day it is metered. No doing it up ahead and mailing several days later.
I'm still waiting for Pitneyworks to answer my support request to see if I can change over to my regular post office. If not, I will have to cancel my account. Hope they refund the postage I already put on it!!
posted on March 11, 2001 02:42:06 PM
Well, I signed up with clickstamponline, and was very disapointed. No disrespect to the person who suggested them -- I just found their software slow and cumbersome, and after about two hours of re-doing labels, I was frustrated and furious.
I couldn't find any easy way of printing multiple labels with different amounts/types of postage. And when we called customer service to cancel the account, they were rude and tried to tell us that we didn't know how to use the software (*not* a good thing to say to a computer programmer and ex-computer tech!).
They did agree to cancel my account and refund the $20 of postage I purchased. Hopefully that will happen...
Thanks for the imput, though. So far, I've found that it's much quicker and less stressful for me to drive to the post office and wait in line. ::sigh::
( I can't use ClickStampsOnline! Bummer! I signed up yesterday and downloaded the software and got my activation code today. However, it wants to make me take my packages to the post office for my physical address, which is a TERRIBLE post office (rude employees, long lines, terrible parking, plus an employee was recently convicted of dumping mail in the woods because he didn't have time to process it) plus the fact that it is twice as far a drive to my physical address post office as to my PO Box. I tried to change my address but it wouldn't let me do that. I called the ClickStamps and got a very rude tech support person who said to just change my address - well, it won't let me change the address. Guess I will have to cancel my account. Darn - I was looking forward to having my packages all ready when I got to the PO.