posted on May 12, 2001 12:29:56 PM
Can anyone shed any light on the differences or advantages of one system over the other? I'm shipping enough items where the postal clerk looks annoyed when I show up so I was thinking about getting a system to do it myself - thanks!
posted on May 12, 2001 10:47:36 PM
I dumped stamps.com a while back because of higher fees and non-existant customer service. I switched to Pitney Bowes ClickStamp. The monthly fee was very low and there is no "convenience" fee for postage. The negatives were that the labels allowed for printing postage went to one size only. I got used to that. I liked stamps.com because they were more flexible regarding labels. Another complaint was that ClickStamp didn't have any built in support for Delivery Confirmation. A postage label would have to be printed and then a 40 cent correction label to cover the extra DC postage needed. Stamps.com had this build in. I don't know why ClickStamp didn't have the foresight to do this, especially since they were in version 2 of their softare. I would have thought someone would have noticed that it was missing.
I stopped using Pitney Bowes Clickstamp this week because it switched to endicia.com
Endicia allows huge flexibility with the printing and placement of postage, addresses and graphics on a huge amount of stock media and allows you to create custom files for special projects. Some people are finding the original label adjustments difficult but I had no problems at all and feel that it's the best available if you want complete control of the mangement of the mail piece. Now... the biggest and most important feature being offered is FREE Delivery Confirmation. That's right... FREE. They participate in the postal service's electronic submission program which allows the delivery confirmation to automatically be submitted to the post office.
There's no need to get delivery confirmation stickers from the post office either. The software generates the Delivery Confirmation number and imprints it on your mail piece automatically and makes the proper USPS notation below it so they know it is electronically generated and subject to the free rate agreement (it gives the electronic rate agreement number). AND.... (drum roll please) there is no need to ever go see your counter person at the post office to get it scanned again. By generating the postage it is automatically sent to the postal service database server every night at 10pm. Your piece is entered right into the system. It can be checked in the usual manner on the USPS web site OR can be brought up right in the postage log on the software to get the current status of the item. I love that! It is so very handy. It has worked flawlessly for me so far.
One thing I immediately noticed was that the software runs much faster than the Clickstamp software. I also had one tech support question and had the best tech support experience of my life. The tech person was terrific and extremely knowlegable... not just reading from some cards. She even answered some very technical special use questions for me. I wasn't expecting that.
I can recommend endicia.com over any other pc postage service out there and I've used e-stamp, stamps.com and Pitney Bowes ClickStamp. I am truly impressed.
posted on May 12, 2001 11:22:03 PM
the only advantage to just sticking stamps on a package is the DC that endicia.com gives you for free. which really isn't free if you count the service fee and the hours you'll spend entering all the info on line.
the easiest way to mail a package.
enter your sale in your accounting software, print receipt, fold receipt and put in a clear invoice pouch and stick it on the package. stick it on a scale and slap the stamps on it.
easier, the way we started doing it last week, I'm using the free priority mail labels in the old, and I do mean old, dot matrix printer. I played with quickbooks and made it print a pick list on one label and the ship to and return address on another. box the stuff up slap the label in the package and a stamp and your done.
also now all I do is show up at the loading dock, grab a roll around hamper and a round dater, cancel all my own mail as I load it in the hamper, if they are busy and the truck is going to be there any minute I even do the presort for them. sure it sounds like they have me trained but I don't tie up a clerk at the front window for over an hour like I use to and I can get all my packages done in about 15 min not an hour so really I'm saving myself a load of time. Also when I do need something they bend over backwards to help.
