posted on February 21, 2002 01:36:48 PM
The USPS has a great freebee if you use Priority Mail Delivery Confirmation a lot. You can go to http://www.uspswebtools.com/shippingassistant/, this will lead you to the USPS Shipping Assistant section and you can download their software - once downloaded you can use the whole package or just part. I use only the label part, you enter your address only once, then the buyers name address, etc., you can calculate postage by adding the weight (it's too late for me at this point), you can confirm the accuracy of the address, it will correct the address and fill in the expanded zip code for you. Then you display the label (they use Adobe Acrobat, if you don't have it you can download it for free from the site) then you can print it. The label, which uses a full sheet of paper, has two halves, the label and a receipt. You cut the excess off the label and glue or tape it to the package (we use glue stick) they say not to tape over the Barcode or put the label around corners. The receipt is great for your records; it has your return address, where the package is going, the Delivery Confirmation Number, the date you printed it and the date it was mailed (when you create the label you have options to use today or today + 1, +2. …..…Etc. USPS asks you to use the label only on the day you specify). Not many people know about this – even USPS folks at your Post Office. If you use it make sure the clerk does NOT scan the Delivery Confirmation Barcode – it is already in their system and you will be charged the $.40. Sorry for the ramblings – once I get started it’s hard to stop. Hope this helps somebody.
