sidedeals
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posted on October 28, 2001 01:56:41 AM new
Hi!
I read in a post that you can get FREE Delivery Confirmation if you print something out from the USPS website? If anyone has any detailed information about where to go or how to do this, I would be greatful! 
Thanks in advance!
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madorman
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posted on October 28, 2001 04:02:45 AM new
Hi:
Go to this site for a free sample and instructions:
http://www.usps.com/cgi-bin/api/shipping_label.cgi
I haven't used it yet, but did print out the sample. Looks easy enough.
M A Dorman & The Woman's Club of Ramsey
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MurphyBird
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posted on October 28, 2001 05:09:03 AM new
I've used it frequently! Works wonderful, I am happy - my customers are happy. I print the label on plain papper and then tape it on the package - looks very professional.
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psalms139
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posted on October 28, 2001 05:53:30 AM new
Hi Sidedeals!!
I use a glue stick and apply it to the back of the paper label. Then I tape it, making sure not to put the tape across the Bar code.
When I first used it, my PO was not familiar with Free DC and they tried to scan it. (which won't work)
When you make your label it will automatically be in the Postal System so the local PO does not have to scan it.
I hope your PO has been updated. Make sure they don't charge you.
When you print out your label, it will also print out a receipt. I bring that portion to the PO and have them stamp it. (that is optional...not everyone on AW agrees with having that receipt stamped.)
MurphyBird is right...the customers are happy and it does look professional!
You will love it!
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cfjmwil404
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posted on October 28, 2001 06:02:17 AM new
Do you need a laser printer with this offer? Or does it work with an injet printer? Thanks in advance.....
Cynthia
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psalms139
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posted on October 28, 2001 06:17:13 AM new
Hi cfjmwil404!
Nope, you don't need a laser printer for this to work. My printer is a HP deskjet...and it works GREAT!
Have fun!!!
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firecracker
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posted on October 28, 2001 08:19:28 AM new
http://www.usps.com/cgi-bin/api/shipping_label.cgi
This is a great service. If you send a lot of priority mail you can also buy priority stamps and not ever have to stand in the P.O. line just use the drop off box. No stamping, scaning, or anything else!
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commentary
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posted on October 28, 2001 09:46:32 AM new
Does USPS supply any labels?
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psalms139
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posted on October 28, 2001 09:56:19 AM new
Hi Commentary!
Go to this link:
http://www.usps.com/cgi-bin/api/shipping_label.cgi
Fill out the form..and the label will come up..then just click Print! You use your own Copy Paper from your printer.
That will become the label.
On the above link ..just select "create an online label as a sample" and you will see what I mean.
Hope I explained it ok.
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sidedeals
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posted on October 28, 2001 10:18:37 AM new
Thank you SO MUCH! This is going to be a GOOD THING!
Until they start charging for it... LOL! 
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PostalStreet
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posted on October 29, 2001 04:45:22 AM new
Here's the solution to most of your Post Office woes if you are geographically located in certain metropolitan areas.
There is an incredible new program initiative that you can and should take part in. It's for businesses, including internet auctioneers, in 7 major cities. Those cities are Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago and Houston and their surrounding areas. Here are the benefits:
1. IT'S COMPLETELY FREE TO YOU!!!
2. An Account rep is assigned to you. He/She can offer you various web-based or software based programs which will allow you to
a. print your own priority or express
mail labels with a FREE Delivery
Confirmation Bar Code OR
b. print the above along with postage.
There is a fee involved with "b" but it's so low you'll make money on shipping fees.
3. Belonging to this program also allows you to order all the FREE shipping supplies you need (boxes, stickers, tape, etc.) There's no minimum or maximum and all the supplies come directly to you.
In many instances, the Account Rep can set it up with the local post offices to accept you packages on the loading dock if they are already pre-labeled with postage. It makes life so much easier when you can pull around to the dock or give the bin to the clerk and leave within 5 minutes. An e-mail confirmation is sent when the packages are scanned in and when the package is delivered.
[ edited by PostalStreet on Oct 31, 2001 07:38 AM ]
[ edited by PostalStreet on Nov 1, 2001 08:15 PM ]
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vohnjamm
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posted on October 29, 2001 11:35:47 AM new
I used this for the first time today. Printed out the label and mailed the package. When I entered the DC number to track it indicated that the package had not been mailed yet. The DC was not scanned at the PO. Was the DC entered into USPS system when I processed the lable or should the PO have scanned it? It there some kind of time lapse for the info to update? Thanks in advance for your help.
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katiyana
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posted on October 29, 2001 11:38:19 AM new
My experience is that if you printed the label out correctly with a shipping date of today, it'll go into the system and be trackable tonight - and will show a shipping time of 10pm from your zip code - Apparently that is the time of the download of the info into the DC database.
Scanning with handhelds will put the exact time of shipment into the system, I think.
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jfpnatl
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posted on October 29, 2001 11:42:18 AM new
They show up as being mailed at 10 pm I think this to due to the PO backing up files at that time??? Not sure, but thats what the the Local PO here says....
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commentary
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posted on October 29, 2001 11:47:16 AM new
Thanks for the info on the label.
Dumb question - if this is just a shipping label with no postage on it, how does the post office know you ever mailed it? Also, what proof do you have that it was actually mailed?
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vohnjamm
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posted on October 29, 2001 11:55:59 AM new
Katiyana & jfpnatl: Thanks for all your help!!!! I will wait unti later tonight and try to track again.
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Zazzie
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posted on October 29, 2001 12:00:18 PM new
I guess the proof would be the next time it got scanned by the post office---that would have to be your proof-----plus the fact that your postal receipt has the buyers Zip Code
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commentary
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posted on October 29, 2001 02:58:56 PM new
I thought they do NOT scan them again at the post office. If you have the correct postage on the package, you can just hand them to the clerk.
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Zazzie
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posted on October 29, 2001 03:09:38 PM new
They don't scan it when you take it to the Post Office for postage---but it gets scanned while on it's travels to it's destination.
I just checked one of my freebies and it got scanned twice before arriving at the buyer's address.
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soldat2
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posted on October 29, 2001 03:26:56 PM new
A few facts.....
You CAN print out your free Delivery Confirmation labels with most inkjet printers. To be safe use the best print mode.
You CAN cover the entire label with clear tape it WILL scan.
The package will show as shipped at about 10PM on the day that you said you would ship it. If you know the PO clerk they CAN scan it into the system at the exact time of mailing if they use one of the handheld scanners. If they try to scan it any other way it will charge you.
The proof that you mailed it is by taking your receipt. It has the time, weight and zip code.
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commentary
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posted on October 29, 2001 08:07:16 PM new
Thanks all for the info. I assume there is no problem with laser printers since that it is usually a cleaner print than inkjets.
Is this available at all for International mailings? I mean, can it be use as a proof of mailing?
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sword013
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posted on October 30, 2001 05:19:50 AM new
There is some dispute between the counter folks at my PO on scanning these, but this is what I get from the postmaster:
If they are scanned at the counter, their software will charge you, but all the clerk has to do is issue a credit for "customer postage", and you only pay the priority postage, plus insurance, if any is on the package. My postmaster prefers that his folks NOT scan them at the counter, which is fine by me.
If they don't scan it at the counter, it tends to get scanned at the outgoing distrubition facility and onwards. Most clerks will swear up and down that it's only scanned at the point of delivery and it isn't a "tracking number", like UPS. "It's delivery confirmation, not tracking." They are mistaken. It gets scanned 4 times; at the outgoing distribution facility, incoming facility, customers post office, and at the time of delivery, s it works just like we are used to. Anything less than this is someone being lazy, in his opinion.
JFPNATL is correct; it usually (emphasis on usually) shows up in the system at 10PM, as the website submits the info to their database. When you create the form online, the number is registered in their system.
Some of the clerks haven't seen these before so you have to explain it to them, but once they are used to it, all goes pretty smoothly. I haven't thought about getting the receipts date stamped but that's a great idea. I may have to twist an arm or two over it though.
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wbbell
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posted on October 30, 2001 05:28:35 AM new
Also, what proof do you have that it was actually mailed?
You don't; that's why the service is called Delivery Confirmation. You can buy a separate service called proof of mailing but it requires you to stand in line.
This is (or at least, was) a hot topic on the paypal boards, as paypal requires proof of shipment for seller protection, yet also says that DC is sufficient proof of shipment. Users of Endicia, and now this service, have pointed out this discrepancy with no concrete answers back from paypal.
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