ihula
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posted on November 29, 2001 05:27:15 AM new
My husband and I are in a debate right now. I go daily to the post office, and I work full time - the lines and time I am wasting is getting to be more and more. The bulk of my sales are videos. I give people a choice of shipping - $1.50 for media rate, $2.50 first class or $3.50 priority. He wants me to raise my postage rates 50 cents (he figures 100 packages a week at 50 cents is quite a bit of money). I'm hesitant to do that since I think a lot of people buy from me because my shipping is relalatively cheap. But I would consider doing it if I signed up for Endicia or some other internet postage that would give me delivery confirmation. I thought then at $2.00 for media rate I would still make more of a profit and buyers would feel they are getting more for their money. Is using internet postage more of a hassle then it's worth? I stand in line maybe 20-30 minutes a day now, and I think it would take me longer than that to print out all the postage and type the addresses etc. Plus the cost of using an online service, buying the labels etc. Sorry this is so long, but should I just raise my rates...leave them as they are...or do sellers have an opinion about internet postage.
Thanks!! 
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justmypostingid
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posted on November 29, 2001 05:57:35 AM new
If you ship most of them media mail you can just drop them off in the big blue mailbox.
I have been using online postage for years, I just drive around back and drop my packages off.
Figure $.10 for the label, $.10 for ink and divide the $9.99 a month by the number of packages you ship.
Yes it is well worth it, I think.
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pjrscards
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posted on November 29, 2001 06:00:11 AM new
Check out Pitney Bowes web site they have an on-line service called Click Stamps. Cost is $1.95 per month and you pay exact rate for postage. Can be printed on a single label. I find it saves me a lot of time, is professional looking and provides an accurate record of postage expenses and record of shipments.
Peace
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pelorus
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posted on November 29, 2001 06:07:19 AM new
I ship mostly books, charge a flat rate of $3 for everything, and always ship media mail. Most books need about $2 of postage. Your rates are very low and almost no one would complain if your media mail rate was 50 cents higher.
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ahc3
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posted on November 29, 2001 08:55:51 AM new
I think $2 for media mail is reasonable, especially since it cost at least $1.33 for exact postage. I think postage is a factor when buying (lately, I have been buying DVD's, and will not pay more than $2 for shipping. Those who ask $4 I bypass.
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terrydarc
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posted on November 29, 2001 09:29:07 PM new
I sell books and charge 2.50, 3.50 and 5.50 for media, 1st class, priority for most books. Considering the envelope is 75 cents or so, that isn't much profit. Have no idea if I loose sales because of this, but my goal is to sell books for $15 and up, so I think not.
However, when I BUY books on ABE, I'm sensitive to people charging $5 a pop to ship a lousy paperback! Want my cake and eat it too.
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richierich
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posted on November 29, 2001 11:53:03 PM new
CHECK WITH YOUR POST OFFICE!
Mine does not allow you to drop off in back.
I went to a closer PO but in a different zip code and they would not take my packages because of the zip code being different.
I do use Endicia and still have to wait in line because at least one of my packages have insurance an my PO requires me to wait in line to get that green slip stamped.
My time at the PO window is MUCH less since I started using online postage. And I gain 40 cents per package in profit because I quote the shipping including delivery confirmation and round up. NOT all addresses are in the system and those have to be done at the counter. Again, causing me to wait in line.
I used to go to the PO daily. I now only go on Tuesday and Friday. You might save yourself some time by not going daily. I have had NO complaints about it at all.
Endicia saves me $$ but it does cost me time.
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HarryWhitehouse
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posted on December 2, 2001 05:00:20 PM new
Here are some interesting delivery statistics for package mailings by Endicia customers. Since our postage dispensing system is centralized, we have a good amount of data to draw upon.
In a given time window in October we found that 50596 Priority Mail packages were shipped and had an average delivery time of 3.45 days. These packages used the free delivery confirmation barcode.
For 22264 Media Mail packages shipped in the same time period, the average delivery time was 5.65 days. These packages used the optional 12 cent delivery confirmation barcode.
The media mail delivery stats are pretty impressive and are aligned with my personal experience with a few media mail packages I've shipped personally (e.g., 5 days CA to MA!).
What *might* be happening here is that USPS handlers are mistaking the Endicia shipping labels for expedited packages. Below is a link to the Express Mail Label format:
http://www.endicia.com/endicia-usa/Site/express.cfm
The Priority Mail label is pretty much identical except that a large "P" replaces the "E". The media mail label is also very similar but the "E" is replaced by a large black rectangle. BTW, all of these label designs follow the latest suggested USPS shipping label design standards.
We are going to do a more formal statistical analysis of this data so we can develop a more complete picture of things, but I think these preliminary figures are interesting in of themselves.
[ edited by HarryWhitehouse on Dec 2, 2001 05:03 PM ]
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jhf2662
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posted on December 12, 2001 06:31:39 AM new
Hello,
Just started w/ Endicia about 9 days ago. Everything works wonderful, can't say enoug good things. However..
Atleast 7 different times, when I am in the middle of printing labels (I use 4 up). Labels will be printing just fine ENDICIA & All. And then suddenly I will print a label & everything BUT THE ENDICIA will print (the endicia.com & the numbers below it print), but NOT the ENDICIA.
I didn't pay too much attention the first few times cuz it was MEDIA MAIL rates. However today, TWICE, not in a row, but in between printing PERFECTLY fine labels. This happened on $3.95 Priority Labels.
HELP... Can I get a refund for this?? I know it's not my printer. I love ENDICIA, but I cannot afford to loose money like this.
All that & a Bag of Chips Too!!
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ageless
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posted on December 12, 2001 11:05:41 AM new
I've been using simplypostage for almost 6 months and after looking at endicia's site..I'll stick to what I use. Endicia's idea is nice but demands so much more work...so the little bit you save by using their service...to me isn't worth it.
Simply postage...
You pay a small monthly fee for the service.
Your postage meter weights your item and is very small and mine sits by my computer. There are never mess ups with printing out postage..only if you yourself enter the wrong date and that is easily fixed in a few seconds. Simply also has many payment options available for purchasing postage, etc. My only expense using them is the postage labels which are very cheap, the monthly fee and doing my own address labels. It goes quickly and I can even print out postage up to 7 days early if I choose to which is a big help when getting things ready to mail during the weekend.
Most times Simplypostage is running a special for newbies who sign up. They either wave the postage meter charge or give you a great amount of postage free.
I tried another online postage service before simplypostage and after paying all my fees found out at the time they didn't cover media mail. I was upset and closed my account after shelling out nearly $100. That one also had a very poor customer service at the time and my postage jammed when printing all the time. It pays to ask around and see what sellers prefer that's for sure!
For more information on: Simplypostage.com go to their website and check it out.
Hope this helps anyone shopping around for an online postage program to use.
Peg
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HarryWhitehouse
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posted on December 12, 2001 11:21:28 AM new
jhf2662
When the postage indicium doesn't print it means your computer is low on resources. (Basically, your printer driver is failing to print ANY and ALL graphics due to limited resources.) Try closing other applications when you are printing. If that doesn't work, reboot and try again just running DAZzle. If this happens frequently, you might consider adding more memory to your machine.
You CAN get a refund for any label you misprint -- even if you don't have a physical specimen of the misprinted piece- as long as the following criteria are met:
1. Your label contains some form of tracking (PM Delivery Confirm, Signature Confirm, Express Mail, Media Mail with DC).
2. You print another label to the same address for the same postage amount and same class of mail (the one you will actually mail.) You print this label on the same business day.
You can apply for a refund by visiting our Website and printing out a USPS refund form.
Best
[email protected]
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ilist4u
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posted on December 12, 2001 12:11:08 PM new
Definately check with the Post Office to see if you can drop off around back. There is no better feeling than driving around 2 dozen cars in line trying to find a parking spot, let alone the line inside sometimes. I'm in and out as fast as I can unload the packages on the loading dock. Usually 5 minutes. Standing in line really sucks, but what was worse for me was holding the line up. Drop off around back and avoid it all.
Billy Johnson
iList4U
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ihula
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posted on December 12, 2001 12:54:24 PM new
Actually last week my post office came up with a solution for me (and 2 other people who have many packages). We drop them off at the counter and hand them a blank check. They do the packages after hours (or during a down time) and then they put the receipt in my PO Box. So far it has worked out very well! (and it's a small enough post office that I trust them with a blank check). Bonus for me - I don't have to do the work myself on the computer and I don't have to stand in line. Needless to say those postal workers are getting a pretty nice Christmas bonus from me
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jmjones6061
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posted on December 12, 2001 05:32:02 PM new
Harry -
When did you start that refund policy? I thought I had to have the physical screww up. It has happened to me twice and I even have an email from one of your service people telling me that there was no way to refund on these screw-ups (it was the printer - not your software).
Either way, I am sure that it is too late for refunds on these as they happened over a month ago, but when you change things like this, it would be nice to know.
Thanks!
Jane
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HarryWhitehouse
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posted on December 12, 2001 10:59:35 PM new
>> When did you start this refund policy.
It's been under a controlled "beta" test for about 60 days. This morning, a high-level officer in the USPS Inspection Service was at our office for a presentation of our results. Everything looked good to him, so we will begin doing this on a wide-spread basis immediately.
And we can go "back in time". If you have a situation like this which happened to you, and you printed another label to the same address on the same day (which you probably did), we can issue you a refund on the unused label.
Best
Harry
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tomwiii
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posted on December 13, 2001 06:23:31 AM new
Harry:
PLEASE HELP!
I suspended my use of Endicia because of my move to FL in OCT -- my PC was stolen by the movers & I had to buy a new PC with WIN-XP & a new printer...the Brother HL1440 laser.
Has Dazzle caught up with XP yet? Can I go back to Endicia EASILY? I really miss it!
THANKS! TOM
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ezinkjetstore
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posted on December 13, 2001 09:23:34 AM new
Thanks for the update on the refunds Harry. I have two to submit myself with the same situation.
http://www.ezinkjetstore.com
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HarryWhitehouse
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posted on December 13, 2001 01:56:55 PM new
tomwiii Sorry to hear of the computer loss. It's the data ON the PC which is often the most significant loss. Hope that you were backed up in some way.
Regarding XP, DAZzle seems to be doing pretty well on that platform. We have a handfull of XP customers for whom the MS cryptographic modules (part of IE 6) are not working properly. We are working to solve that with Microsoft's assistance.
I'd definitely give DAZzle a try with your new XP machine -- it will probably work just fine. If not, let us know.
[email protected]
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jhf2662
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posted on January 8, 2002 12:36:20 AM new
Harry,
Help,
How long does it take to get a postage refund processed? Sent in several labels w/ the above problem over 3 weeks ago & have heard nothing since.
Also your website still reflects the old "10 day rule". Some clarification would be greatly appreciated.
THANK YOU.
Jon Fosness
All that & a Bag of Chips Too!!
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HarryWhitehouse
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posted on January 8, 2002 03:57:23 PM new
Refunds still take about 4 weeks to process. If you don't get anything in a week more, email me directly and I'll look into it.
If you saw the hoops UPSP makes us go through to process refunds, you would see why it takes so long <g>. We (as a postage vendor) never actually hold any of the postage funds -- they are put directly into the USPS bank account when you buy postage. So USPS considers this all "their money" -- especially the refunds.
HTH
[email protected]
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urdahl50
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posted on January 8, 2002 08:04:46 PM new
Harry:
How do I submit a refund. I just lost 24.25 on a 20lb package due to a printing error.
Thanks a bunch
Alicia (uncover)
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