posted on March 14, 2002 10:36:12 AM new
Ok I downloaded endicia, and I am totally confused on this.
I've always stood in line, with my 2 huge bags of boxes and waited, sometimes going 2 x a day.
So my partner did some studying of all the online postage and decided that endicia was the best for me.... (ha)
Ok he's not here, and I just tried it.
I think I just messed up. I did the Sample print and it looked good, gave me the delivery confirmation.
So I go and print the actual postage, ta da, no delivery confirmation. It did print out the postage and the right addresses
To and from.
I've been doing ebay for 5 years, and ya think I could figure this one out. I'm stumped. The guy at endicia said 'you can't use NON self adhesive label, you have to use adhesive labels (ya know, the ones they sell) well we've been using the free label with the free delivery confirmation from the USPS site since they started it, and used the cutting board in the shipping room and taped them with clear tape, NOT on the barcode for DC though.
Ok anyone use this... do you have to use self adhesive labels? Can't you use regular printer paper, and tape, and ok these are incredibly stupid questions, but can you clear tape over the actual postage I just printed? I put in, when starting the thing, the zip code to the closet P.O. but I use another one too, because its open later, now am I stuck using the one P.O.?
Can someone give me a little info on this type of online postage with easy to understand language?
posted on March 14, 2002 02:13:59 PM new
You can get your postage refunded - there is a form on the website after you sign in.
Yes, I have used them since around July. My only complaint is refunds take several months, if not longer!
I have been using the old priority labels dated Jan 1999 but will run out of them this week and you can not get them anywhere (around here anyway). There used to be a poster here, avon I think, that had posted a great way to use a 3 1/3 X 4 label using 2 at a time. One with retrun address and DC, the other with postage and mailing address. I will go that route when I run out of the FREE labels.
I tryied the blue arrow labels from endicia but they jammed in my printer all the time (too thick).
posted on March 15, 2002 05:48:55 PM new
I just switched from stamps.com to Enidicia and am not doing well on it at all. How in the world do you print a priority label that has your address, their address, postage and the delivery confirmation on it?? With stamps.com you print the delivery confirmation separately is that what you do for enidicia too? It is driving me nuts and I am wasting ink. ANY HELP would be appreciated here too.
posted on March 16, 2002 04:53:12 AM new
EASY ENDICIA:
1) Use the BLUE LABEL templete! I use the "2UP" 8.5X5.5 from GFLABELS -- real cheap, but they may not be in business anymore!
2) FOR DC: I've NEVER had one NOT PRINT out -- are you sure you have that option checked under OPTIONS? Also, YES the DC will print even if only the CITY STATE is verified.
3) DO NOT WASTE INK! Call ENDICIA CS -- they REALLY will help you to get it going easy!
posted on March 16, 2002 06:51:05 AM new
I have been using endicia since late December. I love it! I use regular Avery labels and can print 6 labels per sheet. When you choose the media type, Avery numbers are listed. The one I use is in the list and the program knows how many labels, size, spacing, etc. I use a laser printer and print one label per pass. The next time, choose the correct label on the page. The last label looks just as good as the first one. Look in the list and then choose the label. I use 5164 and it works fine. For Priority, I use 6878, which is larger, in order to print the etracking number. In that case, I use a seperate return address, since there wasn't enough room on the label for all of it.
posted on March 17, 2002 08:58:25 AM new
I think I got it down now
I was having a heck of a time changing the actual Post office where package was mailed from, where the zip code goes in the postage area. I finally went into my account on the interent and changed mailing address to the actual physical address of the P.O. I wanted. I couldn't use my zip code post office, beleive it or not, its too far!
Now about those labels, can you buy the right ones, like at Staples for Return address;Send to; D.C. AND Postage? Is there a name and/or number for them.
I have been wasting a lot of printer paper doing it. I print them out and tape them out, the customer service at Endicia told me that was fine, except for the D.C. barcode I leave untaped. I would love to use labels.
Now my last dilemma..... INSURANCE. I don't offer it, I will insure if someone requests it, but we've been packing solidly for 5 years now, and don't see adding the extra expense anyway. If a package DID get lost.... I can refund, but I always use D.C.
Now I get the one or 2 out of the 30 each time I go drop them off insisting on insurance....... the whole point of getting online postage was to be able to simply drop them off.... now I'm still standing in line for one package that buyer insisted on insurance..... for that $10 item...
posted on March 17, 2002 09:17:18 AM new
You can print insurance from Endicia. When you get ready to print, and the window pops up, select postage options and another window pops up with a bunch of tabs. There is an insruance tab. Also, yes, you can print on plain paper, but dont tape the postage, (the po man told me this makes the postage invalid!!) I use a glue stick. I sell on Amazon (did ebay in the past) so when I print the postage info, what I do is print their invoice info first, then feed the paper thru other end first, and print the postage info. That way, I only use one piece of plain old paper (no expensive labels to buy!) per customer. Works like a charm!
posted on March 17, 2002 10:06:28 PM new
I had major headaches with Endicia, so I switched to clickstamp through pitneyworks.com. $1.49 per month plus actual cost of postage, unlimited usage per month as far as I know. My only complaint is no postage refund for mis-prints, but they do let you do a sample print before you actually do the real print. Otherwise, it's been absolutely great.
posted on March 17, 2002 10:09:43 PM new
Oh great, I don't know how many packages I sent this weekend and taped over the postage...I emailed customer service at Endicia first and they said it was fine... I asked her that question specifically, but she said not to tape over the bar code on D.C.
I took one to the clerk, to make sure it looked ok, and he said, its fine?
Now I may have 50 packages that might not get delivered.... if they do, they best send them back to my return address and not end up on the post office ebays auctions..
posted on March 19, 2002 04:48:52 AM new
Not to worry...because I did the same thing at first when I had Stamps.com...taped it on. They told me about it, but still accepted it, and it got to the buyer. Good luck! I LOVE Endicia so far...the only thing I hate is having to pay the monthly fee, so maybe I will check out clickstamps (or whatever it was)
posted on March 19, 2002 05:41:07 PM new
I tape over all labels and have never had one rejected. I think the scanners are better now. There was a time when the PO's scanners could not read through tape.
Some postal clerks are overly cautious.
posted on March 24, 2002 08:14:22 AM new
I need help. I just signed up for Endicia and love it so far because the man of the house can drop packages off in a mailbox on the way to work -- saving me tons of time.
Big problem!?! I read on another forum that you must GO TO THE PO AND STAND IN LINE each and every time someone insures in order to get your little green slip.
Is this true? If so, what is the point in using Endicia I wonder? I joined to *avoid* standing in line. Ugh.
If anyone knows, please post. I cannot find word one about it on the Endicia website -- and it's Sunday, can't reach them. I'm prepping packages for shipment tomorrow. Any info would be appreciated. TIA!
posted on March 24, 2002 08:23:36 AM new
Okay, I just found this tucked away in the Help Guide on Dazzle:
"Important Note: When sending, Insured Mail may NOT be placed in a Post Office maildrop or a street letterbox. Consult USPS publication S913 (available at http://www.usps.com) or a local postal representative for this and other important requirements."
Guess there's little hope of avoiding those lines .
posted on March 25, 2002 02:33:33 AM new
Thank you. I did find this information online....
"Q: How do I mail Domestic Mailpieces weighing 16 oz and over?
A: Endicia mail is treated like metered mail. Domestic mailpieces weighing 16 oz and over with Endicia postage can be deposited in any mail receptacle, handed to your mail carrier, or presented at a window of your local Post Office."
I have been depositing 2lb packages (small ones) in a "mail receptacle." I hope they reach their destinations.
I find the Endicia help pages not-so-very-helpful .
posted on March 26, 2002 03:15:43 PM newNearTheSea -- Don't worry about your taped-over labels. Those packages will get delivered!! You can tape over both the delivery confirmation barcode and the postage indicium -- IOW, the entire label. Just use a good quality, clear wide tape.
Insurance
There are two insurance options in Endicia. First is the USPS insurance. We will add the appropriate additional postage to your indicium, BUT you must still take your package to the PO to fill out the insurance forms.
A VASTLY easier insurance system -- which is fully approved by the USPS -- is U-PIC. With this system, you can completely avoid the PO trip. Complete information is here:
Domestic packages over 1 lb which are posted with a meter or PC-Postage system **can** be placed in a collection box. There is no need to take these to a retail PO counter. As a meter license holder, you are classified as a "known mailer" by the USPS.
posted on March 26, 2002 03:31:14 PM new
Thank you HTH whew that makes it actually way easier!
What I want to know where these receptacles are that will fit a the #5 and 7 Priority boxes that do weigh 2-4 lbs. I've never seen them at either PO I've been to, or am I missing something..
The USPS has authorized Endicia to refund unused postage under the following two circumstances.
1. A valid, scannable postage indicia was produced but not used. This may be mailed back to Endicia with a USPS refund form (available on our Web site) for a full refund.
2. An attempt was made to produce a mailing label containing postage AND a delivery confirmation barcode (e.g. Priority Mail, Media Mail, Express Mail), and no specimen ever printed!! This could occur if you had a major printer failure, your PC ran low on resources and failed to print the postage indicium, etc. A refund can be made IF you print another label to the SAME address for the SAME postage amount/postage class on the SAME business day.
Regarding refund request processing time, this was a problem historically. Our turn around time now is about 2 weeks, and refunds are made directly to your postage account rather than via check.
posted on March 26, 2002 04:11:15 PM new
"What I want to know where these receptacles are that will fit a the #5 and 7 Priority boxes that do weigh 2-4 lbs"
Ah, that's another story! If they are that big physically, you won't be able to stuff them into a collection box!
Here are your alternatives:
1. Check with your carrier. If he/she has a truck on the delivery route, they will often take the packages for you. Our carrier is great about this. Of course we always invite him in for pizza on "Pizza Friday" at our office. And he's always good for a soda from our fridge. And if we have a lot of boxes, we'll help him load them.
2. Go meet your Postmaster. PostMasters are rewarded in part based on the $ postage volume running through their ZIP5's. As a meter holder, all of the postage funds you spend are credited to his tally. Remind him/her of this and ask what could be done to help you and him as you drive a lot of packages his way. Bring in one of the packages to show and tell. Encourage him to go to:
posted on March 27, 2002 09:56:01 AM new
I'm very glad someone in authority at Endicia decided to post this useful information. I will definitely consider UPic as that would cut my trips to the PO down to once a week.
Most of my packages are under 2 lbs, and most do fit in the receptacle, so I will stay with Endicia .
I recently had reason to contact Endicia customer support. I received a very prompt, courteous and complete answer. Recommended !
.
!