posted on September 20, 2003 10:46:46 AM new
Why pay extra to save the post office money?
USE STAMPS! There is no extra charge!
When I was shipping 20 packages per day I used a Pitney Bowes Postage meter, which was really nice and fast ($20 per month rental plus $20/ month for ink) But it was a ripoff because I was saving the post office money (the cost to print stamps, & the cost for canceling) But they gave me no discount.
Now I use USPS web site for Priority Mail, and STAMPS for everything else. If I want DC then I use USPS shipping assistant (FREE) for the label without postage, the affix the postage as stamps.
Until the post office wakes up and starts offering discounts for electronic postage, USE STAMPS, preferably 1 cent ones, they probably cost the post office 2 cents to prints
posted on September 20, 2003 12:52:20 PM new
dcpent is wise.
All hail dcpent.
At least locally, I don't even have to leave home to get stamps. I fax a request to the main post office, and the stamps arrive the next day.
Of course, if you want discounted postage, you'll have to find one of the guys on the Web who sells odd denominations of unused stamps at a discount off face value.
Our motto: Bright and shiny baubles for persons with low impulse control.
posted on September 20, 2003 01:31:24 PM new
Ah! YOU say TO-MAH-TO, but I say TO-MAE-TO...
Can't ya just picture Fluffy & I rollor-skating in Central Park??
I pay $14.95/month for ENDICIA PRO & I'm delighted with it for many reasons!
Is it for everybody? Of course not!
If I were to change to anything, it would be to the FREE Shipping Assistant from the PO...
OTOH: although my new PC is extremely fast & has 2 biggun HDs, it donna like that JAVA package that the USPS requires -- for me, it's clunky & cumbersome.
posted on September 20, 2003 02:30:39 PM new
I'm with you, Tom. I don't mind the 14.95 for many reasons. It's just easy for me to keep track of everything. But, then again, I throw away money on insurance, too. However, now that I'm hooked up with U-Pic, that pain is minimized and I only insure things I can't replace or higher priced items I don't want to "eat."
For me, it's the cost of doing business. I could cut corners, but the convenience is wonderful. When I need postage - it's one click away. It's the difference between a Ford Pinto and a Lexus. Both get you where you're going, but one is a bit classier than the other. You choose which one you want to be seen in...
Wayne
Trying to Make a Difference - One Satisfied Customer at a Time....
posted on September 20, 2003 06:58:41 PM newHowever, now that I'm hooked up with U-Pic, that pain is minimized
At the end of my third month using U-Pic, I was cutting a check for $65.00 to send them and I paused. Looked at that check. Realized I had had NO claims in the three months of use and had mailed them over $150.00.
I been self-insured ever since that moment.
You might find yourself there one day.
Our motto: Bright and shiny baubles for persons with low impulse control.
posted on September 20, 2003 07:06:44 PM new
Basically, the insurance is offered mainly for the buyer's peace-of-mind.
Many buyers insist upon insurance. I feel therefore that I have to provide them with something -- and I hate USPS ins!
With U-PIC, I offer them the U-PIC invoice I pay as PROOF that I did purchase insurance on their behalf.
The fear I've always had with self-insurance is:
1) Is it LEGAL to self-insure?
2) Do buyers feel "ripped-off" if one self-insures??
Since the buyers are paying me up front for the U-PIC insurance, then it seems far easier & above-board to use a REAL form of insurance -- don't cost me nada!
posted on September 20, 2003 09:54:53 PM newThe fear I've always had with self-insurance is:
1) Is it LEGAL to self-insure?
IANAL (nor do I play one on Vendio) but if it is illegal, there were an awful lot of catalogue mail-order firms violating the law over the last four decades. It was a standard practice to include a space on the order form for optional insurance.
I see few order forms in catalogues any more; of the six catalogues I received yesterday, only one has a paper form in it. No space for insurance. Many catalogue outfits now ship exclusively by UPS, which as we all know includes $100 insurance.
2) Do buyers feel "ripped-off" if one self-insures??
That hasn't been my experience, but I include a label that explains the package is insured even though there is no USPS insurance sticker on it. The only time someone objected was when I omitted the sticker. Their package, of course, was still insured.
Possibly the biggest benefit of self-insurance for those of us who ship small items is that we can drop all our outgoing on the loading dock at the rear of the P.O. No more lines.
Our motto: Bright and shiny baubles for persons with low impulse control.
posted on September 21, 2003 11:54:06 AM new1) Is it LEGAL to self-insure?
It is a federal crime to charge for shipping insurance and to not insure a parcel through a shipping company. Self insurance is only allowed within your shipping charge and not as an extra charge.
posted on September 21, 2003 02:01:33 PM newIt is a federal crime to charge for shipping insurance and to not insure a parcel through a shipping company.
Cite the relevant statute.
Our motto: Bright and shiny baubles for persons with low impulse control.
posted on September 21, 2003 03:21:28 PM new
Hello,
I use USPS online to print postage, confirmation is free. I don't pay anything for it so not quite sure why one should pay for a seperate service to do the same thing?
posted on September 21, 2003 03:40:07 PM newhappy:
eDC is FREE with your site only for PRIORITY -- you have to use the USPS SHIPPING ASSISTANT (which is java-clunky) in order to get $0.13 eDC with other mail classes (1st,Media,ParcelPost,etc).
Although ENDICIA PRO provides many extra goodies, my favorite is: STEALTH INDICIA!
