posted on October 16, 2003 08:31:25 AM new
I want to start doing my own postage, and have been looking at Endicia and stamps.com.
I have seen threads in the past on on-line postage, but couldn't find them now.
Which one do you use? Recommendations? Are there any more out there?
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
"Be kind. Remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Harry Thompson
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
posted on October 16, 2003 08:42:02 AM new
Endicia.com is the premier postage provider of all of them. It has more options for printing/setup of them all. But be advised, setting up your initial template is not the easiest of them all. But their tech support (during week days is excellent) & can help you through the setup.
I tried Stamps & USPS & both were slower & more of a pain in the alpha.
"Another plague upon the land, as devastating as the locusts God loosed on the Egyptians, is "Political Correctness.'" --Charlton Heston
posted on October 16, 2003 12:55:21 PM new
>>But be advised, setting up your initial template is not the easiest of them all<<
Maybe if you try to create your own template it's difficult. But if you start off with one of their many pre-designed template, it's pretty easy. I have a template that works with the free labels I get from USPS, so even my labels are free.
The tech support is excellent and the product is great and keeps getting better with each update. As fast as I ask for a feature, it's already in there or about to be released.
posted on October 16, 2003 01:55:30 PM new
thank you very much!
I talked to one of the clerks at the PO, and she was telling me about "Click 'n Ship" through the USPS site. Unfortunately it's very vague about the service, so I headed to endicia and stamps.com.
I already use the USPS Shipping Assistant and just wanted to be able to add the postage there.
Both endicia and stamps.com look very good. I did try stamps.com when it first came out several years ago and was not impressed with the service - very limited and seems the servers were always down when I wanted to print postage . Looks like they have improved - but endicia is pretty impressive also.
I appreciate your input!
"Be kind. Remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Harry Thompson
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
posted on October 16, 2003 04:17:18 PM new
yisgood,
After reading your very informative explanation of the benefits on your Web site, I would have signed up and you would have received the credit.
However, I've been using Endicia for about 3 months now and LOVE it! I've been using Avery 5168 labels and they have been working just fine.
When you suggested using labels from the USPS, it intrigued me. Are these the 3x5 red, white & blue labels? Which Endicia format do you use for these? Is there enough room for the Delivery Confirmation?
Any guidance you can provide would be appreciated.
Wayne
Trying to Make a Difference - One Satisfied Customer at a Time....
posted on October 16, 2003 04:45:32 PM new
I use the USPS priority labels. I have managed to fit everything on the one label. Most of my shipping is priority. I once accidentally printed a first class label on the priority label. The clerk at the PO caught it and told me to cut off the top or it would either be returned to me or my customer would have to pay extra. Since then I have been following his advice when I send the occasional first class label. If you want the layout, just email me and I will send it to you.
posted on October 16, 2003 07:45:30 PM new
We do a relatively high amount of shipping, and I got tired of my, or our packers having to go to the post office every day, etc. etc., and about a year and a half ago we signed up with Endicia, and honestly, if we hadn't we couldn't keep up with the increase in our business - all the lost time in waiting for a ton of packages to be weighted, stamped, etc., etc., every day - we also signed up with U-Pic for insurance, the same time we signed up for the Endicia program, and we have never looked back. Our business has greatly increased in the last year and a half, although we have been in business since the early 90's, and on the internet since 1996, our internet business is full time for both my husband and my self, and 2 packers, and Endicia and U-Pic is the only way to go - the program has been TOTALLY reliable for us, and within the Endicia program is a way to automatically send your monthly records to U-pic......I encourage any serious seller to look at these two programs, they are major time savers.
posted on October 16, 2003 10:54:50 PM new
>>When you suggested using labels from the >>USPS, it intrigued me. Are these the 3x5 >>red, white & blue labels? Which Endicia >>format do you use for these? Is there >>enough room for the Delivery >>Confirmation?
It depends on the version of the Label 228. If you have Endicia, open the media drop down label and you will see 4 USPS Priority Mail labels (1991 through 2000. Select one to see all the pretty colors we paint -- we actually create a rendering of the complete label in red/blue.
Unfortunately, I think only one of the label configurations will fit E/DC and postage and the address. I met with the Priority Mail supplies coordinator in Washington DC about 6 months ago and apprised him of the problem. Actually, the more recent labels have the least room.
He was pretty much stunned by what we showed him and I think (hope) you will be the next edition of the Label 228 with enough area to handle all the required elements.
BTW, we "stole" the 228 concept about 10 years ago to create our Blue/Red/Green arrow labels. The USPS had inadvertantly designed a label long enough to feed reliabily through laser printers (and even be fed through envelope feeders!) -- yet they had a peel off design which ended up with a main ~4x6" label and some other peel off sections.
posted on October 16, 2003 11:34:49 PM new
Endicia is the way to go, it's better than Stamps.com and one of the best companies of any kind to be a customer of.
posted on October 17, 2003 12:50:12 AM new
I have to admit I LOVE not having to go to the PO any more! I just mail from my complex's communal mailbox and my postperson is very nice about taking my packages. Of course I don't do that high of a volume of mailing either. Even if I do take it to the PO I can just waltz right past everybody standing in line (glaring at me - snicker) and leave my packages on the counter.
Endicia's customer service is super nice and more patient than I am. I recently switched printers and I had the perfect label set up on my old printer and couldn't use it on my new printer, boy was I mad! But the female that took my call was so nice and pleasant that I actually didn't mind so much that I couldn't print the labels the way I used to. Even though I just print mine on paper and tape them on. I had the old printer set up so that I could print 1/8" from the edge of the page.
And I LOVE the fact that we don't have to mail in our mistakes anymore for refund! That was one of the better features in my opinion, even though I don't have to use it much thank goodness!
posted on October 17, 2003 09:47:36 AM new
I certainly wouldn't buy postage at the post office. I get mine delivered to me. If I fax a request to the main p.o. before 8:30 am, my stamps are delivered the same day.
There's no fee for delivery, of course. I pay with a check, though I could pay with a credit card.
There's no wastage using stamps. And no wear and tear on an existing printer, or necessity for buying a special printer and special postage labels.
The savings over using Endicia, stamps.com, or a postage meter are substantial over time.
On the other hand, if you just want to hide the actual postage from your customer or want your package to look professional, you might want to spend $120 or more just in service charges every year to use Internet postage.
Our motto: Bright and shiny baubles for persons with low impulse control.
[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Oct 17, 2003 09:49 AM ]
posted on October 17, 2003 10:05:55 AM new
I use old fashioned stamps too..I have my packaging right at 1 oz and the weight of a label would cost me .23/pkg!! (as it is I have to use the teeny tiny car stamps!)
posted on October 17, 2003 10:37:18 AM new
I love those cute little snot-mouthed digs Scruffy always throws in on anybody who dares to handle things differently
My SHIPPING FEE is composed of many different parts -- the SUM & EXACT METHOD I ship is clearly stated in each auction. The BREAKDOWN of the SHIPPING FEE (as with those who use FEDEX or UPS) is NOBODY'S BUSINESS but mine.
Bidders can chose to bid OR NOT TO BID, with the clear understanding that they will be charged the CLEARLY STATED SHIPPING FEE for the CLEARLY INDICATED SHIPPING MODE.
Why me loveth ENDICIA's STEALTH MODE and all the other GREAT FEATURES of ENDICIA that costs me a very small & reasonable $14.95/month.
NTM: since I don't drive, & since the USPS will NOT deliver stamps to my home with a DEBIT CARD, Endicia has allowed me to avoid all that LICKING!
posted on October 17, 2003 12:51:20 PM new
Wow, I've never seen tomzwillie go ballistic before. Very revealing.
Since the purpose of discussion boards is to discuss, it's entirely appropriate to mention both the upfront and hidden costs of a choice such as Internet postage. An informed decision is the best decision, no?
Our motto: Bright and shiny baubles for persons with low impulse control.
