posted on January 25, 2004 05:51:09 PM new
At the risk of sounding stupid.
Just what do you need a chart for from a postage program?
As long as it show the figures I need for Taxes, why do I need a pie chart?
What I do need is trouble free service,I get that.
And Tax figures,I get that.
posted on January 25, 2004 08:08:00 PM new
I don't use either service. But am considering it. I do use the USPS for all my priority packages and love it.
I'm still waiting to see the Stamps.com users charts
Is this really important. Seems to me if you are wasting time looking at some stupid charts, you aren't spending your time being productive. Especially when you already know that infomation with basic record-keeping.
The big question would be how easy is it to use and what options to you get as far as shipping packages. And of course, costs.
The chart thing is a whistle and bell and not a basic option needed to do business.
I would give a strike against Endica for that.
I do believe I read that Endica had the stealth option. I would give them a good mark for that.
posted on January 25, 2004 08:33:15 PM new
Stamps has every thing Endicia has.
And has been around a lot longer,I think you can chalk that up for the ease of use.
It does cost a couple dollars more for the advanced plan, which is what you need to print in so called Stelth mode.
But the thing I like is as long as I have: paper/envelopes and ink in the printer there is never a problem.
It gives me full reports,which are what I need, not a pie chart.
posted on January 25, 2004 10:00:08 PM new
LOL Dad. I must admit, you've taken the step I wasn't going to. But since you threw the first ball out, thought I'd let you know you had backup.
posted on January 26, 2004 03:30:58 AM new
dadsof, \are you a co-owner in this company or something? How come you are not offering a link for a referral in your posts?
posted on January 26, 2004 04:26:35 AM new
A Co-Owner?
I wish!
I'm not putting up a link for anything.
I'm not trying to gain anything,just letting you know they are a good trouble free postal program!
At one point I thought Stamps. cost more,but after looking around I see they cost less!
If I put up a link would you sign up?
I doubt it!
Just making a point.
This board is always full of threads about Endicia problems,and on the same hand the people with all the problems are telling you how great the service is.
The point I'm trying to make is that the best service is a program that runs easily with no problems!
As for Endicia: If I was looking for a postal program,I'd be afraid to even try them from what I've read here!
posted on January 26, 2004 07:54:14 AM new
Hmmmm. Kind of quiet on the stamps.com international postage option…..
Let’s try one more……
Stamps.com recognizes that there are occasions in which your postage may not print as intended or you decide not to use postage that you printed. Stamps.com will assist you in obtaining a refund for misprinted or unused postage by submitting a request to the US Postal Service on your behalf if you complete the following steps:
1. Verify that your misprinted postage adheres to all US Postal Service requirements for refund credit, including:
·Unused printed postage. Postage already handled or returned to sender by the USPS are not eligible for refund.
·Entire original mail piece (if postage printed directly on or already adhered to) or original label stock (if label not adhered to the mail piece yet). Postage cut-outs or incomplete mail pieces will not be eligible.
·Submission of physical proof (e.g., photocopies of postage/mail pieces and/or print histories are not acceptable).
2. Complete the USPS Credit Request Form.
3. Mail all misprinted postage (with the entire original mail pieces and/or label stock) and completed form to Stamps.com within 30 days of the misprint.
Requests that do not adhere to ALL of the US Postal Service requirements will not receive credit!
Stamps.com will review your refund request and issue postage credit to your Stamps.com account for all amounts in compliance with the USPS refund requirements. You will receive an email confirmation when your account is credited. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for processing.
OR (here’s a no-brainer!)
Q: How do I apply for a postage refund?
A: Follow the directions below:
1. In Dazzle click the 'Postage' menu.
2. Click on 'Refund Request'.
3. Choose one of the 4 options on the Refund Request page, to search your postage log and begin the new online refund process.
4. Follow the directions on screen.
NOTE: There are 3 types of refunds.
1. Electronic:
Your mail piece was printed with Delivery or Signature Confirmation, or Express Mail tracking number; and your mail piece was never scanned by the USPS; and you requested the refund within 48 hours of the original printing.
2. Tracking Audit:
Your mail piece was printed with Delivery or Signature Confirmation, or Express Mail tracking number; and your mail piece was never scanned by the USPS; and you printed another identical mail piece with-in 24 hours, to the same address, using the same postage class and amount. You are requesting a refund on the first printed piece.
3. Physical Proof:
Your original mail piece - including the postage indicium printed legibly, completely, and without fading or smudging - is enclosed with your refund request form 3533 PCP-X. The 2d Indicia postage barcode MUST be provided and MUST be scanable for a refund through Endicia.
posted on January 26, 2004 08:57:52 AM new
here's one more:
You can easily move an address from any other application into DAZzle via Windows Clipboard. Whenever you use the Copy command in any Windows program, the data is copied to the clipboard. DAZzle can be set up to constantly monitor the clipboard to look for an address and print or run Dial-A-ZIP on the address.
To paste an address automatically from the clipboard
1. Copy the address (or any block of text containing the address) in your other application.
2. Switch to or Activate DAZzle -- DAZzle will show the address on your layout. You can either print or run Dial-A-ZIP on the address at this point.
If this doesn’t work, check your preferences to make sure this feature is on. In File|Preferences select the Clipboard category. The Monitor Clipboard for Addresses option must be checked.
Note: If you also select Always Print after Paste in your Clipboard Preferences, DAZzle will automatically print the new address (first displaying the Print Option dialog box). This is the fastest and easiest way to print envelopes.
To manually paste an address from the clipboard
1. Copy the address (or any block of text containing the address) in your other application.
2. Activate DAZzle.
3. Select File|Paste Address or press Shift+Ins.
To copy an address manually to the clipboard
Select File|Copy Address or press Ctrl+Ins.
To copy an address automatically to the clipboard
1. Select Automatic Copy Address to Clipboard in File|Preferences.
2. Any time the address is changed in DAZzle, the modified address is placed in the clipboard.
Note: If you also select Copy Barcode, a graphic image of the barcode is placed in the clipboard.
Are you stamps.com users TYPING in your address every time? Funny, I searched and searched the stamps.com website and couldn't find anything on clipboard, cut and paste, etc. etc.
posted on January 26, 2004 09:22:10 AM new
OK, GG quit stirring the S#@))
Yes, You can cut and paste addresses just like with your Endicia. YEs , you can do international, yes, yes, yes, yada yada.
Does Endicia every give YOU free postage??
I have an idea, just go open up the a free 30day trial account at Stamps. Check it out and then come back here and knock it next month!
[ edited by ltray on Jan 26, 2004 09:23 AM ]
posted on January 26, 2004 09:56:57 AM new
Does Stamps.com support international mailings?
Please use NetStamps when sending International mail. Internet Postage and Shipping Labels currently do not support overseas mailings.
When printing NetStamps for International mail, use the "Specified value per NetStamp" option in order to print a stamp for the special amount of postage. Feel free to use the USPS "International Rates Calculator" (available from the “Tips & Tools” screen) to calculate the exact postage amount you need. The USPS calculator also will let you know if you need to include a Customs Form. International packages should be taken to your post office.
SOUNDS LIKE A LOTTA TROUBLE TO ME! I just click and print a normal label. Let's see, do I want to print one label or a whole buncha "net stamps"? You buying those sheets that make the little bitty stamps?
posted on January 26, 2004 10:08:33 AM new
Actually the net stamp for international mail isn't as much trouble as it seems. You just pop the label into your printer and it prints out a stamp. They give you some of the net stamps labels in your introductory kit.
Stamps.com also supports my word documents. At work in Word Perfect I highlight the address and then go up to "Format" at the top and under that menu is "Stamps.com Internet Postage" When you click on that Stamps.com opens, asks for you password and then automatically inserts the address for postage processing.
I guess my deciding factor against Endicia was the printer set-up process seemed to involved. To much of a hassle. I wanted plug and play.
posted on January 26, 2004 10:16:40 AM new
Hi:
Been out plowing snow, got enought to go.
With net stamps you don't need to print a bunch of little ones, you can print one in the amount you want.
And I'm sure with Endicia you need to figure out postage, or do you call CS and let them do it for you?
And is Endicia Exempt from customs forms?
As far as Refunds, once about 3 years ago my printer screwed up and ruined a couple envelopes.
Called CS and they told me I would have to send the bad prints back to them to get credit.
Got a better printer so those problems are a thing of the past.
They may have a better system now or not, don't know because I've had no trouble since then.
I don't really go looking for solutions till I have problems.
posted on January 26, 2004 10:52:26 AM new
Endicia lets you print postage for both Domestic and International destinations. Send letters and packages to 243 countries around the world. From Abu Dhabi to Zimbabwe - if the USPS lets you mail it there, Endicia can print the postage for it.
Endicia doesn't just print the postage, it's a complete solution for mailing overseas. Endicia's International Mail Advisor takes all the guess work out. It shows you all the mailclasses, rates, restrictions, prohibitions, observations, customs forms, and areas served. All you have to do is provide the address, select the mailclass and weight, then print.
1. Enter the International Address. The last line of the address should contain only the country name (e.g., England, Egypt, etc.) DAZzle should recognize that it is a foreign address and select the "International Mail" option for the Mail Class.
2. Complete your design then click Print.
3. On the Print dialog box, click the International Mail button. A Postage Rate dialog box will appear with the information particular to the country that you are sending to.
4. Select a Postage Type then click OK.
5. Back on the Print dialog box, doublecheck that the Postage section looks correct then click Test Print or Print.
Even the USPS doesn't let you print the customs forms from their website, but I get a bunch of the green slips from the PO and attach that to my package filled out, and maybe because my PO knows me, I just put the package on the counter (if I don't give it to my carrier) and I STILL don't have to stand in line.
here's a pic:
so no, you don't figure out postage, you figure out how much it weighs just like you do with any other package!
Endicia also works with Word, Word Perfect.
As for the refund question stickdaddy? It is ONLINE automated. We don't pay postage to mail that stuff in. It shows up in our account in a couple of days....how long does it take for YOUR refund to get processed? Let's see...address the envelope, gather material, put envelope in mail, and wait. and wait.
posted on January 26, 2004 11:14:24 AM new
OK, I gotta jump in on this one.
Signed up with Stamps when they first started, used it for the longest time. One day a girl working for me printed a large batch of postage (over $130 worth) and the printer jammed a few pages into it. Not realizing she was spending REAL money, she tried two more times to reprint the batch. So now I had over $400 worth of postage in my printer spooler. Desperate, I called Stamps for advice. They said "oh, well- you'll just have to turn off your printer and start over". And of course, there would be no physical proof for a refund. I did hold off for a while after talking with them and my husband was able to get one of the 3 batches to print out, but I lost ALOT of postage that day (oh, and the girl was fired a few days later too!) They seemed very non-caring.
Then I had another issue with the program crashing on 3 different computers when our database was imported. I spoke to a couple of people that couldn't answer the question, and they referred it to someone else to find out and call me back and I never heard back from them. That is what prompted me to switch to Endicia.
Then when I uploaded our address database to Endicia - same thing - program crashed. But the difference is... within 24 hours, not only did Endicia actually call me back quickly, they took a look at my database and found that a USPS software bug was what was causing the problem (a PO box with a letter in it) and found a work-around for me.
posted on January 27, 2004 07:51:52 PM new
I have just signed up to stamps.com and so far it seems to give me everything that I need, but like .....momof3boys mentioned it worries me if a problem with the printer occurs because from what is mentioned in the site you have a hard time getting back the lost money from printing errors.
So I try to make sure that I dont make any mistake when going to print........but the funny thing is the first postage lable I printed I did it wrong and lost 5.00 even before I got started.
I use to use the UPS program and at least if you have a problem you can correct it right there yourself and reprint your postage with no additional cost.
But for now I will be shipping with the USPS only and continue with Stamps.com.........and just hope it all works out smoothly.
posted on January 27, 2004 08:38:11 PM new
dadofstickboy
When I went to print my lable my printer paper was not loaded right, so I clicked print and was not watching my printer to see if the paper was pulled into it ..........so now im very carefull when I click Print.........lol
I just wish stamps.com had a feature that you could correct an error when you have a problem........UPS has it.......
I did hold off for a while after talking with them and my husband was able to get one of the 3 batches to print out, but I lost ALOT of postage that day (oh, and the girl was fired a few days later too!) They seemed very non-caring.