DO NOT Use Stamps.Com

[Sallana]

I want everyone here to know this. I signed up for stamps.com and I think I may have even let one month go by where I paid for the membership. DO NOT DO THIS. They charge you 16$ a month for a service you can get with Paypal for FREE.

Here are directions on how to print shipping labels straight from pay-pal:

1. Log in.
2. Click the "Merchant Services" tab.
3. Under 'Shipping & Tax' Click the "Shipping Center" link.
4. This page will explain to you how to print a shipping label after a payment is recieved, you can follow these instructions, or -
5. In the top paragraph, click the "Paypal Multi-Order Shipping" link at the end.
6. Be sure to turn your pop-up blocker off.
7. A new window will pop up and take you to the shipping tool.
8. Close the first blue box that pops up.
9. Click File, then Create New Orders
10. Fill in the shipping information, click ok.
11. The order appears in the list. Check the order, then click print, then click "print and pay", then follow prompt.

Paypal also lets you print a wide variety of package types. You can print all priority mail labels AS WELL AS First Class shipping labels which usps.com does not allow you to do, and stamps.com charges for it. Paypal lets you do it FOR FREE. You will of course, be charged for the shipping.

Just wanted to let everyone know that. I have no idea how stamps.com even survives. I guess it's more for bigger businesses that do a lot of shipping in high quantities.

I hope this helped someone else avoid the post office. If you have a printer and some money in a PP account - You've got a home-based post office for NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. I can't stress that enough because I am seriously red-assed that I paid the 16$ this month for a service I could have gotten for free. Just goes to show - Do your homework!!
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[HollieGolightly]

I hope this helped someone else avoid the post office. If you have a printer and some money in a PP account - You've got a home-based post office for NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. I can't stress that enough because I am seriously red-assed that I paid the 16$ this month for a service I could have gotten for free. Just goes to show - Do your homework!!


Thank you. That does help me out a lot. I don't drive. (bad eyesight) So this will work out great for me.

 

[Satharra]

Wow! This is pretty nifty! So I can just put the package in my mailbox and have no interaction at all with my postman?

This will be SO helpful in the future! Thank you! Maybe I won't be asked to leave and never return in my current town's post office. (Yes, yes that really did happen in my last town when I questioned just what service they were providing me.)

 

[Sallana]

Wow! This is pretty nifty! So I can just put the package in my mailbox and have no interaction at all with my postman?

This will be SO helpful in the future! Thank you! Maybe I won't be asked to leave and never return in my current town's post office. (Yes, yes that really did happen in my last town when I questioned just what service they were providing me.)

You can leave it in the mail box, or there is a button you can click in the shipping window that lets you schedule a pick up so the mail-man knows there is something that he needs to pick up. I have a postal drop bin just on the corner so I just walk over to that and drop my packages in there.

In addition, I wanted to point out that after you have printed your labels, you can re-print them for a duration of 24 hrs. This is something stamps.com does not let you do, and is handy if you lose them or type something wrong.

ALSO, you can click on the 'history' tab and there will be a list of what you have sent INCLUDING the tracking numbers.. this is also something stamps.com does not offer, and it drove me nuts. Having to type out the numbers off the receipt. Not being able to see the tracking numbers in the history is a REAL red-....

This is so much easier, better and free.

 

[Sallana]

Another great feature:

When you add an order it does not make you print it immediately. It adds it to a list of orders which you can choose to save or click individually to print. This is really handy. Say someone picks up your PIF but you don't have the time to package it up, you can add the order to the list, and it will save until you are ready to print & ship. You can also add notes, like "3ml bottle of Fried Apple" so you know what goes in the order. Handy, huh? Can't believe it's free and I didn't figure this out sooner.


I had a hard time when I first started PIFing because I have social phobia. I don't like people. That's why I'm such an internet-body and my chosen career involves being stuffed in a cubical on the computer. I really hate going to the post office, putting on my 'people' face and wearing extra deodorant to throttle the sweat. Being able to print my shipping labels is much easier. Even the walk to the postal bin is hard if there are people around. It's easier when I'm walking with a friend, but still difficult.

 

[bearscreek]

I don't know if things have changed in the last few years, but a couple of years ago, yes, you could print your mailing labels and print postage and even pay for it online, but if the package weighed more than a pound you actually had to mail it at the PO or in one of their mailboxes, I guess. In other words, you couldn't just stick it in your home mailbox if over a pound. I think that rule started after 911 and could have relaxed a bit now. I'm not sure because I don't ship like I used to.

You can also use a program from the USPS called Shipping Assistant and print labels with bar codes for DC, etc. You can pay for the postage through the USPS online also, without using PP - not that there's anything wrong with using PP.

 

[Sallana]

I don't know if things have changed in the last few years, but a couple of years ago, yes, you could print your mailing labels and print postage and even pay for it online, but if the package weighed more than a pound you actually had to mail it at the PO or in one of their mailboxes, I guess. In other words, you couldn't just stick it in your home mailbox if over a pound. I think that rule started after 911 and could have relaxed a bit now. I'm not sure because I don't ship like I used to.

You can also use a program from the USPS called Shipping Assistant and print labels with bar codes for DC, etc. You can pay for the postage through the USPS online also, without using PP - not that there's anything wrong with using PP.

You are right and you are wrong. If the package weighs more than 13oz AND you are wanting to ship it FIRST CLASS, you must visit the Post Office. If you are shipping over 13oz and do not want to go to the post office, you must ship priority.


Also, USPS shipping assistance only supports priority mail shipping labels. You can't print 2$ first class labels. You can with PP, and first class is what most of use unless we are sending something really important or really heavy.

 

[Bahnzo]

Also useful, is to have a scale. This way you can weigh your packages if they are over and make sure you have the exact postage needed. You can find them fairly cheap and they are great for other things too...(no..nothing illegal, I like to bake..no laughing there)

 

[Sallana]

Also useful, is to have a scale. This way you can weigh your packages if they are over and make sure you have the exact postage needed. You can find them fairly cheap and they are great for other things too...(no..nothing illegal, I like to bake..no laughing there)

The one good thing about stamps.com is if you sign up (you must have a credit card) they don't charge you for the first month and you get a 'free' offer of a 5lb digital postal scale. You pay shipping & handling of 10$. So sign up, buy the 10$ scale, cancel service.

 

[Bahnzo]

You are right and you are wrong. If the package weighs more than 13oz AND you are wanting to ship it FIRST CLASS, you must visit the Post Office. If you are shipping over 13oz and do not want to go to the post office, you must ship priority.

Maybe this has changed, but I did a lot of ebay with paypal and I never had an issue with shipping stuff over 13oz with first class.

 

[Sallana]

Maybe this has changed, but I did a lot of ebay with paypal and I never had an issue with shipping stuff over 13oz with first class.

Well did you ship it at the post office or did you drop it in the bin/your mailbox?

Having to go to the post office is a rule, but it's a lax rule. More often than not.. they won't give two how much the package weighs as long as its payed for.

 

[Bahnzo]

Well did you ship it at the post office or did you drop it in the bin/your mailbox?

Having to go to the post office is a rule, but it's a lax rule. More often than not.. they won't give two how much the package weighs as long as its payed for.

I did both. I think you are right, as long as it's paid for, they probably aren't going to turn it away...YMMV.

 

[Blaze]

You are right and you are wrong. If the package weighs more than 13oz AND you are wanting to ship it FIRST CLASS, you must visit the Post Office. If you are shipping over 13oz and do not want to go to the post office, you must ship priority.


Also, USPS shipping assistance only supports priority mail shipping labels. You can't print 2$ first class labels. You can with PP, and first class is what most of use unless we are sending something really important or really heavy.

Your half right here. Shipping assistant also you to print first class shipping labels, and even includes the delivery confirm # for free (something I just found out today )

 

[Sallana]

Your half right here. Shipping assistant also you to print first class shipping labels, and even includes the delivery confirm # for free (something I just found out today )

Huh.. Last time I tried to use it there was no first class option. Perhaps I am too dumb. Either way, I prefer something easy to use Paypal has an easy interface and it's convenient that it just takes it out of your PP balance and you dont have to enter in a card number.

Just use whatever is more comfortable I guess. I wish I'd known there were so many free options before I used stamps.com.

 

[Blaze]

For someone in your position (not sure what this one is called, people-phobic?) PP might still be a better option since you've still got to take them to the PO. I just like it because of the address book feature and it "proof reads" the addy for me

It's great for, say, co-ops or other mass mailings. Single packages may be easier thru PP

 

[doots]

Thanks Sall for this valuable info!

 

[bearscreek]

The DC that prints out on Shipping Assistant for 1st class mail will charge you about 18 cents now when the PO scans it. It's free with Priority mail, though. As far as the thing about shipping over a pound from your mailbox, it was that way (according to my PO) a couple of years ago. If it's changed, well, that's a good thing. As far as the 13 ounces, I think when you reach the postage for 13 ounces it hits the same mark as the postage for Priority, so it only makes sense to ship using Priority at that point. (I don't have time right this sec to look up the actual figures.)

 

[Lorizgal]

That's true, anything over 13oz is the same postage as priority or flat rate small box, might as well send it priority and/or flat rate and you can send up to 70# of juice and hardware to anyone in the CONUS you want.

The DC that prints out on Shipping Assistant for 1st class mail will charge you about 18 cents now when the PO scans it. It's free with Priority mail, though. As far as the thing about shipping over a pound from your mailbox, it was that way (according to my PO) a couple of years ago. If it's changed, well, that's a good thing. As far as the 13 ounces, I think when you reach the postage for 13 ounces it hits the same mark as the postage for Priority, so it only makes sense to ship using Priority at that point. (I don't have time right this sec to look up the actual figures.)

 

[Gunjji]

Hahah, I just got a notice that i had postage due. I knew what is was for but not from whom. So I paid the .75cents and got the envelope. It was a PIF from back in May!

The PO kept forgetting to tell me, lol. Its all good. All 3 ladies know me by name now!

So, .44 cents isnt enough to cover a 3ml bottle in a reg letter envelope!

 

[Jules22871]

I think my printer cables ran away with my kitchen stool and my bathroom scale. I haven't seen any of them since we moved!