I wanted to start using printable postage and I know using a postage scale is really the way to go, but I don't want to waste the money getting one.  I was wondering if you think the that the shipping weight info on Amazon is correct.  I was thinking of just adding the weight info in multiple book orders or deals and figure it out that way.   I hope i'm making sense. 

Melissa

I can't say it enough--get a scale!  The savings in postage will pay for the scale.  No guessing.  For light stuff, all you need is a food scale which you can get at any discount store for less than $5.  You don't have to buy a fancy postal scale.  ANY scale that weighs accurately will work.  Look at second hand stores, I bet you can find something.

I've found PBS weight to be pretty accurate so I just use that unless it looks way off, like someone misplaced a decimial, which did happen once.

I recently was sending a book (paperback) that weighed slightly over a pound.  Both PBS & Amason said it weighed 4lbs!  I always check. 

I find that the PBS weight is wrong, more often than not.  I always compare it to what I actually get on my scale and it's not right a lot of the time.

When I'm sending a couple books together, for a deal or a game or whatever, I use the Amazon weight.  I haven't had a problem yet,  could be paying too much but I don't think so.  If the rate looked crazy I'd go to the PO, but it's good so far.

I've found on PBS that the weight on books has been off quite a bit lately. If I hadn't checked it myself, I would have had either a lot more postage than necessary or not enough. Get a scale and safe yourself problems down the road.

Get a scale.  PBS & Amazon weights are incorrect more times than they are correct. 

Assumption, but because Amazon has the best book data out there, it's very possible PBS is using their book weight data.

The only answer to this question is Get a scale! You won't regret it and it will pay for itself.  I find I use it for my own personal mailings all the time  (hmm, should I put one stamp or two on this thick envelope?") -- just a nice thing to have and you needn't spend a fortune. I find that the PBS weights are often off enough that you would be spending too much on postage and that DOES add up.