a postal person try to talk you out of buying the postage here online?  Every time I go into my little post office to drop off books, the postal lady asks me why I do that.  She says I'd save $$ if I bought the stamps.  I've told her it's one of the easy ways I can support this site.  But I got to thinking that they might try to close down the little office if it doesn't see enough sales in postal supplies.  I don't want that to happen either.  So I'm just wondering.

No. But if I had to go to the PO anyway, I'd just get postage there instead of paying the postage printing fee. 

Also: I don't think PBS makes much on the printed postage.  I think most of the fee goes to Endica the company that provide the postage.

The difference in what you spend to pay for the postage here on PBS and what it would cost you to put DC on it at the PO is really close. You could save money, but would have to give up the guaranteed credit you get with PBS Postage. If you want DC on it, it will cost you .85 from the PO instead of the .43 that you pay PBS for the Postage and DC. And the DC you get from anywhere else doesn't guarantee your credit like it does when purchased here.

Next time, tell her that your credit is guaranteed and that's worth the .43 of which .27 is what you spend to support PBS.

I think that the money a post office receives is based on how much mail they handle, so just sending your package through them should support them.  Of course, I could be completely mistaken about this.  You may want to ask in the Postal forum to get information that's actually correct.  :)

I have used the postage here and it is easy.  But, I still have to take the book to the post office.  So, I usually just end up buying my postage there.

Besides, I have a few credits and am not really in need for the instant credit.  If I was out, and someone requested a book from me, then I could really see the need to get the instant credit--especially if there were books I was wanting.

I use the on site postage to support the site and it is easier then going to PO and getting postage...altho I occasionally still do use stamps.

I love the Printable Postage option and I can just mail books out right away, no more needing to go to the Post Office.  Especially since the ones near where I live aren't the friendly smaller branches with great people like the one I had growing up.  The postal workers I've met here are typically unfriendly and unhelpful, which is sad, because growing up, I loved USPS because of the friendly and helpful postal employees.  I could totally understand the stereotypical raging USPS worker coming from one of my local branches now!!!

When you buy postage online, your local post office (whichever office is in your postal code) gets credit for your purchase (so to speak). That is what my post office told me.

Also, if you use the USPS Shipping Assistant program, a free and easy download from USPS.com, you can get Delivery Confirmation for only 18 cents on Media/First Class packages, and FREE on Priority Mail. It's called the "electronic" rate.

It prints out a nice little label for you, much like the one on here does, which includes a barcode for the Delivery Confirmation. I use it for my eBay stuff, but use the DC here so I can get the quick credit. 

My mom was told by her local PO that if they see declining sales (no postage purchased), they are in danger of closing. She goes to a little rural PO that has maybe 3-4 employees including management.

Melissa, that's what I'm afraid of.  I go to a tiny post office. I got a PO Box there so I'm really not wanting them to close.  Maybe I'll go buy a roll of 1st class stamps.  I can always use those.

thanks, everybody!

Ruth