Hi,

I mailed a book (first class because of small weight) from the po today. The PBS rate said it is 1,88 (or 1,81 - I don't remember) but at the po I was told it is 1,98 and I shouldn't rely on what the print out says...?

Anyone else had this problem before? I'd hate for people to get my books and than have to add a few cents?

Thanks,

Austria

No, the printout is not always 100% accurate.  I think it even says "estimated" on there somewhere.

I bought a scale so I could weigh books that I was unsure about.

The estimates are just that.  Don't forget that even if they were perfect your packaging adds weight.

I mailed one today where the estimate was 6 ounces and the book weighed over a pound!

Thank you. I'll be more careful in future!

There's also the case where two books with the same ISBN and the same binding type won't weigh the same. This happens to me with a lot of hardbacks. If they're book club editions, they're smaller and lighter than what the database says, usually under a pound.

I think I'm the first person in my town to use PBS b/c they are very confused by my printed wrapper at the P.O. and have apologized to me when their amount is doesn't match the PBS amount!  It is and estimate and your extra wrapping does add weight.

Not just the wrapping: I've had several instances where the (Amazon-supplied) weight has been way, way off!

I'm noticing a lot more incorrect estimates since the printable postage came into effect.   Frequently the "media" or "first class" designation is wrong.  I always mail at the P.O. so I'm not worried about getting the right amount on there eventually, but I'm afraid my postal workers are getting a little tired of slapping white stickers over the "first class" designation and remarking it as media!

Kristen:

Unless the book "feels" clearly light enough to go First Class, or heavy enough to make Media Mail definitely cheaper (I get the idea you've sent enough books by now to gauge the difference pretty much by instinct), I'd either cut out, or mark through (black sharpie works great!) the FC/MM part before affixing the PBS label. The P. O. clerk can use the "official Post Office" FC/MM stamp at the time of transaction for medium-weight books. How's that?

John

The calculated amount is a guess--you're best off weighing it yourself and changing the weight to make it right.

Thanks for the tip, John!  And yes, I have gotten a pretty good sense of weights, but I've been thrown off by the new rate structure which puts some first class books at 2.15.  Gotta recalibrate the internal scale.  ;->