Times are tough right now and money is tight an while it's nice to have the instant credits with the delivery confirmation, it's a luxury expense I can't afford. But what I don't understand is why we can't print out a postage only mailer. Didn't we used to have that option? It would be appreciated greatly if we could have a postage only option with a few extra cents tossed in there for the convenience.

My apologies to the 4 people waiting for books from me, they're gonna have to wait until I get to the post office to buy stamps.

I think the post office requires PBS to use the DC.  You can print postage through Paypal which still charges the .19 DC fee but not the .27 printing fee.  Of course then there's no credit guarantee.  I personally only pay for DC if it's a bulk order or a game book (games require DC). In those cases I get it through PBS to help suport the site.  But to use it on everybook doesn't make financial sense to me when I have time to go to the post office. I go once a week and it takes maybe 10 min.  That .46/book adds up really quick if you mail a lot of books out. You eventually spend more on the fees that what a lost book and credit would have cost.  I also keep a variety of stamps on hand and if I have a smaller book to mail then I use those and pop it in the mail box.

You can only go the other way, get DC without postage.

From the FAQs on PBS Postage:

What if I just want to use Printed Postage, and not the Delivery Confirmation?

• Unfortunately, this is not an option.  USPS regulations require DC with all forms of printable postage.

Most of the books I mail are paperbacks and typically cost $2.38 to mail.  I buy panes of stamps from either my local post office or the US Postal Service website to equal the $2.38 I need to mail my books.  Right now I'm using three seventy-eight cent stamps and one 4 cent stamp for each book mailed.  I'm sure there are other stamp denominations that will work, those are just the ones I've been using.  If I mail a book weighing over a pound, or a bulk mailing then I use the printable postage throught PBS.  Having the stamps at home makes it so convenient... I  apply the stamps, then slip the book in my mailbox for my mailman to take. 

There is a $1.00 shipping and handling charge if the stamps are ordered through the postal service website.  But... it is sooooo worth the dollar to me, not to have to wait in line at the post office.

It's never been an option to buy postage without DC because it's a rule by the USPS that any online postage must always have DC on it. No clue what their reasoning is, but that's the rule.

I personally would skip the DC & postage completely if you can anyway avoid it. It's not worth the extra fee for the postage or DC if you are really running tight on money. I mean it's not really "not worth it" but I'm saying it's not worth it if you are really short on money. After 10 books or so,  by eliminating that expense, you could mail another book for free.

Thanks, everyone, for the feedback - I do appreciate it and knowing that USPS is being the heavy here helps as well. The ideas are equally helpful!

Have a very happy, safe, and sane Independence Day!

Kathie .... you can use a APC machine if your Post Office has them .. to do the "Buy Stamps of a Different Value" option ... and print out a handful of  $2.38 stamps. (I also print out a couple of $2.77 and a couple of first class postage). These do not go "stale" so you can use them at any time in the future. Also, since they are trackable postage, you can use them on packages over 13 oz. and you don't have to take them to the PO counter.

I think its the 2nd most convenient way of mailing packages if you don't want to use PBS postage.

My post office will not accept the out of date APC stamps without a second blank stamp added.  So I have to stand in line.  Or add a one cent new APC stamp.

I print out the PBS postage chart to use with the APC machine.  The APC machines will accept media mail, but they do not list it as an option.  We have a APC that is open 24 hours. 

Emily-would they accept if you bought a sheet of 1 cent stamps and then used those with your APC stamps?

I believe the reason for DC requirement from the PO for printable postage is because without it, it makes it harder to ensure terrorists are not using printable postage to send nasty things through the mail (like anthrax).  An even bigger way to avoid going to PO to mail a package anonymously.

Using DC is a means to ensure the package can be tracked back to a particular person/address in the event of something unexpected arriving in the mail.....