I'm getting concerned about a book I posted 6 days ago with DC that hasn't shown up in the USPO system yet; just the standard " We've been electronically notified...".   That's a first for me; my shipments show up in a couple of days as being in progress, and I've shipped a hundred or more in the last couple of years.  I don't see it as a lost cause yet; I'll still give it at least another week to show up, but I do want  my swapper to know that I really did post the book ( I did send her the DC #) .  I guess she'll just have to take it on faith.  Also, and the real point of this post, If a shipment is paid for on an online site and DC is purchased, can I ask for a refund of my postage and fees?  And if so, what;s the time frame?  30 days or?  Searching the USPO site on the subject keeps taking me to insurance, which I'd never purchase for a paperback book.  I'm not interested in recovering the value of the paperback book, just my out-of-pocket expenses.  After all, I didn't buy a stamp; I bought the assurance of delivery of an item with the expectation of performance!  Any insight on this?  Thanks.

And yes, it's the principle of the thing. Not the expense!

Delivery Confirmation just needs to be scanned on delivery. The USPS does not refund postage. They will refund delivery confirmation if you know it has been delivered and the package wasn't scanned.

Delivery Confirmation is eligible for a refund of the service fee, but not the postage, if there are no delivery scans in our system after 30 days, but you know your mailpiece has been delivered. (Refunds are rewarded at the discretion of the local Post Office.)

• Submit the request in duplicate at the local Post Office using PS Form 3533, "Application and Voucher for Refund of Postage and Fees".
• Provide evidence of mailing and postage.

Any scans on a book before deliver are bonus scans. Also the money didn't go to PBS other than the fee they tack onto the postage.  The actual postage money and DC fee were paid to the post office.  PBS doesn't issue the postage-they are just set up with Endicia to allow us to buy postage on line and they get basically a commission.

So PBS would not refund postage, the postage printing fee or the DC charge. 

Hi Phil:  Was the book sent FC?  I was told that it will not be scanned until delivery while media mail should be scanned at each distribution.  I agree with both Rebecca and Mary on refunds..

I would also go to the USPS tracking and punch in the DC to see if gives you more information.  I did not have any info on the PBS Website, went to USPS tracking and there wasn't any info either.  I signed up for email updates present and future and mysteriously the next day the book was scanned.  This happened twice - could be coincidence,  but I will do it the next time I don't have DC tracking info.  Good Luck

USPS Tracking

While my packages are typically scanned within a day or two and often along the way, occasionally I will send one that is never scanned anywhere and the receiver of the book marks it received even before the delivery scan gets into the system. There isn't any refund on the postage if the book goes lost, but as Rebecca said, you can try getting a DC refund at the local PO.

If you used the PBS postage with DC, you have already gotten your credit, even if it is never scanned, so the cost of your postage is covered. If you used only DC, or if you used some other type of online postage aside from PBS' version, then you are out the credit if it's never scanned.

You didn't really buy "assurance of delivery." you would need to purchase INSURANCE to get that. What you purchased was confirmation of delivery. The USPS actually isn't under any obligation to scan that package anywhere but on delivery. The other scans we typically get are bonuses.

Cheryl

I certainly wasn't holding PBS liable; I used paypal postage with DC.  I don't hold paypal liable either, just the USPO.  If they do what they've contracted to do, deliver my package and let me know it's arrived at the destination, I'm happy.  If it just just disappears and never reaches it's destination, then they haven't done what they said they'd do, and I feel as though the postage and fees should be refundable.  If I hadn't purchased DC, then I guess that I could be left hanging out there in the breeze with no recourse, but that's not the case.  Again, we're only talking about $2.57 here, so it's not the money; it's the principle of the thing.  Of course, I must remember we're dealing with the gov'ment.

I wouldn't worry too much about the book going lost until it gets closer to the end of the month. I mailed two books today at the post office with PBS DC and haven't received the quick credits yet. The USPS site doesn't have them as accepted yet either and that usually happens after an hour. I watched both books get scanned. I am sure both will get to the receipients just fine. 

Has any of the distribution centers around you been closed in the recent USPS cut backs? I used to get a scan a day or two after I mailed in St Paul, now our outgoing mail doesn't go through there and the scans in IA are 3-7 days after mailing if it goes there at all, otherwise I get almost no scans until delivery. With the significant number of POs and distribution centers shut down or routes changed, I think later/infrequent scans will become the norm for a lot of us.

Actually the USPS is not government. Its seperate from them.
Far as I have seen they will not refund postage unless they damage an item and you can prove they did it. I had a document burned by the machine somehow and they sent me part of the label saying they would refund the postage after seeing if it was their fault.. hrmm yes I always send parts of burned labels throught the USPS..LOL

Good luck with your claim just dont hold your breath.