I have a question about PBS Delivery confirmation.  This might seem silly, but...how does the PO know to only charge the 19 cents?    Wouldn't they see the DC# and want to charge the full amount?  I'm only asking because my local PO seems to not really know what they are doing about anything!  I want to try using it, but don't want to stand there and have to explain it or fight with them to accept it.  Thanks.

When you print the wrapper with PBS-DC, it prints out with a barcode. The clerk needs to scan it and it will show up as 19 cents to add to postage. I suggest you print out some of the help docs related to this topic and bring it with you to the post office to bolster your case. BTW, if the package is less than 13 oz, you can just add postage + 19 cents and drop it off in a blue collection box. Or use one of the APOs (automated post offices -- vending machines).

So then they have to scan it before they complete the sale?  I see.  Yes, I will probably need to print out the help info to take with me.  Thank you.

If you're using PBS/DC there's no need to go to the PO if the package is under 13 oz.  You can just drop them in your nearest blue box or even your own mailbox at home.  I have a rural mail box so it's easy for me to leave them right there. 

I take my over 13 oz packages to a sub station and the clerk doesn't scan, he just drops it into the box that the mail person is going to take away and that's when they get scanned - in fact I've looked at some of my Books I've Mailed and as soon as I've marked them mailed they show the first scan through PBS..

Personally I like using PBS/DC for the quick credit and the convience of not going to the PO.  It's not convient for me.  Some people will tell you they never use it that they have the time to go to the PO.  It's up to you.

This is from the Help Docs

PBS Delivery Confirmation is a per-transaction paid feature at PBS

• You do NOT need to enroll.  There is no yearly subscription fee. 
• Any member who has PBS Money in his or her account and a printer to print out the barcode can use PBS Delivery Confirmation.
• PBS Delivery Confirmation (PBS-DC) is a per-transaction paid feature at PBS.
  • Each time you use PBS-DC, it will cost you 45 cents:
    • 27 cents to PBS paid in PBS Money
    • 19 cents to USPS paid in postage applied to the package. 
      This is less than the 75-80 cents that USPS charges for regular DC purchased at the PO  (and PO DC does not grant QuickCredit or CreditAssurance!)
  • You do not need a credit card to put money into your PBS Money Account.  

Actually there is no reason to take the book  to the PO regardless of the size....toss it in the nearest blue box.

What exactly does one say to a clerk who has likely never heard of PBS DC before? Something along the lines of "I've never sent a paperbackswap DC before, but I believe you're supposed to scan the barcode and the system will tell you how much to charge - MM + .19"? I'm willing to try it with the 3 promotional .27 waivers, but I fear it might go wrong and the clerk will try to charge me the full USPS DC rate if he scans it "wrong"!

Also, how do you get credit for a multi-book package with PBS DC?

Thanks!

In my post office John, the computer program that sells postage does all the work (and that appears to be standard equipment).  As long as the postal employee just reads and follows the prompts, your books should only be charged the proper .19 cents. 

I did mail at an unfamiliar post office one day, and the clerk tried to tell me DC would be .80 cents.  But, I nicely pointed out that it should come up as .19 cents...wasn't that what his screen said?   He appeared surprised but believed his computer and the transaction continued smoothly :-)

Luckily, my local USPS peeps are very knowledgable

Thanks a lot, Denise. I guess I have a (pessimistic) block that he might try to charge the higher DC without scanning it at all! But, I'm sure it'll be fine.

Does the outgoing scan itself at the counter (for the 19 cents), trigger the PBS credit?

The best way to get a problem clerk to get it right is to repeatedly say, "Go ahead and scan it, you'll see your computer knows what to do with it." As long as you are persistant that they scan your bar code, they shouldn't be able to mess it up.

The outgoing scan at the counter will trigger the PBS credit. If I get low on credits I will take some to the counter to get scanned so the credit is there within a day, if I have plenty of credits I will use the APC or stamps and drop them in the drop box.

I just returned from the Post Office.

First the clerk wanted to know whether I'd actually paid anything yet, so I answered "No, nothing". She entered the destination zip code, scanned the bar code, looked at her screen, and announced: "Oh, you got a discount - that's always nice!" It was slow, so she asked me what I'd recommend what she should have for lunch; rejecting the first couple of suggestions, she said she'd think about my final thought - a chicken breast sandwich at a takeout restaurant up the street.

Thanks again for everyone's input!

Glad it all went OK John!

I got to learn more how the DC works today when the scanner wouldn't work for the clerk. She had to enter that there was DC and then key in the numbers. When the .80 popped up on the screen, I said something about it being only .19. She said as soon as the number was entered, the system recognizes that it is electronic confirmation and will adjust the price; the numbers indicate what it is that way clerks cannot mess it up and overcharge people. Glad they are dummy-proofing their systems :-)

John, DC users receive their credit when the barcode is scanned at a USPS facility and after the daily download...which is about midnight  West Coast Time.  This works when purchasing postage at the counter, or other immediate scans.  Be aware tho, that it's Delivery Confirmation and the only scan that the post office is required to perform is for the actual Delivery.  If you apply stamps and use a blue box, your book may not be scanned immediately, and you may have to wait for an enroute scan or even the delivery scan. 

It's my understanding, that DC with printable postage receives credit immediately?

I received my credit a few hours after leaving the Post Office. I accept that for non-clerk mailings (APC, stamps, etc.) you take your chances with pre-delivery scanning credit.