Post office refused to accept PBS delivery confirmation. I print on the package and USPS clerk  insited I could not mail a package with PBS delviery confirmation unless I also printed my own postage. PBS gives the option of printing DC with or without poistage. I have found mail goes faster if I pruchase postage at the post office. USPS completely ruined my PBS deliery confirmation and insisted I purchase theirs for an additional 80 cents. After a lengthy discussiont he clerk refused to budge. I have filed a complaint. I have lost the money I paid PBS for DC I cannot use.

Here is the info from the Help Center regarding PO not accepting PBS DC:

If your PO is saying that your package doesn't qualify for DC because of its dimensions, read about the required dimensions to use DC to send a package in Are there any requirements to use Delivery Confirmation?

If your PO is arguing that you can't use electronic DC (e-DC) but have to purchase DC at the PO instead to send your PBS package, this misunderstanding happens occasionally.  Some POs are not as informed about electronic DC (e-DC) as they should be, considering that it is rather commonplace nowadays. 

Below is the information from USPS's own website that you can print out and show to your postmaster/PO employees if necessary.  This shouldn't be necessary, of course, but you would be doing them (and yourself, of course) a service to help them out here:

• Here is the URL location of the USPS guidelines regarding using Delivery Confirmation on First Class mail and on Media Mail.

the link is  http://www.usps.com/shipping/deliveryconfirm.htm

You do not have to use online postage in order to use electronic DC.   PBS does receive electronic information on all DC printed through the site.   Also, anyone who requests it is capable of receiving electronic files by simply entering the tracking number and requesting that USPS email you the tracking results.

• Here also is a link to the Domestic Mail Manual on the usps.com website, section 9 (Delivery Confirmation).

the link is   http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/503.htm#9_0

The information on this page includes (the following is the relevant information for Media Mail, which is a Package Service):

9.1 Delivery Confirmation Fee

9.1.1 Fee

Fee, in addition to postage and other fees, per piece:

Delivery Confirmation

Package Services (parcels only)

Retail Fee: 0.75

Electronic Fee: 0.19

9.1.2 Fees and Postage

"The applicable Delivery Confirmation fee in 9.1.1 must be paid in addition to the correct postage. The fee and postage may be paid with postage stamps, meter stamps, or permit imprint. Precanceled stamps are not permitted as postage payment."

It is clear from the above information taken from the Domestic Mail Manual published by USPS that

• Delivery Confirmation is available for use with package services (Media Mail is a package service)
• The fee for electronic Delivery Confirmation used with Media Mail (a package service) is $0.19
• The fee may be paid with postage stamps or meter stamps (the meter strip you obtain at the Post office counter)
• The electronic Delivery Confirmation fee does NOT need to be paid online
• The postage does not need to be paid online in order to use electronic Delivery Confirmation

Please print out this information (if you can, print out the unedited page from the second link above), and show it to your postal employees if necessary.

Oh Pooh *head desk* yet another untrained postal clerk.  And yes, this is a legitimate, legal, and even common method of mailing.  I do it all the time (several times a week), print PBS e-DC and purchase postage at my local USPS counter.

Excellent information post Jean.  I'd contact the postmaster for that branch TM and ask questions.  If the PM upholds the incorrect information, I'd probably get a bit cranky.  At the very least I'd insist they check their own regs and get the name and contact information of their superviser, then climb the chain until I found somebody knowledgable enough to correct the situation.

In this day and age, electronic DC is very common and used daily by many people and businesses nationwide.  There is no excuse for postal clerks not having the knowledge to process this legitimate service (or at least trust their own computer enough to enter the info and let it decide).

ETA - another thought, if you have a receipt showing seperate DC charge (.19) from another post office, you can take it in to the problem branch as evidence.  I have bunches and would be happy to share.

Thanks all. I needed to vent a bit. He would not even let me keep the electronic DC on the package (totally annihilated it) even paying the extra money; I aksed for this option. I have made a complaint. Great idea to take in a receipt showing the DC charge from another PO. ANd no it wasn't the dimensions--it was two separately packaged media average size books. And the link for the USPS regualtsion--not sure the clerk would have understood them. Happy reading.

There is also a PBS postal liason that can be called in if a post office just refuses to see they are wrong. If the complaint with the USPS doesn't get you anywhere, you may want to send in Feedback and see if the site can do anything for you.

When I first had this problem, I told the clerk to scan it & the scan would charge me what I had to pay.... that they had to scan it so they could charge me the fee. That was a busy semi-urban post office... mostly nice clerks, but with a supervisor that would try the patience of a saint!!

The first few times at my small town post office, I nicely suggested they scan it... all the clerks got used to it... I had to "train" the ones who didn't know me, but now it all goes smoothly.

Some of the post offices have working conditions that make "going postal" a reasonable solution.

i also had one refused and they made my purchase it again from them! and I have had two books returned for not enough postage purchased from here.

" I have had two books returned for not enough postage purchased from here."

Unfortunately, the book weight is frequently wrong in the system. If you want to use PBS postage, it is very strongly recommended that you get some sort of scale that can weigh your wrapped package, or else check the weight at the post office before you send it off. 

You can often find postage or food scales at thrift stores or for really cheap online, it doesn't have to be something you spend a lot of money on. 

Also, make sure you never ever reuse Priority Mail packaging or you will get charged the PM rate.

I agree with Ms K, it's nice when we can coax an unfamiliar clerk into just scanning the DC and let their own computer convince them it's OK.  But once a clerk developes an anal mindset, it usually takes intervention to correct the problem.

Electronic DC is very, very common these days...there is NO EXCUSE for postal clerks untrained in this concept.

I just tried to mail two seperate books using PBS DC with USPO postage and the lady scanned it and charged me the .19. I told her I already paid for it through PBS and she was like, "the why does it say place postage here etc." She said that she had to charge me for DC unless I had a reciept showing I purchased it. I realize that paying .38 again isn't that big a deal but it's not right. If I have to pay the DC double every time it does add up. I was pretty upset and told her to just cancel the whole thing and I left. Now I have to go buy stamps to put on there myself to get them mailed. Grrrr!

Rebecca: You still owe .19 when you print PBS DC. The amount you pay PBS is their cut, the remainder goes to the post office.

Lisa, Yeah I just figured that out. I feel kinda dumb for not figuring it out before I made a stink. Oh well, live and learn right?

Don't feel dumb. That's why people discuss this stuff in the forums here. It took me a while to figure out all the postage options too.