Has anyone else experienced anything like this?  I visited a post office different from my usual one today -- in a busy area of town, so I would have thought they would have seen preprinted delivery confirmation before.   Nope -- the postal employee had a complete and utter meltdown over the $0.20 printed on my book, and insisted on scribbling over the PBS preprinted confirmation number because confirmation costs $0.90!  I tried to get him to scan it and watch what happened, but he refused, and was VERY insulted by my suggestion.  I just went along -- rather than drive to another post office -- but I hope I'll get credit for the book since my confirmation didn't get scanned. 

So, it this an anomaly, or have other members experienced weirdness over our preprinted confirmation on our shipping labels?

It happened quite a bit at the beginning of the year when the postal rates plus the PO software changed. Apparently many PO clerks do not understand and were not completely trained in how to use their software to charge for the DC correctly.

If it happens again, ask the clerk to sell you just the Media Mail postage, and a 20 cent stamp. Stick the stamp on the book yourself.

I've had to make my clerks go ask their boss sometimes. But the DMM (Domestic Mail Manual) very clearly states that pre-printed DC costs 20 cents (for the classes of mail for which it isn't free) and that it can be paid with stamps. I go make them look it up if they insist on doing it incorrectly. Usually if you start quoting "DMM" they want to go check ... because if you know where they are going to look up the rules, they can't come back and say something different from the DMM. They aren't allowed to.

Usually the wrong thing they believe most fervantly is that pre-printed DC is only good if you also pre-print the postage.

Although worse just after the rate increase of last year (due to software changes), I've run across uneducated postal employees on and off ever since I've been a PBS member.  Quite shocking really, in this day and age that so many (even busy urban branches) of thier own staff do not recognize their own valid barcodes...and have absolutely no idea how to properly process them.  Lucky for me, those I've run across have been willing to listen when I suggest how to scan them but we hear members reporting less pleasant experiences.

Personally, I'd flat out refuse to allow a postal employee to deface my PBS barcodes.  During the software mess early last year I did let them add a counter barcode, but not over the top of my PBS one (which will then still scan b/c the process is automated at most of the sorting centers).

Denise and Sara, thanks for the responses.  Since this is my first time using the community, I hadn't yet found the previous thread about this very issue.  Thanks especially for the tip on the DMM -- I find that tossing acronyms around often gives a sense of authority!  :)

My post office clerks (unless I get one particular one) doesnt know how to make it work with their software; they usually charge me, then subtract it and put a second tracking # on the pkg.........I wonder if they'll ever figure it out.

There's info you can print out and take into the Post Office on the What's New page -- it's up near the Log Out link

Lynn, one method of helping your local branch is to locate and contact your regional postmaster.  Let them know the problem as request additional Media Mail training for your branch...this usually solves the situation.

I had a problem with this just today. Usually I print out postage online, but I found a bunch of random stamps so I thought I'd use them up, so I just printed the DC from PBS and figured I'd add on the .23 in stamps. I got to the PO and the lady asked how I wanted to pay for the difference, using my own stamps or have her print out postage for me… I was like, "Huh?" She said DC is always full price unless you actually pay for it online. Since I only generated a number, I would have to pay full price. I thought maybe this was something new with the recent price hike, maybe a change in regulations or something. So I brought my entire box of over a dozen books back home with me and thought I'd ask here before she upcharged me over a dollar a book for DC I should only be paying 23 cents for!

No you are correct Mel...in fact I did a big thing with the regional postmaster about this very matter in early 2013.  Pre-printed Tracking/DC is .23 regardless of where/how the postage is purchased...the discount is for the standardized label not for pre-printed postage. If the counter staff will properly scan your barcode, the correct rate will appear on their own USPS computer/register.  You can try taking in the PBS direction sheet, otherwise you might have to climb the chain of command until somebody retrains your counter staff.