I received a wl book from another member today. but the postage is puzzling. the postage label says the postage was purchased on 8/27. but the member didn't even post the book into the system until 9/13. how could she have printed postage (the USPS kind) before I even requested the book?  it was mailed out on 9/18. I don't know how to mark this.  would this be considered a problem swap? i'm a little confused about what to do? it's not a late postmark. there is nothing in PBS help docs about an early postage label/mark.

It's my understanding, and I could be wrong here, but people can purchase postage and then just save it for when they need to use it. Again, I don't understand the process, but I've read that people do that, so it's possible that the sender purchased the postage in advance, and then didn't have to use it until later.  Don't have a solution to your question though, and I've had books sent to me with the same problem, and I think (but I'm not sure here either) I put down the postage date as what was on the metered strip. Pat

I never record the date stuff.  I just mark the books as "received" so the sender gets credit.  The date is not a required field.

After receiving over 100 DVDs, I stopped filling out the survey about date and how much postage, how packaged. 

 I just mark it received.  Maybe the date effects directed delivery, I don't know. 

In what way would that be a problem swap? Just mark it received. I don't put in dates anymore, either, when I mark books received, but if you feel you must, then you would use the date that the member said they mailed. As that's obviously when it was mailed. And putting in a date that is months earlier will just throw off any statistics that PBS is generating from the dates in the database.

I buy "stamps of a different value" from the APC machine all the time, and they have the date of purchase on them. I use them for books even months later, so the date on the postage is usually months earlier than the day I mail a book, unless that's the day I run out of stamps and buy some more. I am still using stamps that are a couple of years old at this point, and the postage amounts have changed since then, so now I have a 2 year old stamp to put on, and one that is several months old to make up the difference.

I never really thought about it, but I'm sure for people who put in dates, having 2 different "postage" (really, date of purchase) dates months apart must be puzzling.

If it's not a late postmark, it's not worth worrying about.

It isn't a problem swap so you really can't mark it RWAP. Following your dates, the book was mailed when stated and arrived to you so you mark it received.

If there is nothing Wrong with it why would you RWAP  ?       I never fill in the information anymore.

Sara is right.  This kind of postage comes from the APC machine in the PO lobby.  It is dated for the date it is sold and can be used anytime after that.  It is not the same as a postage meter strip or a PVC label that you get at the counter at the PO.  Those must have the actual date of mailing on them.

It was probably just postage printed at an APC - she probably purchased several media mail APC 'stamps' at the same time (8/27) to use as she needed them later for orders.  If the book was received and has no posting violations, it is not a problem swap and really warrants no further consideration.
 

You can pre purchase postage at an APC. The PO accepts them past the date, unlike counter postage or printed postage. I think it is because you are required to use a credit card rather than cash so the PO thinks they can track you down.

oh okay. I had just never seen or heard of those before. I looked up our city's local post office and we don't even offer one of those machines in the local post office. might be why I didn't recognize the label on sight when i saw it. thanks for all the helpful info.

good to know.......we have one local PO with an APC machine so perhaps I will start going there and getting  several media mail postage stickers for $2.72, then I can just slap one on when I wrap a book that requires that amount and stick in my mailbox with outgoing mail.......Would save me a lot of trips to the PO.

Unless you have good reason to believe a book was mailed late, just mark it received.

I also agree with Sara, it's probably APC postage.  Generally they are a white sticker with a pink band IIRC, and like forever stamps they are valid at any time.  Different than counter postage, which is a good indicator of late mailing.

Another "vote" for APC postage. I buy $2.72 stamps 5 at a time and hold onto them until I need to mail a book. The date on them is the date they were purchased. I've used them months after purchase.

And like others, I don't fill out the extra info unless there's a problem--and in the OP's case there is no problem.

Like Sheryl.  I go once a month or so and buy a bunch of $2.72, $3.22 APC stamps.  I love it because I can go to the PO on a Sunday (and park!)

Using one of them to mail a book from my office today.

Does it have a bar code on the left and say "date of sale' with a zip code on it?