A book was requested from me.

I accepted the request and printed the label with postage.

I have gone down to get the book, only to discover we must have a mouse (UGHH) and that it has chewed some of the books...including the one I was to mail.

I know I need to cancel the request, but is there a way to get some of the $ back that I paid for the postage?

Thanks,

dkw

Sorry Dena but the answer to that is no (see reasons below from the Help Docs - emphasis is mine.)

If you cancel a transaction (or the system cancels the transaction if you did not mark the book mailed in time) after printing with postage, the postage and fees can't be refunded by PBS.  The funds are transmitted to USPS when you download the wrapper with the postage on it.  You could try taking the printed, unused wrapper to the PO and discussing this with them.    We have no mechanism to recover these funds from USPS ourselves, but individuals may be able to do so.

Thank you.

I wonder if I could just put another address over that one for my next book since that postage was never "used?" 

Yeppers. Just save the printout. You can reuse it later. Just put the new addressee's information over the old one

A pre-paid postage label should not be altared in any way and is only good for use to the address on it. The address is imbedded in the postage and if someone along the way where to check that, the package would be returned. It is also only good for the date on it so saving it for later will just get you a returned package.

You could offer the person a deal if the postage would cover more than one book, maybe offer a 2 for one or check out their Wish List and see if you have any books from there you could send them (keep in mind the label should be used within 24 hours or the PO could deem it stale postage and return it). 

Painful way to learn to always have the book in hand and inspected before printing the label :(

If you go the deal route-the postage can be updated at the PO as well as having extra added if the extra book puts it in the next postage rate. 

What Melanie said -- don't reuse the wrapper for another address.  Address info is included in the bar code. 

Mary's idea is good -- maybe if you take the wrapper into the Post Office with another package, they'll give you some credit or be able to update it.  Of course they have no way of knowing it's not a photocopy of a wrapper that was already used, but it's worth a shot, especially if they know you.

Here is a section of the DMM dealing with refunds for electronic postage:

9.3.3 Unused, Dated PC Postage Indicia

Unused, dated PC Postage indicia are considered for refund only if complete, legible, and valid. The refund request must be submitted as follows:

a. Only authorized PC Postage users may request the refund. Users must submit the request to their system provider. The request is processed by the provider, not the USPS.

b. Requests for refund of PC Postage indicia that contain a valid Postal Identification Code (PIC) must be submitted by authorized users to their provider electronically in accordance with procedures available from their provider. Valid PICs include any form of Delivery Confirmation, Signature Confirmation, Express Mail, or Confirm Code service. Authorized users must initiate requests for electronic refunds within ten (10) days of printing the indicia. Refunds for postage associated with a PIC may only be submitted electronically. Physical submissions are not permitted.

c. Requests for refund of PC Postage indicia which do not have an associated PIC must be physically submitted by authorized users to their provider, along with the items bearing the unused postage, in accordance with procedures available from their provider. Authorized users must submit the refund request within sixty (60) days of the date(s) shown in the indicia. The refund request must be submitted as required in 9.3.2d through 9.3.2g.

d. The provider may, at its discretion, charge for processing a refund request.

Lesson learned:  Always have the book in your hot little hand before you click anything!!

Not meaning to discourage people from purchasing PBS postage, you can cancel a postage transaction if you print your postage through PayPal.  It takes about a week for he money to go back into your account, but you do get a refund.  Once I wasn't paying attention and had accidentally chosen Priority Mail.  When I noticed the postage printed for $6.00+ I knew I did something wrong and immediately cancelled the transaction.  I would have been really disappointed if I had been unable to cancel the transaction.

Six bucks, yow!

you can cancel a postage transaction if you print your postage through PayPal.

But you can't get Instant Credit which I think is the reason most of us use PBS Postage.

When you print PBS postage, you must do two things: as Mary said, make sure you can mail the book and the other, verify that the weight is correct.

What Mary said, I've also learned(the hard way) not to print mailing labels until the book is acutally in my hand and a final inspection performed 

Kate, other venders may have postage return policies -- but no fair posting complaints afterwards when the PBS system cannot track your transaction, the receiver hasn't marked your book received, credits don't automatically transfer, or you are otherwise unhappy with your choice of postage provider.