That site doesn't seem to have a postage forum and their "questions about" forum doesn't seem bery active so I thought I'd give it a try here, too, if that's ok? This is what I posted over there:

"I don't have many CD's posted and haven't sent one out in quite awhile, so I don't know if this is a known "issue" or what, but here's what happened:  On the settings page for printing my label, I adjusted the weight of my package to 3 oz and it said the postage required would be $1.05. I printed the label and it says the suggested postage is $1.95. Not too happy with this as if it was going to be that much I would have just mailed it in the jewel case as I used to. I decided to go the least expensive route this time only to see that it's not going to be as inexpensive as it appeared. Obviously I want the requestor to get the CD, and me the credit, so I will probably end up paying the higher amount no matter what type of responses I get, so I guess my question is: Does this discrepancy always happen, what does everyone do, and does the package still get delivered if the lower amount is used?" 

I admit this is as much a rant as a question but I really do want to hopefully hear from someone who has experienced this. It needs to be marked mailed tomorrow and the post office is closed, otherwise I'd just go there and find out in person.

Are you buying postage from the site or are you going to stick stamps on it or take it to the post office? I like to just take them to the post office, then I know I always pay the right amount. 

I wasn't buying postage from the site. The plan was to go buy postage in the exact amount from the APC in the post office lobby. 

I haven't checked the mailing guidelines at SwapaCD, but if it's like PBS you have a 48 hour window after marking the packaged mailed.  I prefer to mark after returning from the PO (so I don't use this option very often), but it's helpful for those oddball situations.  If you're sure you will be mailing within 48 hours, you may mark the CD mailed today (to avoid the transaction timing out) and mail it Tuesday after checking with your local USPS counter staff.

My understanding is you are mailing a CD with no case (which SaCD allows, but they break soooo much). This means it is really important that your CD gets proper postage for being non-machinable, otherwise it will arrive postage due. I'm not sure if APCs are properly configured to handle non-machineable mail? I really recommend taking it to the counter. 

Plus if you use an APC, it means you will have to drop your CD into a bin where other packages will be dropped on top of it, pretty much guarateeing that it's going to break, non-machinable or not. 

If your CD is one that there are multiple copies of in the system, I guess it is no great loss if it arrives broken, but if it is something more obscure, you should really consider sending with a case for the sake of your receiver. 

Thanks for your responses. I went to the post office this morning and the APC machine was out of order and of course the counter was closed, being a holiday. I ended up just using a $2.47 APC stamp and putting it in my mailbox so I could mark it mailed and not have to worry about forgetting to actually mail it. As I said  in my original post, I'm not very active in that club anyway. I'm really just waiting for a few CD's on my wishlist so I can use up the rest of my money, then I'll probably transfer my credits and close my membership. I don't enjoy it nearly as much as swapping books.

It depends on how you package the CD. 

CD with no case, just wrapped as suggested by the site's instructions --> it qualifies for the first class letter rate (3oz) = 0.85 + 0.20 fee for non machinable = 1.05

CD in jewel case -> no longer qualifies as first class letter (has to do with the thickness of the package, etc), must now go by first class parcel (3oz) = 1.95

I think the CD site's postage purchasing/label printing might be set up to default to the package rate, from what you are describing.

Becca, APC machines don't have to be set up to handle non-machinable. You can purchase a stamp for any amount, as long you know the amount yourself. However, I do believe that the APC machines are set up to guide you to a non-machinable first class label. 

I personally don't believe the CD can reliably arrive safely without the jewel case, so I always put it in the jewel case and send it via first class parcel. 

Hope this helps. 

Delivery Confirmation is not available for letters or "flats", only for parcels/packages; so if you printed your label at PBS with a DC, it would assume you are mailing a parcel.  Postage for a parcel is 1.95 for up to 3 ounces.