Electronic DC costs 19 cents as opposed to 80 cents at the post office, so I'm wondering where do I buy it online? I cannot find anything about it on usps.com aside from the price, and I don't want to join stamps.com because I always forget to cancel free trials and I don't want to end up being billed $16 a month. Can someone direct me to a site where I can get electronic DC without having to pay some other kind of fee?

I believe that paypal postage offers the eDC for only 19 cents without a surchange.

But, why buy it at all if not from PBS? You won't get your PBS credit if the book goes lost, unless you buy the DC from PBS.

I've mailed almost 800 books and only 1 has gone lost since I have joined. Even at 19 cents only, that would have been $152 extra dollars. I'm glad I did not pay that $152 in order to get the one credit that I lost. That would be silly.

Yes, what Sara P. said is correct. On paypal you pay just <postage + 0.19>, no extra fees.

Another option is to download the USPS Shipping Assistant. It will generate Media Mail labels with eDC barcodes, BUT no postage. You will have to take it to the post office to buy postage (This is the equivalent of PBS-DC without paying a fee to PBS, with no Credit Assurance or Quick Credit)

I guess whether it's worth it to buy eDC depends on your purpose. If you want to not wait in line at the post office when you are mailing things above 13oz, you need to print labels on line. Those must come with eDC.

If you are doing it to make sure you get your credit, buying it through PBS would make more sense.

I didn't know you could buy postage on pay pal, thanks for letting me know!

Hi Lou,

I'm not sure if you are aware (it wasn't clear form your post), that you can set up your paypal account so that, if you don't have enough existing funds, the paypal system will use a credit card you have previously nominated (and verified etc).

Just a heads up - in case it helps.

I just want to remind people that if the only thing you're worried about is avoiding standing in line at the post office, you can get stamps from the APC machine in many post office lobbies that you can keep at home and use on your books.  You use a credit card so they count as identified postage (the same as online) which means you can drop the packages in the blue box.

You have to be able to weigh the packages at home, and when you go to the APC to buy the stamps you have to know the media mail amounts--you  are buying a "stamp of a different denomination" and have to put in the amount that you want.  I buy several $2.38 and $2.77 stamps, and a few 39 cent to add on if needed, so I only have to go to the PO when I run out of them--plus, there's almost never a line at the APC.

Diane

A number of members use APC Diane.  They report keeping a chart of Media Mail rates, then weigh at the APC machine, calculate the MM rate for their pkg. weight (add .19 for DC if necessary), ask for alternate postage option, and drop in the mail. 

Many members also keep pre-purchased APC around the house for later use (like yourself).

You're lucky you have an APC.  We had one for a while.  I loved it.  They removed it though a couple of years ago though.  Must only be in bigger cities now.