OMG - this is not worth the bother!  Last week I sent a book with PBS DC and didnt pay the 19cent b/c they were confused - but it was scanned anyway - so all good.  Then today I print it to mail a mutiple shipment in hopes to get instant credit and the lady at the PO says if I print that part at home I have to print the postage at home.  So I paid 2x for the DC and they put a new bar code on it so as far as PBS is concerned it will never go in the system b/c their barcode will never be scanned.

 I know its not PBSs fault but if the PO gets so confused and I pay twice and don't get credit assurance it is not worth it! 

There is more in the PBS help docs, but here is an excerpt:

If your PO is arguing that you can't use electronic DC (e-DC) but have to purchase DC at the PO instead to send your PBS package, this misunderstanding happens occasionally.  Some POs are not as informed about electronic DC (e-DC) as they should be, considering that it is rather commonplace nowadays. 

Below is the information from USPS's own website that you can print out and show to your postmaster/PO employees if necessary.  This shouldn't be necessary, of course, but you would be doing them (and yourself, of course) a service to help them out here:

• Here is the URL location of the USPS guidelines regarding using Delivery Confirmation on First Class mail and on Media Mail.

the link is  http://www.usps.com/shipping/deliveryconfirm.htm

You do not have to use online postage in order to use electronic DC.   PBS does receive electronic information on all DC printed through the site.   Also, anyone who requests it is capable of receiving electronic files by simply entering the tracking number and requesting that USPS email you the tracking results.

I'd print out the relevant sections from the help documents here to take with you next time you go to the PO so they can learn how it works as well.  Really, the computer knows.  If the clerk just scans the DC, it'll automatically ring up at the correct price.

Your postal clerks are unfortunately under-educated Margaret.  I would complain (loudly and frequently) to the regional Post Master and see if they can remedy the problem.  Electronic DC is very common these days, and there is NO excuse for your local postal branch not to process it properly.

With PBS electronic DC, members pay .27 when we purhcase/print DC labels.  I then take mine to the post office (yes, it's entirely legit) and buy counter postage.  When USPS clerks use their *almost* idiot proof online computer system, I am charged .19 for the USPS portion of the DC, the DC is scanned, and appropriate postage applied.  Easy peasy.  Only thing I have to do is tell them First Class or Media Mail.

My PBS credit is automatically transferred soon as the USPS downloads infor (usually shortly after midnight).

Like Sara says, if your counter clerks would just scan your DC when promped by their own computer it figures everything.  They need to stop second guessing their own system.