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Topic: New system, postage printed out....got a ?

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Subject: New system, postage printed out....got a ?
Date Posted: 9/11/2007 7:11 PM ET
Member Since: 2/26/2007
Posts: 52
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I used the new system and printed out the DC, the shipper and requester address and the postage due all in one swoop.  I was on cloud NINE and SO darn happy I could slap that book in the mailbox at the post office and be on my merry way and NOT have to wait in line under the 13 oz rule!!!  WELL, with the DC it is NOT showing that my book has been scanned, anywhere, at ALL and this was yesterday morning.  I have never had this happen to me and I am worrying that something is wrong with the postage or the label or dc or something.  Has anyone had problems with this new system?  I've marked the book shipped as of yesterday, and checked today on the DC/quick credit thing and it doesn't show the little mail truck anywhere at all.  I'm so confused.  I know that sometimes the p.o is slow, but this has never happened before and a little too coincidental for me since I have only used the new system once now.

Anyone?

 

 

Bravescatz avatar
Date Posted: 9/11/2007 7:18 PM ET
Member Since: 1/12/2007
Posts: 1,305
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We had this discussion earlier this week. It may not scan until delivered. My first one scanned two days after I mailed it and it was two days later it got to its destination. It might get scanned some where along the way or wait until it's delivered. I'm only using it so far for the books over 13 ounces so I can drop it and go too.

surfgirl avatar
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Date Posted: 9/11/2007 7:22 PM ET
Member Since: 1/11/2007
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It happened to me, too.  I mailed a package with PBS postage/DC last Tuesday, and I still haven't gotten my quick credit.  I mailed other packages with stamps/DC or P.O. postage/DC at the same time, and I've gotten my quick credit for all of those. 



Last Edited on: 9/11/07 7:23 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Date Posted: 9/11/2007 7:26 PM ET
Member Since: 2/26/2007
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Sorry, guess I jumped the gun because I kinda freaked out and didn't look to see if anyone else had asked this question.   I was so excited yesterday when I saw that we could do that now you'd have thought I won the lotto! LOL  My fiance thought I had lost my mind over this 'trivial' thing.  I told him it was SO NOT trivial to me! LOL

I bought my scale from here the other day and just got it Saturday...as far as this site goes, what do I need it for?  I belong to other swap sites and can use it there, but why would they sell the scale here if they offer this option?  I guess for people who don't wish to buy the DC or pay the extra 43 cents? 

Dunno, don't care, I'm a happy camper as long as it gets there and I do not have to stand in those ridiculous lines where they have one teller working on a BUSY day at the p.o!

WAY TO GO PBS!   :)

 

cgoldma avatar
Date Posted: 9/12/2007 12:15 AM ET
Member Since: 2/5/2007
Posts: 160
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Thanks for the scoop! I just got my postage scale from PBS yesterday and sent out my first book with the new electronic postage option and was wondering some of the same questions that Sandy had. 

I was not on PBS much yesterday so didn't see the thread that addressed other people's questions about the new electronic postage w/ DC option in regards to Quick credit.  I have always before gone to the PO and had them scan the PBS DC and get the credit the next day.

reigners avatar
Date Posted: 9/12/2007 12:39 AM ET
Member Since: 8/21/2007
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Just a quick note, Sandy.. Since you have the scale, I would suggest always weighing your books/packages. I've had several books lately that the default weight was completely off, and in the much more expensive direction. I'd say use it, so you never pay more than you should.

Just my $.02

 

--Andrea

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Date Posted: 9/12/2007 7:54 AM ET
Member Since: 9/17/2006
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I agree with Andrea- I've had a lot of books with default weight completely off, and books I receive must have been likewise, since the actual postage on them was less than listed on the little qustionnaire you fill in when you mark the book as received.

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Date Posted: 9/12/2007 8:28 AM ET
Member Since: 3/8/2007
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I think that printing out your postage at home is going to have the tradeoff that you will not get your quick credit right away.  The only reason that they scan your DC at the post office is so that you can get the reduced electronic DC fee.  Since DC is not a tracking service like UPS has, the post office is not going to scan it at all points.  Most of my books first get scanned at a regional postal facility in Warrendale, PA around 2-3 days after I mail them out.

Guinan avatar
Date Posted: 9/12/2007 12:07 PM ET
Member Since: 9/2/2006
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Frankly it's all a crap shoot.  Three books, all using PBS online postage, all three picked up from my home mail box but the carrier.  The first two books were never scanned at all, not here, not by the delivering PO, thankfully the requestors were very prompt in marking them received.  Book #3 was scanned by my PO the day after I put it in the box, and I got my quick credit on the next day.  So I think it depends on the post worker dealing with the mail your book happens to be in, if they feel like scanning or not.  Makes no difference if you take it to the PO or have your carrier pick it up, and there is no insurance that the receiving PO will scan either.

Like I said, a crap shoot.

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Date Posted: 9/12/2007 1:23 PM ET
Member Since: 2/26/2007
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Thanks guys, I will do that.  Guess the best way is to get the electronic stuff pulled up on the screen then slap the book on the scale and compare prices/weight.  I WAS wondering how they figured those rates because we don't all ship in the same kinds of envelopes, etc.  Sometimes I will wrap mine in bubble wrap and then use mailing paper to wrap it, tape it like I'm sending it to China and off it goes, and other times I shove it in a bubble mailer.  It all depends on the book and size of the book.  I realize we're talking a tiny bit of a difference here but wouldn't that make the postage change anyway?  I'm sure that the extra bubble wrap I use for a large hardcover book that is in pristine condition that I would wrap, wrap and wrap again is going to weigh more simply because I took extra care to make sure it's not going to be damaged as opposed to a paperback that goes into a smaller, lightweight bubble mailer.  Does that make sense?

Catspaw avatar
Date Posted: 9/12/2007 7:05 PM ET
Member Since: 7/14/2007
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I just did an experiment on one I'm mailing.  The naked book weights 5.6 ounces.  I wrapped in plastic wrap, the PBS double wrapper, taped packing tape along the seam and over both book ends (in addition to the scotch tape), added 6 stamps, and weighed again.  Finished weight was 6.1 ounces.  The stamps alone added 1/16 of an ounce.

So after wrapping, my book gained 11/16ths of an ounce.

Susanaque avatar
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Date Posted: 9/13/2007 9:52 AM ET
Member Since: 11/18/2005
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I weight my books just to check, and so far the weights have been within and ounce or two.  I have never used the quick(er) credit for the quickness of getting the credit.  It has always been as a way to support PBS.  It is really nice to just drop books in the blue box at the PO and go on my way.  My scale only goes to three pounds, so eventually, I'll have to go IN the post office!!  The few times, so far I have use the postal/DC, I have gotten my credit within a couple days, but I don't pay THAT close attention to dates.