On the Net54baseball Board someone in passing mentioned that if you buy postage through Paypal, it ends up being about 1/2 what you get charged at the Post Office. Plus delivery confirmation is only an additional 19 cents. Does anyone use this method. Can someone explain how it's done......do you need special adhesive paper for the 'stamps' or a special payment account?
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It's not 1/2 the cost at the P.O., but depending on how you're shipping, can be 10% or more off. The part about the $0.19 delivery confirmation is correct, and it's actually free delivery confirmation if you're shipping Priority or 1st Class. I haven't shipped through Paypal specifically, but I believe it's the same rates as available through eBay, or stamps.com or any other 3rd party provider.
No special labels required, though they do make the job easier if you're doing a lot of shipping. You can just print the postage on a plain piece of paper and tape it securely to the package. It's also a good idea to tape over the address portion just in case, so that the address will be legible if the package gets wet en route.
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That if you ship via Paypal and drop off at the post office or in a box, there is no origin scan, therefore no proof that they ever received your package. If you go to a window and use delivery confirmation, that first scan that shows up on your receipt is proof you dropped the package at the post office. I've argued with them about this but they will NOT do any type of scan when you drop off the package at the post office, so use Paypal at your own risk. For low $$ items, I'm sure it's fine and ultimately for most, if not all, it would be fine. If you have a high $$ item dropped off with no proof they got it, you will have a tough time collecting on an insurance even if paid for via Paypal. Just my opinion..................
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Tom's Got it!
" Beware! Ship at your own risk " Sign should pop up for all these different options.
If you don't personally go to a counter or have a face to face with a Postal,shipping employee.
You are ...well...you know?
just sayin.
" Tellin it like it is since 1963 "
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Tom, this may vary by region, but in my location the postal carriers (as in, the one that comes to your house) are required to scan in all packages on receipt. I've talked to my carrier about it, as I sometimes have a stack of 30 or more flat packages going out, and didn't want to put him behind on his route as he stands at the back of his truck in front of my house and scans each one. He said he doesn't care, because he gets paid overtime anyway
As for scanning at the P.O. itself, it'***** and miss at my locale. I often have dozens of packages and have a bad habit of getting there just before they close, so sometimes they get scanned in on receipt, and sometimes not until they hit the sorting center later that evening (ours is just a few miles away from my local P.O.), but it's rarely more than a few hours after I drop them off that the packages get scanned into the system.
I've had my share of complaints about the USPS over the years, but I have to admit, they have made vast improvements over the last year or so. Of course, that may all change with the recent cut-backs, but in terms of lost or damaged packages, of the thousands I've shipped with them, they're way below the 1% mark for me.
As always though, results may vary depending on your location.
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I ship everything from paypal that is paid through paypal. (I like the interface there better than ebay). The price is indeed cheaper and first class now includes free tracking. Also, since it is tied to ebay it automatically updates the auction with the order status.
I watched my carrier just yesterday as they scanned each package in front of my house. Very convenient!
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I just don't have time to be at home for a pickup and I've been to at least five branches here who all refuse to scan them each and every time. I made a conscious decision to just go in and clog up a window for ten minutes. Don't like that either but it is what it is......so they scan everything....not just priority mail?
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I use Paypal for shipping most of the time. It brings up the address automatically, a little cheaper than going to the post office, etc. I utilize this with large envelopes, or even the small flat rate USPS boxes. Basically if it fits in my mailbox I use the paypal interface. I haven't had any problems...of course by me saying that I just jinxed myself.
Jason
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I usually just drop my packages in the slot at the Post Office. It would defeat the purpose of using PayPal if I had to wait in line to get the packages scanned. They are always scanned before they leave Syracuse. Here is an example:
420087539101128882300179508054
First-Class MailŪ
Delivered
February 24, 2012, 12:57 pm
TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753
Delivery Confirmation
Out for Delivery
February 24, 2012, 8:55 am
TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753
Sorting Complete
February 24, 2012, 8:45 am
TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753
Arrival at Post Office
February 24, 2012, 5:15 am
TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
February 24, 2012, 12:10 am
TRENTON, NJ 08650
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
February 23, 2012, 4:48 pm
KEARNY, NJ 07099
Depart USPS Sort Facility
February 23, 2012
SYRACUSE, NY 13220
Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility
February 22, 2012, 9:22 pm
SYRACUSE, NY 13220
Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility
February 22, 2012, 8:07 pm
SYRACUSE, NY 13203
Electronic Shipping Info Received
February 22, 2012
This message has been edited by AlanRM on Feb 29, 2012 8:26 PM
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Tom, don't feel too bad about a 10-minute clog. There is a guy local to me that I often see when I go to the P.O. who routinely spends 30-45 minutes of the teller's time shipping packages, and he's not even getting tracking on them! He's in there several days a week (maybe every day?), and I've asked the tellers why he does it that way. It's something to do with he wants that physical receipt for some reason. He's a paying customer though, so they tolerate it, and I just give them a knowing smile as I sidle past the backed-up line with my packages ready to go and pile them on the counter wherever they point.
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I use Paypal shipping when I send items sold through Sportlots and have found it to be easy to use.For Ebay sales I use the Ebay shipping and it is just as easy.The free delivery confirmation is great and gives me a piece of mind considering that many orders on Sportlots are for less than $10 and to pay .75 for delivery confirmation is cost prohibitive. I had a problem at my local post office(I live in a small rural town of about 600 people with not many outsiders using our Post Office) at first with the postal employee not wanting to do the acceptance scan upon receipt but now have her on board.I explained that I need to have this scan to have seller protection on Ebay and other sites.There are several people who live in the area that sell online and I am sure they have conveyed to her the same concerns. I send anywhere from 50-75 packages weekly, usually spread out over several visits and she will scan them while I am there so I know it has been done. Takes just a couple of minutes so there is no problem. A lot quicker then the old way where she had to weigh everything and print the postage and tie up the window for 30 minutes.
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Also,
Lance mentioned that you can use regular paper and and just tape over the label with clear packing tape. That is fine but do not tape over the barcode for the delivery confirmation as the post office may have a problem getting a scan with the scan reader. I think I pay about 8 cents a label fot the 2 per sheet pre sticky labels on ebay in quantity so for me the cost saved on postage and free delivery confirmation more than pays for them.
Regards,
Bob
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Bob, good addition/clarification to my tape-over suggestion. I did indeed mean to only tape over the address/return address portion of the label, as the reflective surface of the tape can sometimes screw with the scanners, particularly if you get a wrinkle or two in the tape. As long as the address is clear, the package will still get there even if the barcode gets wet and runs.
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Tom,
I just stuff everything in the mailbox and the mail person picks them up. If I have boxes I put a note on the box that tells them there are boxes on the porch. I feel pretty good about leaving the stuff as it is a Federal Offense to jack with someone's mail.
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