Question
What will YOU be doing?
This is a question especially for those folks who use Shipping Assistant exclusively. (Although the rest of you can chime in if you have ideas....)
I currently use Shipping Assistant and my digital scale and postage stamps. I give the packages to my rural carrier. I ship everything from home. I do go to the post office maybe once every 2 or 3 months to buy stamps and occasionally to work out an international shipping question - like to which street addresses in Athens can you send Global Priority pkgs... but generally I do everything here.
I also print the labels on heavy white paper, cut them out and tape them to the package. I always double-check the addresses before making the labels.
I send mostly first class and media and Bound Printed Matter packages. I'm really miffed about those services being dropped for Delivery Confirmation through the USPS.
Okay.
That's where things stand now.
I'm trying to figure out what my options are.
Has anyone written a free program that accesses the USPS API to check addresses and print a label? I suppose there's no such thing -- but I know the USPS does not charge to access the info...or at least we can do it on our website when figuring postage.
Do I need to sell more to pay for paid services like Endicia? (Actually this is not exactly a problem...I can learn a new program, but I hate the idea of it. I can pay for it, but I hate that idea also. Mostly because I hate the idea of paying to have more work setting things up etc.)
Okay, so I'm rambling. And I'm irritated.
Anybody have suggestions or stories about what YOU've decided to do?
Elaine
(who will be around the computer only sporatically the next couple days, but will come back to discuss this)
Answer
Hi Elaine,
I'm not aware of any *free* address verification programs, unfortunately.
However, I've been using Endicia since early this year, and I can't believe it took me so long to start using it.
Barring the rare exception when Endicia servers are acting quirky, it a powerful program and easy to use. Matter of fact, it's so easy, I used it to calculate our international shipping rate charts instead of Shipping Assistant.
Also, I do believe that they are coming out (or perhaps it's already out) with an option that allows you to print stamps... so possibly that could benefit you, as well.
Cheers
Answer
I'm not sure what I will be doing exactly as I've used SA exclusively for a long time now and love it because they will restructure an address to meet the USPS specifications and abbreviations. If you use the shipping label option in eBay it will include the other options that Click N Ship does not currently (media, etc.) BUT the postage is prepaid through PayPal. I have not been able to find an option to just print the label but not prepay the postage. Also, it appears that you can not print the label and "receipt" part seperately like you can in SA (which is a real bummer). Apparently, a shipping label can be done through eBay for items that were not paid for through PayPal. The eBay/PayPal one also prefills the information for you so that shortens the time. The only thing I'm concerned about there is I would like the "verification" "address format" option that is in SA. I find Click N Ship inadequate in the mailing options area and it seems awkward to me to use but you do have the option of not paying for the postage immediately.
I'm just not sure which I will use or if I will use a combination. I'm sure when I am forced into using them I will get more comfortable with use. I probably won't go with a paid service as over the years the fees for this, that, and everything else have crept up and up. That's just another few cents off anything we make and with shipping amounts going up and maybe eBay fees (god forbid) after the first of the year I'm just not in the mood to give away anything else.
Answer
I use Priority mail for almost everything so the USPS Click-N-Ship works well for me.
Answer
Originally Posted by goodworks1
Has anyone written a free program that accesses the USPS API to check addresses and print a label?
http://www.cedar.buffalo.edu/adserv.html
That is a little quickie page that will confirm and format an address for you.
Won't print a postage paid label, just a cut-out-paste-on.
I used to use it all the time before I got Endicia.