Xaxaxe wrote:As sort of an off-shoot from the current "S/H overcharging" thread (which has mutated into a "media mail" thread), I figured I'd (briefly) mention how well the USPS' new Click-N-Ship program seems to be working.

After using it for two weeks, I give C-N-S five-out-of-five stars. My goal for 2005 is to not step inside a post office — literally. Media mail under one pound can go into a mailbox, I can now print my own postage for anything over a pound, and I already buy my stamps online, so it looks like a reachable goal.

Briefly, for those who might not be aware, here's the dilly-o on C-N-S:

1. It works with any modern PC or Mac via a Java applet;
2. It allows one to pay for and print their own postage;
3. It allows for free next-day package pickup by your mail-carrier (as long as it's Priority or Express);
4. It provides free delivery confirmation (same caveat as above).

So, as soon as a buyer pays me, I can print the postage, pay for it, leave the package by the front door, then track it after it gets picked up by my carrier. And there's no surcharges for anything — the only payment is for the actual postage.

I've used C-N-S about eight times now, with zero problems. IMO, all serious eBay sellers need to look into this program. If interested, go to USPS - The United States Postal Service (U.S. Postal Service) and follow the Click-N-Ship link.

beyondthebreach wrote:Hmm, I wonder what reason there is to use click-n-ship for eBay transactions?  Why not just use ebay/paypal to print the shipping labels?

beyondthebreach wrote:Hmm, I wonder what reason there is to use click-n-ship for eBay transactions?  Why not just use ebay/paypal to print the shipping labels?  It is essentially the same as c-n-s, but it is linked to your ebay transactions.  Just print shipping label from your sales and you can select the desired method of shipment including media mail.  Delivery confirmation is free with Priority as is the label processing fee.  For media mail/parcel post delivery confirmation costs an additional 13 cents and the label processing fee is 20 cents (essentially, there is a mandatory 33 cents additional fee to ship media, but it is less than the 55 cents the PO would normally charge).

I buy stick on labels from others on eBay and print them right out - slap them on the package and leave them in the door for the mailman to pick up.  No writing out addresses or any other fuss.  It saves me an immense amount of time - furthermore, everything can be tracked from "My Ebay" and all shipments are linked.  Both you and the buyer receive an email linked to your transaction stating the product will be shipped and all payments come directly out of my Paypal balance.

The only thing you can't do is select Priority Flat rate boxes as an option - but I emailed Paypal and then said "they are evaluating this as an option". . .  uh huh.   But, I am sure it will be available sooner or later.

Badmike:  I would recommend that you look into this. . . it is a great time and money saver.  Even if you are going to the PO regularly for international deliveries, you can still just slap all you domestic stuff on the counter and it is ready to go.  Perhaps you add confirmation already - in which case this will save you money in the long run. . . an if you don't, it allows easy confirmation for almost nothing.    I can't believe how much time it has saved me - I actually used to write out my addresses by hand and had to look up each sale individually for each addresses.  Pain in the ass, that was.

beyondthebreach wrote:Badmike - the fill-in postman is powerless. . . I have a pleasant arrangement with my guy, but all I have to do is notify the Post Office the night before (or even early that morning) that I have a package pick-up and the carrier HAS to come to your door and get it.  It is part of the service that the Post Office is promoting in conjunction with eBay and/or Click-n-ship.

Give 'em hell . . .