I was thrilled that my dishcloths went quickly the other night – I hope that everyone enjoys them. 
I was *not* thrilled however, when 3 of the envelopes I mailed out came back to me with notes from the USPS that I needed to pay more postage.
Given that I have two boys with autism who make waiting in line a chore at best, pure torture for everyone on most days, it was a g-dsend for me when my local USPS put in a 24 hour electronic kiosk where you can weigh and purchase postage for envelopes and packages to be mailed in the U.S. I’ve been using it for over a year with no problems. Until the latest hike and changes in rates and regulations – it appears as if they haven’t updated their software and I am going to pay for it with extra postage, slower shipping as they return things to me, and poor customer reviews for slow shipping.
I posted 3 packages after the kids went to bed Thursday night, and then went back while they were in summer school yesterday morning and posted 3 more using the kiosk and then dropped them in the slot at that post office. The three that I posted Thursday night all came back, but I reposted and mailed out again yesterday. I don’t know whether or not the three I posted yesterday will come back or not – I’ll find out today or Monday, I guess.
I’m furious with the USPS. I used *their* machine. I selected “large envelope” which is the correct category. I used their scale. Used their printed postage lable. And if they are undercharging – that should be *their* problem, not mine. The person I talked with at the national USPS phone line told me that I have to go in to the local post office and find out why they are doing this to my mail before they will do anything or tag our machine as defective.
I have NO PROBLEM WITH PAYING THE CORRECT POSTAGE. I’m not looking to save money. I *am* looking to save headaches for me and everyone else by using the kiosk and I need it to charge me the correct postage. Once I weigh my item and select all the correct categories and print the USPS lable, they should take it and deliver it to its destination. Period. Or they should get rid of the stupid machines. I can’t imagine that this process is cost effective and it may end up hurting my little Etsy business.
Speaking of Etsy, I have some more dishcloths up in my store:
I really like the patterns for the square ones – they are quite thick and will do a great job with dishes and countertops!
That *is* annoying. USPS should be ashamed to return to sender when it is clear that the package has a USPS-produced postage label. How else do they think the package got that particular type of postage stamp if not from a defective machine or sloppy employee?
Comment by Fern — July 25, 2007 @ 12:41 am
I couldn’t agree more, Fern! It really is an awful way to start a business when people’s stuff is held up by the post office due to their own faulty equipment.
Comment by busyhands — July 25, 2007 @ 5:51 pm