Just in from stamps.com

[southern*sweet*tea]

Dear Stamps.com customer,

Starting August 1, 2017 the USPS plans to change the way that they handle under-paid and over-paid postage amounts for packages by implementing a new “Automated Package Verification” (APV) system.

Under the current system:

• Under-paid packages are either rejected by the USPS or delivered “postage due” to the recipient. This causes either late deliveries or a bad customer experience.  
• Nothing is done to handle over-paid packages. Shippers lose whatever amount they have overpaid.

Under the planned APV system:

• Identified under-paid packages will be delivered without delay, and the shipper’s account balance will be deducted for the amount of under-paid postage.
• When over-paid packages are identified, the shipper’s account balance will be credited for the amount of over-paid postage.

Stamps.com is being updated to support this new APV system. Once APV goes into effect on August 1, 2017, we will be able to process USPS-issued debits and credits for under-paid and over-paid postage to your account balance. You will be able to view APV adjustment details in both the History and Reports pages. To dispute an adjustment, you will need to email VerifyPostageHelp@usps.gov with the package information and the adjustment reference.

To learn more about the APV program, simply visit our Support Center or contact the USPS by emailing VerifyPostageHelp@usps.gov.

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Just another in a long line of reasons to use stamps.com for your shipping needs.

[llllady]

I think this came up in weekly chat here months ago.  I can't wait to see how it will work out.   Hope USPS has a GREAT program in place because I suspect this could get out of hand very quickly otherwise.

[readabouthorses]

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@llllady wrote:

I think this came up in weekly chat here months ago.  I can't wait to see how it will work out.   Hope USPS has a GREAT program in place because I suspect this could get out of hand very quickly otherwise.

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Was it this? The USPS Revenue Assurance Program that was supposed to have started sometime in March? If so, this is the chat about it ...

http://community.ebay.com/t5/Weekly-Chat-with-eBay-Staff/Oct-26-2016-Shipping-Team/m-p/26152554#M958...

[southern*sweet*tea]

Yes, the revenue program has been around a few months. What stamps.com will do, instead of the PO delivering your package postage due, it will be delivered and your stamps.com will be billed. Conversely, if you overpay your account will be credited, instead of just losing the money. I always add an extra ounce to FC packages - just in case. It will be nice to be credited back the extra cost if I didn't need it.

[critter_mama_2007]

I wonder how this will effect people that use ebay/paypal shipping?

[readabouthorses]

@southern*sweet*tea

But isn't this going to impact anyone who buys postage through a postage provider and not just people who buy through stamps dot com?

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@readabouthorses wrote:

@southern*sweet*tea

But isn't this going to impact anyone who buys postage through a postage provider and not just people who buy through stamps dot com?

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I don't know. I would imagine it would be on the postage provider to either pay any shortages and bill the sender, or to just continue on as usual with the packages being sent postage due and the sender getting a note from the PO about postage abuse. (or whatever it is they send)

In the case of Ebay/Paypal I would imagine it would be the latter and not the former. I can't see either crediting sellers for overages or having their backs for shortages.

[bigdeals.etc]

I got the emails too. The problem is the accuracy of this. As an example, they showed that I underpaid for a recent package. They said I claimed it to be 8oz ($2.77) but it was in actuality 1 lb 7oz ($10.28). This was hugely incorrect since the item was just a simple t shirt. There is no way a t shirt is over 1 lb... that'd be like weighted clothes for exercising. I foresee tons of problems here since I send hundreds of t shirts a week.

Oh I read that this will also include Click N Ship. I'm not sure if it will include other online services.

[readabouthorses]

I did some searching on USPS and found this:

USPS is implementing this process across Click-N-Ship® and PC Postage® platforms.

[tarpedge]

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

Starting August 1, 2017 the USPS plans to change the way that they handle under-paid and over-paid postage

Under the current system:

• Under-paid packages are either rejected by the USPS or delivered “postage due” to the recipient.

Under the planned APV system:

• Identified under-paid packages will be delivered without delay, and the shipper’s account balance will be deducted for the amount of under-paid postage.

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How is USPS planning to prevent Postage Due on the package further down the line by an uninformed postal employee -- after any underpayment has already been settled?

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@tarpedge wrote:

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How is USPS planning to prevent Postage Due on the package further down the line by an uninformed postal employee -- after any underpayment has already been settled?

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No idea. Maybe something similar to how return labels are done  or how Fedex and UPS work - you pay the initial amount pending and later on the actual amount is charged to your bill.

[scstool]

I think the concept is a great idea. It won't happen, but it would be nice if the overall effect was lower shipping costs after weeding out the cheaters.

Unfortunately this looks like it would take a fairly large SW effort from Ebay to implement and their track record is not very good on SW implementation.  If they have a working system to support the APV by Oct 30 I'll eat a PFRE. Wait, make that a SFRB, I'm trying to cut down on plastics.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@scstool wrote:

I think the concept is a great idea. It won't happen, but it would be nice if the overall effect was lower shipping costs after weeding out the cheaters.

Unfortunately this looks like it would take a fairly large SW effort from Ebay to implement and their track record is not very good on SW implementation.  If they have a working system to support the APV by Oct 30 I'll eat a PFRE. Wait, make that a SFRB, I'm trying to cut down on plastics.

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I doubt Ebay and Paypal are going to implement something like that. Stamps.com, Endicia...yeah, I can see them doing it.  Their business is selling postage. Ebay and Paypal, not so much.

[scstool]

SST,
My take on it is that it is something that will get pushed on Ebay by the USPS and competitive factors.

I don't have the figures to back it up, but I thought Ebay does more sales volume than Stamps.Com and Endicia. Maybe I am incorrectly assuming that most Ebay sellers use Ebay shipping?

[luckythewinner]

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

Just another in a long line of reasons to use stamps.com for your shipping needs.

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.. or to simply invest in a good scale and weigh your packages accurately 🙂