The USPS-supplied adhesive labels are not in the same format as the online prepaid labels. They are intended ONLY for hand-written labels without postage. There's no space to print the postage on the decorated label.
However, at any office supplies store you can purchase sheets of labels in various formats. The usual format is 2 labels per 8.5 x 11 sheet. The problem is that the online receipt also prints on the adhesive portion so you waste an expensive label!
Normally, I hand-write mailing labels, take packages to the PO and pay for postage at the counter. (I don't own a printer.) However, last week I was working in an office where I had access to a computer and printer, so I printed a couple of eBay prepaid labels on plain paper. In the standard "landscape" mode, the resulting label is rather small but at least the destination name and address is readable.
My first prepaid label also included a 2976 Customs form so the font size for the Customs information was really tiny. I chose to drop the international package off at the PO, rather than leave it for the private courier service that picks up the office mail. As I understand it, international packages have to be presented directly to a USPS employee -- the courier driver just dumps and leaves, with no interaction. I also wanted to make sure that the designated weight of 2 lbs. was OK, since the package actually weighed about 12 ounces less. (It's OK -- the First Class postage amount to Europe covers 9 oz. to 32 ounces.) Another issue was whether the PO 2 blocks from the office would accept a different "mailed from" zip code -- so I chose to take the package to the main downtown PO whose zip code is the same as my return address. Besides, riding the bus as I do, the downtown PO is on my way home and actually more convenient.
In addition, I wanted a printed acceptance receipt for my records, which the courier would not have obtained. The clerk cheerfully answered my questions, double-checked the package weight and issued a receipt. Of course, it might have helped that I also bought some stamps, whose purchase appears on the same receipt. No late-afternoon line at the PO either!
On Friday morning, I prepared a domestic prepaid label -- also on plain paper -- and changed the format to "portrait." This yielded a larger, more easily read label but meant that part of the receipt printed on a second sheet of paper. Not a big deal -- it was just the few lines that identify the buyer's eBay ID and the item title. (But I would not have wanted to waste 3 expensive adhesive labels to print a single label!)
The courier picked up the outgoing mail about 9:30 a.m. and my domestic package received its first scan at the main downtown PO about 1:30 p.m. Since I have worked in this particular office for many years, I already knew the courier always takes all the mail from his route to the downtown PO -- he has other stops to make before he reaches downtown 2 miles away.
Bottom line: USPS Priority Mail supplies do not include mailing labels suitable for printing online prepaid postage.
~~C~~
My Glass Duchess
Quoting Mom: In polite society, "hey" is for horses.
