Complaint Review: Sci*stamps.com - Los Angeles California

Chuck,

I believe that I can live nicely with all those limitations.  The real US Government Post Office (USPS) doesn't scam me, and it doesn't charge a bogus fee every month, whether or not I buy any postage from them.  The real Post Office doesn't charge my account, unless I have actually bought some postage from them.  Also, it's not a big deal for me to buy some 44-cent stamps, and just put them on envelopes.  I don't really need to buy 1st class stamps on-line from third-party re-sellers, such as stamps.com.  So far as all the other services you mentioned, I believe that I will "pass" on those, as apparently many others have also decided to do.  What surprises me the most (and maybe it shouldn't), is that: 1) the government has allowed stamps.com to use their name in any capacity, and 2) the government has not shut down stamps.com, and taken them into federal court for fraudulent and deceptive practices. 

The posting by the Stamps.com employee is accurate.  I have had an account with Stamps.com for almost 2 years now and have found it to meet my needs quite well! 

It is important to note that Stamps.com is a subscription-based service (with 3 different service plans, the Pro plan, Premier Plan, & Enterprise Plan...depending upon your particular needs).  Their on-line store provides quite a variety of Netstamps (sheets of blank stamp labels upon which you can print out any denomination of postage on), as well as, numerous other varied postage/shipping labels for such mail classes as Priority, Express, & Certified Mail.  (And, yes...just like the USPS...you pay for the amount of postage you use).

No doubt you have certain postage/mailing needs which your current use of the U.S. Postal Service's on-line services satisfactorily fulfills your requirements.  I (and no doubt others out there) have different needs which the services offered by the USPS on-line can only partially accommodate, however, the services offered by Stamps.com does provide for all the services I need (both personal and business).

Like any reasonable person, I too read a number of the complaints on the ROR site against Stamps.com, as well as, "reading all the fine print", so-to-speak, on the Stamps.com website prior to deciding to open an account with them.  Stamps.com, like another internet postage provider, Endicia, and postage meter providers each offer a service.  The fact there are fees associated with these services doesn't categorically make them scams.

In response to your inquiry regarding the benefits of Stamps.com relative to the USPS:

While the USPS does offer a solution for certain mail classes through its Click-N-Ship program, there are a number of mail classes and USPS services that are not currently supported online directly by the USPS.

For example, while the USPS does not currently support online postage prints for First-Class (such as $.44 stamps), Parcel Post, Certified Mail, or Media Mail, other online services such as Stamps.com and Endicia do offer this functionality.  Another benefit of Stamps.com is the ability to print shipping labels in batch and the ability to import address information from third party databases such as eBay and Amazon.

For more information and a complete list of approved postage vendors, please visit the USPS site: http://www.usps.com/onlinepostage/welcome.htm

Thanks!

Chuck

Stamps.com