Well, since the post office has made it harder for us to mail without having to go to the post office, I would like to start using "click and ship". Does anyone use this and how does it work? Can you print postage right on your personal printer and if so, what type of paper do you use? If we do it this way, will we really be able to just drop off at a blue box or leave in our mail box? Is there a better way then using this service? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

HC

you can use any paper but it will allow allow to send priorty or express mail

no first class no media mail

and yes you can thent drob into a mailbox as they know who you are

Click and Ship (just go to www.usps.com and click on "Print A Shipping Label") lets you print mailing labels with postage - or without, for that matter.

As Mark said, it's for the various Priority and Express services only - and yes, you can avoid the limitations of stamped packages by using it.

Similarly, you can also use Paypal to do this - but with Paypal, you can ALSO do Media Mail shipments.

Finally, you can also use an APC machine to print out custom stamps that are metered (there is a record of your purchase), and these can be also be used without the limitations of "regular" stamps.

For ourselves, for PBS purposes we like the APC postage routine. I have a stack of custom APC "stamps" right in front of me, some for $2.31 and some for >1 lb books, $2.65 (both of which include the PBS DC charges). Print the PBS label, slap on the right APC stamp and drop it in any box!

We use Paypal & Click&Ship for boxes and have no complaints. The USPS website also will allow you to schedule free pickups for the next day until 10 pm, as long as at least one package is Priority or Express (the rest can be anything). Since discovering the APC's print postage function, we've never had to wait in line or go to the PO for anything other than to print more postage when we run out - and no lines then, either! Life is good.
(especially compared to Steve's Monday, this week!)

Good luck!