I thought this the more appropriate forum to ask this...
Someone sent me metered postage for SASE plants, when I had instructed them to send me Priority Stamps. Since I never mailed with metered postage, I thought it would work...so I packaged up the box with about 18 different starter plugs of plants and went to the Post Office. I didn't adhere the metered postage, because I wanted to ask the Clerk first. Well, I was told that metered postage is only good on the day it is issued and it would constitute mail fraud if used otherwise. Soooo, I got stuck paying the hefty Priority postage on the spot. I don't expect the sender to reimburse me, since they are sort of down and out with things in life and in their garden. I chalk it up to doing a good deed for another gardener (others have done generous things for me and still do), which always boosts my happiness, however, I'm wondering...has anyone had similar experiences with metered postage?
Trish
Metered Postage Question
Trish, I think you did the kindhearted thing, and it does all kind of "even out" in the end, doesn't it?
As far as I know, what you were told is correct - metered mail (which is date stamped) must be mailed the same day it is generated. I have no idea how uptight the USPS is on this rule but I've never attempted to circumvent it.
Many traders will specify postage only; no metered stamps. Perhaps some innovative person will come up with a way for us to print our own stamps, and then those who use the metered mail for convenience and cost savings could print their own postage for SASE's.
Not only that, but meter postage has a source stamped on it. A trader send me one last year, for whatever reason, the PO accepted, but gave it a hardtime with it still.