Is Stamps.com a Scam? - Comments Page 2

HI, I used a Dymo for many years, and with the newer models, you can sign up for Endica for free, no monthly charge, and download the software from the Dymo site. Did get a free pelouze scale for registering the printer. Only issue is you have to buy the rolls of stamps (200)from Dymo or Endica which costs about $15 per roll, which is still cheaper than a drive to PO. Only problem is it is for stamps only. Do have a paypal account which allows me to print other items for less than PO, like proirity, UPS, etc. Really saves gas.

Information on how to obtain the free 5lb. scale should appear upon your first log-in to the Stamps.com software. You should also find information on how to get the free 5lb scale in your "welcome" email. Any customers who haven't received their free scale should call Stamps.com Customer Support at 1-888-434-0055.

Note: There is a shipping and handling fee to obtain the scale.

Stamps.com

Bob,
I did try stamps.com a few years ago shortly after they came out with some heavy advertisements on TV, in magazine, and even online. After I received my starter kit and billing info, I realized... I hardly use US postal services that much anyway, a whole roll of stamps usually lasts me a whole year and that includes my Christmas cards once a year, so quickly came to the conclusion that this was not for me and not such a great savings. So I called their 1-800 number and canceled. Of course like you said, they tried to offer me a better deal, but I had already made up my mind to not continue the service and they graciously accepted that without any problems. Everything you said in your article is absolutely right. I never received the scale either, now I know why! Thank you for your intake. Sue

Oh Mr. Bob - you're way too nice. This was quite generous of you.

I consider any company which is not plainly forthcoming in its disclosure of services and costs - a scam, or at least a semi-scam, as they know that of all who attempt to escape their clutches-some of them will inevitably still yield profit. When you're talking about millions of 'trials' it becomes exponential.

They waste my time in forcing me to call to cancel, waiting on hold hoping I will hang up in digust. Jumping on them for unauthorized credit card charges. Pleading my case to bank or cc company because said errant companies violated their own rules-only to discover in order to remedy the transaction the witches broom must be brought to the great oz - and sometimes he says 'no'.

I closed a bank acoount which would not refund a transaction I had stopped.

The free junk they offer is not worth it when you consider the headache and wasted time they cause multiplied by the amount of 'trials' one has signed up for and discontinued.

If ppl like this sort of thing - wonderful. I am not interested in 'personalizing' any service I must use if it is an expense. I can think of more creative ways to 'personalize'. $18.00 is a chunk of ching to 'personalize' and prove my worthiness for the privilege of becoming a patron.

If the personalization is a part of advertising revenue/expense for a company - maybe. I can have a personaized stamper(s) for less and the ink becomes my only expense...

This was optional on my computer when I recieved it, but after looking it over and determining it could cost me I just never took the bait.

USPS does the same thing for free-the cost is just the postage I think.

For much of or most of shipping Priority is not much or any more than 1st class. Just pick the corresponding box and presto if it fits it ships.

I purchase twenty packs of the stamps that never expire and only go up when the cost of postage goes up - leaving the remainder in my 20-pack (which fits nicely in my wallet) the previous price until I buy more. When postage is about to go up I buy a few extra 20 packs.

The BBB is not a good indicator of a company's reliability. Many companies which are A/A- have an unusually high amount of bad reviews from forums, polls and online complaints.

Magicjack is A-, a miracle if you ask me, and employs sketchy practices to sidestep BBB's radar. If they can do it anyone can. Their system is too easily gamed.

I google or research any product or service before I try or buy it. I've been to Dellhell and back...

Bob, I used Stamps.com for many years...started back in 1999 or so. The cost for the service was $4.99 and it was worth it for me so I didn't have to stand in line at the post office. I belonged to a book swapping club online and I simply printed my stamps or label and dropped the book into a mail box. BUT, they increased the cost to $17.99 with no notice to me and that really got my goat. As soon as I saw the charge on my statement, I canceled my account. I wrote to them too and told them why I left. I am in a different book swapping club and I can print postage right at the site for a very small fee. Much better! No, maybe not a scam but they are not a company I'd ever do business with again. Sneaky is a better word.

Barbara Allen asserted that the "free" scale wouldn't work without the subscription. If true, that's pretty horrible, and tips things well over into "scam" territory in my book. However, I did find that (although still during my trial, as I will be for another couple of weeks), I was able to use the scale with the Stamps.com software without actually signing in. That's annoying, but not so bad I'd be crying "foul!". Can anyone provide clarity on this?

Stamps.com is a rip off. Whether you use it or not you get charged. The advertising is deceptive too - the monthly 'fee' is not clearly displayed, and I never received a scale; the only thing I got was a CD. I intend to have the monthly charges disputed and removed by my credit card company.

OK, I'm also VERY annoyed that I can't just buy however much postage I actually need. I risk losing money if I cancel before using all of my credits that I was forced to purchase now.

Yeah, I'm gonna cancel. Soon. Even not being able to use the scale (could I get a definitive response to my comment two posts ago?) isn't worth this frustration.

Stamps.com provides me with nothing I can't get for free through the USPS.com web site or PayPal. It sure as heck isn't worth a monthly fee.

Here is the problem I have with them. I realize that $15.99 is relatively steep - but it is better than standing in line and driving to the PO. My issue is that about every 3rd label I print, I have to ask for a postal refund because it prints incorrectly. I thought it was my printer but I believe it is a fraud. Stamps.com allows this to happen so I can ask for the refund and they can hold my money for 3 - 4 weeks for a refund. I have complained and I will see what I get back.

I tried using Stamps.com unsuccessfully 8 months ago. I just realized I have been charged for the last 8 months without ever using their service. Unfortunately my husband, who reviews our credit card bills thought this meant I was buying stamps at the post office. Phone calls to them today resolved nothing, save they cancelled our service but would not reimburse for the past 8 months. This company is NOT AT ALL up front about their fees. Definitely a scam. Why is the post office affiliated with such poor business???

Complete scam. I gave them my info just to see what they have to offer. Next time I know I have ordered from them and my card was being charged. And they even stated that nothing will be charged when you gave them your card info.

I used stamps.com for about 2 months.

I tried to cancel just after my trial period had ended and was told that I had to pay for my trial period. She then gave me a month free and reduced my rate to $9.99 and said if I canceled by a certain date I wouldn't have to pay anymore.

I still use the scale they sent me- I can use the scale offline and it still works. I use multi-order shipping through paypal and have no fees attached.

2 things- I wish I knew that the scale was not a stand alone scale before I signed up. I will always have to have to software installed to use it. And I don't like that I can only buy $10 increments of postage at a time, instead of just what I need.

Other than that it worked beautifully and I still enjoy the ability to ship from home.

Stamps.com works as advertised. I even created stamps with custom pictures including different countries emblems and flags. However I was recently shocked that they started charging my $17.99 a month without any warning so I will dump stamps.com. Too bad they can't be more honest about what their business model.

This service is a total scam. They lure you in with a "free" offer and then start charging your credit card $15.99 a month and then make it nigh on impossible to cancel.....

I can't print postage on envelopes using my hp printer. I plan to cancel first thing Monday morning.

When I started with stamps.com, I thought, "This is great. No standing in line. They give you a 'free' scales and some other freebies. What could be bad about that?" It took me from July of 2009 till this month to notice that I was paying $17.99 a month for the privilege of being a member of stamps.com (whether I used the service or not). When I saw stamps.com on my billing, I thought it was legit: after all, they charge my card for stamps. They claim I authorized this, but I'm fighting it because I don't remember anything of the kind (unless it was one of those 5-paged agreements that no one reads. What a bunch of losers. I'm posting this wherever I can find a place to post it. Almost $200 to use stamps.com? My God!

I vaguely remember selecting Stamps.com last fall as a service to try, in order to qualify for a free astrological reading. As I recall, I entered my info, but then the site crashed. I don't remember receiving any more information about it. I assumed it was the same post office service I receive ads for through the mail, so that I could order stamps online and receive them by mail. That sounded convenient. I assumed I would pay for postage only if I used some. Later I noticed a Stamps.com icon on my desktop. I almost deleted it but thought I might need to order stamps someday. Only today, when I decided to stop using one of my credit cards, did I notice the recurring Stamps.com charge of $17.95 per month. I called and they agreed to credit back one charge and to waive the discontinuation fee. (There's a discontinuation fee!) I asked how I can request a full refund, and they gave me the email address for their Office of the President. I emailed them to no avail. They quickly answer every email but basically tell me it's my own fault I signed up. I never used the service, didn't receive any confirming or reminding emails over these months. I don't have a business, I use very little postage, and have no need to print postage myself. This company doesn't do business like any other online company I deal with. Their methods feel like a fly-by-night operation.

Advice for everyone here:

1. If you have signed up, just report lost/stolen on the credit card you used to signed up. It is easier than cancelling the service.

2. If you have not signed up, just do nothing.

Well.. It's seems like you have no idea what your doing and have no business writing a review about anything.. First off.. of course it isn't free.. duhh.. Why would they go and make this software and give you the service for free..!? How do you except them to make any money that way.. This isn't really for the people who just need a stamp every once in a blue moon.. It's really for people who mail things close to a daily bases.. I've used them for about two years now and there pretty great.. and the price for your postage is actually cheaper then what you pay at the post office cause it's on-line.. I print hundreds of dollars of post a month, all right from my own home/business.. You can even submit a request for a package pick up.. So there is no need to ever go to the post office, which mine is all the way on the other side of town.. So I love that.. I can work on my packages at any time of the day.. Morning or Night.. and for a service that only charges $15-17 a month.. That pretty good..

EDITOR'S NOTE: You should read what I actually wrote... I never said that I expected the service to be free.

I work for a small business and we have been using Stamps.com for about 6 years. We spend thousands of dollars a month on postage. If we had to go to the post office everyday to mail our packages it would be a nightmare. I highly recommend using Stamps.com if you do a lot of daily mailing. My only real problem is sometimes (not very often) the software can’t connect to the server so we can’t print postage. This problem is usually resovled quickly though.