Why I Won't Use Stamps.com Ever Again
When a Free Trial Isn't Really Free at All!
Now in order to get these "freebies" you basically have to keep the service for at least two months beyond the trial. You get the scale and the first $10 in postage after you have renewed beyond the trial period, and the second $10 credit of postage after your second monthly renewal.
Well, at first glance, that appears that I can get $20 in free postage and a free scale for spending $31.98. To me, that translated into $11.98 for a scale that I would have to pay twice as much for elsewhere...so yes, I said, it appears to be a good deal. I was wrong.
The first problem arose when I did not get credited for my second set of $10 postage until well into my third month of service. At that point, I eventually had to email support and ask for my credit! And before you ask, yes, I sent the card in on time with all the information so that it SHOULD have been processed before that third period came around. So that added another $15.99 to my bill. Now, I am at $47.97 for $20 in postage and a scale. So now I have paid $27.97 for this scale that I had originally based my "good deal" assessment on.
Well, I also ended up purchasing $10.00 in postage and $7.06 in NetStamps to print the postage on. OK, well, I am not even going to count that in my down fall because I did receive something (postage & the NetStamps) to print on. However, don't be fooled that the $15.99 monthly fee is the only charge you will incur when using this program. You still have to purchase special stamps to print on if you aren't printing directly to the envelope or postcard being mailed.
Of course, my biggest qualm with this whole "free trial" experience was that when I finally called to cancel, I was told I would be charged $15.99 one more time since it was the middle of the billing cycle. And at first I was OK with this because it does state in the service agreement you will be charged a final charge for the month you are in. The thing that got me was the customer service rep stating that the $15.99 was going to be charged because Stamps.com charges in arrears. OK, hold up, there is the problem. No, they don't. Or if they do, then I got charged for the "free trial period." Let me put it out here like this.
I signed up on May 17th, 2007. Therefore my "free trial period" ran from May 17th-June 18th. I was then charged on June 19th for $15.99. That is fine if the charge was for the coming month. But if Stamps.com indeed charges in arrears, then that charge was for my "free trial period."
I was charged $15.99 again on July 19th, August 20th, and then today, on September 6th as I closed out my service. Therefore, I used the service for May-June, June-July, July-August, and August-September partially. That is 3.5 billing periods. I was charged for four billing periods.
Where is my free trial? It apparently didn't exist. And when I explained this to the customer service rep, she agreed with me but "that is the way Stamps.com does it". And yet and still, that last charge would be billed and it was already on my account before I even hung up the phone. Then she tried to get me to lessen my service and call back and cancel later. I know this is her job, but I had already explained to her that Stamps.com had scammed me out of a free trial period, so why in the world would I keep the service even one more day?
So consumer beware. It's all in the wording they give you. Stamps.com's "free trial" is NOT free if you keep the service to get the "freebies" you signed up for. I can assure you that after I ended up spending $81.02 with Stamps.com, it didn't save me any gas money that I would have used in driving to the Post Office. And all I have to show for it is a $20.00 postage scale and a lesson well learned.
Published by Adaline Dyke
After spending several years working in the field of natural health, I completed my Doctorate in Naturopathy and am a Certified Natural Health Professional. I enjoy music, and writing, and love to settle in... View profile
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12 Comments
Post a CommentI signed up in August, received my first bill of $14.95 in September and just received a second bill for $14.95.
I have been waiting 3 months now for the scale to arrive so I can start using this service. A couple weeks ago, I decided to mail a simple letter without the scale. I couldn't do that because it turns out the free $5 postage expires after the trial is over.
Nice way to reward a new customer, charging me $14.95 and then taking away the free postage.
Yesterday the kit with the software finally arrived. It come with post cards for the free postage they promised in the beginning. Problem is they wanted me to use the Stamps.com postage. The same postage they took back after the trial expired. So, I remember adding $20 in postage
right after the trial. But when I looked at my account, my postage balance was $0!
Where did it go?
I know I'm going to start getting comments here saying things like,"why didn't you cancel after the trial ended?'
The truth is I want this to work.
when you sign up it clearly states that the reason for the Credit card is for the monthly service fee if you go past the no risk 4 week trial...its not free nor does it say its free...also they do bill in a arears so basically if you call to cancel during the 4 week trial theres no charge but if you stay past it then you pay for the 1st month...i guess none of you are in business...
I haven't cancelled my subscription yet but can't you just click the "work offline" button and still use the 510 scale with Stamps.com software?
Has anyone tried the Clayton Investments Software yet?
You can get download that will read the scale without Stamps.com software for $1.59 at www.claytoninvestments.com/stamps/
I know this review is true because the same thing happened to me. I am sitting here now looking at a free scale that I cannont use unless I have their monthly service.
Wow, I just had the same experience...They charge you for the free month, The free scale only works with their site so I paid $10 shipping for a worthless scale. They did not refund postage that my printer messed up even after 6 weeks, no $10 free postage after I sent in coupon over a month ago. They are crooks!I'm blocking my credit card so they don't charge me anymore, Thanks.
Do you even have a $20 scale to show for it? To use the scale that they say "is yours to keep free" you have to login to your account. When I tried that after canceling, I got a message saying that there is an issue with my account and that I will have to call to resolve it. My balance is zero. I cannot use this free scale that is mine to keep, apparently, without paying for the monthly service.
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I am having a very similar experience, but they did waive the fee when I complianed. I never got the free postage promised, JUST got the "free scale" after months and months, and now apparently I can only use it with Stamps.com.
As a small business owner, they really left a bad impression on me.
Malia Russell
www.homemaking911.com