Endicia


Harry's Hints

Dr. Harry Whitehouse is the President and founder of Endicia Internet Postage. Having worked closely with the USPS for 20 years, he has written the tutorials below for both new and existing Endicia users. You may want to bookmark this page as there are frequent additions to the content.
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Enterprise Account Manager (.pdf) - Enterprise Account Management – Endicia’s account management software allows you to link together multiple Endicia desktop shipping accounts. This enterprise solution gives customers the flexibility to pay for postage from one single source for the entire organization, or to use individual payment methods for each account (shipping location).
Endicia's Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice (SCAN) for packages - Endicia was the first PC postage provider to offer the low-cost "electronic" USPS Delivery Confirmation (E/DC) feature to the shipping community. E/DC was envisioned by USPS as a low cost product which would record the date/time of package delivery at the destination site. The product is free for Priority Mail, and only 18 cents for other package services such as First Class, Media Mail, and Parcel Post. The retail version of delivery confirmation - purchased at the Post Office counter - is considerably more expensive at around 55 cents.
Configuring DAZzle for Envelopes - Single-piece shipping labels, sheets of shipping labels and flyers are very easy to setup in the DAZzle postage client. But envelopes can be somewhat tricky. This is because printers feed envelopes in a myraid of ways. Some feed the envelopes up the center of the paper path, others feed it to one side or the other. Some printers want the envelope fed with flap down, others with flap up. You will see that there are actually 48 feed permutations!
Creating Customs Forms with Endicia - You must have DAZzle version 4.5.8 or higher to use this new feature.
Verify any domestic address you enter. It is one of the most powerful features in DAZzle. This means that you can avoid packages with incomplete addresses being returned to you.
Precise ZIP+4 Match -- but Address Doesn't Exist! - The DAZzle address validation technology may sometimes return a seemingly inconsistent message. Look at the address below - it returns a ZIP+4, and carrier route (C001) and says "precise match." But then we go on to say that the address does NOT exist!
Creating Merchandise Return Labels with DAZzle - Endicia's premium service allows you to create Merchandise Return Labels (MRL's) with the DAZzle client. The MRL can be sent to a customer who needs to send something back to you. It is completely prepaid.
Galaxy Ship by Endicia - This program can be used by high volume shippers in a manner similar to United Parcel Services™ WorldShip software. In these environments, the shipper typically utilizes packing or 'pull' slips with an integral barcode. The barcode represents an internal order number.
How to Print Several Addresses at Once - New Endicia users often ask if it's possible to print more than one address at a time. There are a number of ways to perform such "batch printing".
How to Print Two Labels per 8-1/2" x 11" Page - One label medium which is becoming popular is a 8-1/2" x 11" sheet with two labels - one comprising the top half of the sheet and the other comprising the bottom of the sheet. Label stock of this size feeds reliably through most printers, and two large label formats give you plenty of room to design a great looking label which stands out! Since this label configuration has essentially only 1 column and 2 rows, it is less prone to printing errors when compared to a sheet of labels with 2 columns.
Minimizing Postage Losses Due to Misprints - Endicia has pioneered a number of refund protocols which keep you from losing money for unused or misprinted postage. But there are still some categories of mail (e.g., untracked international) which do pose a risk to you if a misprint occurs and you don't have a physical specimen to mail into us for refund
New Global Express(GEM) Label - The GEM label features an integrated mailing and customs form.
Tarantula "Print Staging" Program - This program can be used by folks who have batch address/order information in either a comma delimited or tab delimited file format. Services such as Yahoo Store, Amazon.com and AuctionWorks provide comma delimited files containing order information, and those are just three standard file types that can be imported into Tarantula. The program will import generic delimited files or can be customized to suit your specific shipping environment.
Understanding FIM (Facing Identification Marks) on Envelopes - The Facing Identification Mark (or FIM) is used by the USPS to assist in the processing of letter mail. This small pattern of vertical bars plays an important role in speeding your envelope mail through the USPS system.
Using Endicia Package Insurance - Endicia insurance is one of three insurance options offered in the DAZzle postage client. Endicia insurance is by far the easiest to use. You don't need any additional signup - just an active Endicia postage account. Claims are handled by the USPS-sanctioned UPIC insurance agency.
Using Endicia to Insure Your Packages with U-PIC - Using U-PIC insurance with Endicia is as simple as filling out the package valuation and description in the Endicia print screen (see figure to the right). This information flows into the postage log and can be transmitted in summary form to U-PIC at the end of each month.. If you don't want to insure a given package, simply leave the valuation as $0.00.
Using Zebra/Eltron Label Printers with the Endicia Internet Postage - The Zebra/Eltron 4"x6" printer line is a boon to medium and high volume shippers. You should seriously consider one if you are shipping 10 or more packages per day! They really can speed up your operations, minimize misprints, and avoid other production mistakes.
The Wonderful World of the Postage Log - The DAZzle postage log is an often overlooked feature of the PC postage experience. But I personally think it is one of the most powerful features of the PC Postage - you have a complete log of every letter and package you mail. Plus you have a complete cost accounting of all your postage. Try doing that with conventional stamps or a postage meter!
Using the New Parcel Destination Barcode and Concatenated Delivery Confirmation Options in DAZzle - New USPS regulations become effective on January 31, 2005. These require changes to the delivery confirmation barcodes employed for package shipping. This tutorial outlines those changes and also discusses the new stand-alone Parcel Destination barcode which can be used on Parcel Post, Media Mail, Bound Printed Matter and Library Mail. These features are available in DAZzle version 4.8 and higher.
Media Options for Shipping Label Printing - Endicia has the ability to print on virtually any type of media ranging from full 8.5" x 11" sheets to multi-label sheets (e.g. 4 labels to a sheet using the Avery 5168). You can see a list of the standard media supported by DAZzle by using the drop-down box just to the right of the Buy button. You can even design your own custom media with special dimension by using the menu option Layout|Media.