Endicia
Overview
Endicia is a company which provides postage-printing services in the United States. Its main software package, DAZzle, runs on Windows and Macintosh but not directly under Linux. DAZzle 8.0.03 will run successfully under WINE 0.9.59, although it doesn't seem to be able to store the user's password. Endicia claims they are the only postage-printing service to offer software for the Macintosh.
Endicia differs from the USPS's web-based postage-printing service in a number of ways, including the following:
- DAZzle supports First Class and other cheaper methods of shipping (including the lower "electronic" pricing for Delivery Confirmation and Signature Confirmation)
- DAZzle allows a maximum of one reprinting if a label does not print properly (or fails to print at all); USPS's service produces a PDF file which can be reprinted without limit until a satisfactory printout is obtained.
- Endicia requires an initial deposit with a minimum of $10, and top-ups are in specific increments ($10, $25, $50, $100, $200, $300, $400, or $500); USPS only requires payment for each piece of postage (though you can also pay for multiple pieces in a group). Both services accept major credit cards.
- Endicia also has "electronic stamp" software which lets you print postage without any address information (not yet evaluated, as it wouldn't work under Win98; it may run under WINE now --Woozle 12:48, 4 May 2008 (EDT))
Endicia's main competition are Stamps.com, Pitney-Bowes, and PayPal/eBay. PP/eB is the only service, aside from the USPS itself, to offer a web-based interface for printing postage. The USPS's service does not support First Class postage, but PP/eB does.
Notes
If Endicia's DAZzle software gives the error "state not recognized" when you have entered a non-US address, it may be because the software's database has a different spelling for the country you have typed in. For instance, it does not recognize "Slovakia", and you have to enter "SLOVAK REPUBLIC" instead.
Endicia follows the USPS strict spelling of countries.
Related Pages
- DAZzle and WINE: problems running DAZzle under WINE
- 2006-10-10 Woozle emails Endicia