Refund of postage on Estamp electronic vault (from free HP Deal)!

[Searchname]

I'm sure some of you remember the estamp deal where you got the free HP printer???

Anyhow, as many of you know, estamp is phasing out their internet postage operations. You can mail in your electronic vault (the parallel device you got from them) and they will mail you a check for the remainder of your balance.

8. What do I do with the electronic vault?
In line with US Postal Service regulations, all electronic postage vaults must be returned to E-Stamp Corp. Call 1-888-4ESTAMP (1-888-437-8267) extension 2 and you will receive return instructions and an RMA (Return Material Authorization) number for returning the vault. You must return your electronic vault in order to be issued a refund for unused postage purchased, no later than March 1, 2001.

I called and they are going to mail me a package to return the electronic vault in, postage paid! I still have about $40 on mine and will go ahead and send it in. It takes 8-12 weeks to receive refund!

Estamp FAQ about phaseout!

 

[goog40]

What if you have the vault, but never actually activated your account?

 

[BlueHeelers]

Gee I wonder why E-Stamp went out of business after promotions like the Buy.Com deal (free $175+ HP Printer and $50 free postage). Not to mention the fact that their software was clunky to use. It cost me $10one time to mail out one priority mail stamp (normally $3.20).

In Summary:
(-) $175 printer
(-) $40 E-stamp software
(-) ?? shipping/handling
(+) $175 rebate for printer
(+) $50 free postage (that can now be converted back to $)
-------
$10 + a free printer... wow what a deal.

REL

 

[broadwayblue]

I have heard that some people have sent in their vaults and e-stamp has subsequently decided not to issue a refund. I would tell you to be careful, but I guess there's not much of a difference between e-stamp negging on the refund or you keeping a worthless electronic vault. I guess I will give them a call and see about returning mine. Worst case scenario I end up paying $45 (less the few dollars worth of postage I have used) for a deskjet printer...still not a bad deal.

 

[Paul]

Thanks for posting the info.

 

[Healey]

Word was that if you received the postage as a "promo" that they would not refund you the unused portion. Also once you send in the vault they wouldn't send it back. So check with a csr before you rma and keep notes.

 

[858diver]

Make sure you end up sending in your vault. Somewhere along the line, you agreed to do so, under penalty of the USPS - not someone I choose to tangle with...

 

[Searchname]

I have been printing out the postage from various FleaBay auctions. The winning bidder wins and sends me the money for postage, then I print it out ... voila - instant refund! It's just too troublesome to mess with, so I still have $36 left on it.

I did have trouble printing out a $10 postage, took three attemps before it printed correctly. All you do is call their customer support and they will refund it. Then you click on "Purchase Postage" and it will be in there (at no cost to you).

I know the promo was great and all, but I do recall paying them $40 or $50 for the package to get set up. So, they had best refund my left over balance!

 

[mrVW]

So, if we never activated our account -- can we still do so... or get $ back?

 

[Searchname]

Yeah, there should be $50 on there! Call and activate it, send off the starter stamp and then send it in. It's worth $50!

 

[mcdull]

Anyone has problem in getting the refund?

What I'm worrying is that the postage most of us have is promotion postage.

I remember the deal is:
We paid around $40 at buy.com to buy the software package, which includes NO postage.
And there was a $50 PROMOTION postage if we activiated our account before some day (9/30/00?). So, what we have is actullay PROMOTION postage.

I still have $33 in the vault and will probably use it until very last day in case there is any refund problem.

 

[morkinva]

All you do is call their customer support and they will refund it. Then you click on "Purchase Postage" and it will be in there (at no cost to you).

yeh sure

Did you actually get a refund this way ?! If so, you a lucky person. You are supposed to fill out a USPS form 3157 or 2232 or whatever... that gets approved or dissapproved and took me about 4 months to get some kind of partial refund.

 

[Seattle]

Why is it that they have not contacted me? I have been using the postage, and have been prompted to put more money on my service. If they are going out of business, why are they not notifying everyone?

 

[mgc]

I will be out of postage before the end of the anyway, so it does not matter if they don't want to refund the unused free postage. Anyway the refund comes from the USPS not from E-stamp. They already sent money to the USPS when you activate your account and any time that you buy postage from them.

 

[Insomniac]

I can confirm you will not get a refund if the money on your vault is from the free $50 they gave you.

 

[JesseKnows]

I just spent 30 minutes on the phone with estamp, who indeed made it crystal clear that they are not refunding the $50 in "free" postage which they "gave" to purchasers of their $50 product.

I guess the price of the HP930C just grew from $5 to $45. At least they sent the $175 rebate at the time!

Jesseknows:disgust:

 

[Bilbo777]

bump.

If you have any free postage, do not send back the vault. Use it. I confirm that estamps will not follow what their web site stated about refunding unused postage. I'm certain estamps will be another former dot.com.

We bought the software.. I wonder if we can get a chargeback on the credit card.

Oh well.

 

[tigger80]

No matter what guys, you HAVE to return the electronic vault because it is USPS property, not estamps, so hurry up and return the vault regardless if you will get refund or not.

 

[Healey]

Be safe, protect your family and the free world, heed tigger80's advice. And never remove that tag thingy from your mattress.

 

[Hankysmoo]

anyone call to verify that the $50 promo will not be refunded as a checK?

 

[Homerboy]

when do i need to send th vault back in by?
ie: how much longer can i use my postage?

 

[Searchname]

Morkinva,

Maybe they are like Staples ... it just depends on the CSR you get. Mine was wasy as can be!

Also, just from reading through some of the posts:

Seattle, I'm not sure why we weren't contacted! I called to order another 6 month address CD.

Homerboy, I was told we can use the vault until February 2001 ... so, I'll be using up my postage as soon as I receive my new address CD (old one expired). We also need to have it in by March 1, 2001 to receive a refund. I don't think it is required that we mail it in. Maybe that's why none of us have received a notice from E stamps (They don't want to pay us back).


7. What if I still have a postage balance?
In order to receive full credit for postage that you have purchased, but elected not to use, please contact E-Stamp Corp. Product Returns at 1-888-4ESTAMP (1-888-437-8267) extension 2. Credit will be issued in the form of a check from E-Stamp Corp. Refunds for unused postage will be issued for all vaults received by March 1, 2001. You must return your electronic vault in order to be issued a refund for unused postage purchased.

8. What do I do with the electronic vault?
In line with US Postal Service regulations, all electronic postage vaults must be returned to E-Stamp Corp. Call 1-888-4ESTAMP (1-888-437-8267) extension 2 and you will receive return instructions and an RMA (Return Material Authorization) number for returning the vault. You must return your electronic vault in order to be issued a refund for unused postage purchased, no later than March 1, 2001.

I'll probably just use up what I can and send it back in the packaging they are supposedly mailing me. Then I guess I'll wait and see if a refund comes. Good luck to all!!!

 

[Homerboy]

Thanks Searchname.
I guess that wraps up this thread.

 

[NCTiger]

I sent my free vault with $50.00 on it, and CSR clearly said I will not be getting any check from them for the promo dollars.

FYI...:|

 

[snut]

I lost my vault, when we moved from another city, what should I do any ideas?