Menu
For Business Write a review File a complaint
Stamps.com

Stamps.com review: Don't waste your money! 65

D
Author of the review
12:00 am EDT
Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

Do you believe that it is a waste of money to be billed $15.99 per month from an on-line business in exchange for no products, no service? Do you believe that an on-line business should be able to charge $15.99 for a "subscription" that gives a person an "opportunity" to print stamps on-line even if the unwilling customer tells them that they do NOT want to print stamps on-line?

What do you think about a business who refuses to cancel this "subscription" even after the unwilling customer explains that inadvertently they signed up with them thinking they were signing up with the United States Postal Service for a package pick up? What do you think about a business that will agree to cancel this monthly "subscription" ONLY if the victim agrees to an additional monthly service charge of $15.99...so this business receives a minimum of $31.98 in exchange for nothing... or as I asked them, "You gave me what in return? Air?"

What do you think about a business that keeps charging $15.99 per month, even after they were told both by the victim and by the victim's credit card company that the transaction is disputed? What would you say if I told you that this on-line business is a vendor of the U.S. Postal Service?

Here's what I say: "Don't Waste Your Money."

In my opinion, the experience I had with Stamps.com was a total waste of my time and money at best, and perhaps fraudulent. I feel I was deceived and victimized.

I question why the U.S. Postal Service allows this type of activity from one of their vendors. Perhaps this company known as STAMPS.COM offers a legitimate service to the U.S. Postal Service, perhaps the U.S. Postal Service receives something of value in return from their collaboration, perhaps the U.S. Postal Service receives a percentage of each $15.99; but for many unsuspecting victims, like me, STAMPS.COM offers nothing but deceit and aggravation.

I question why month after month, I continue to see charges from Stamps.com even after my first cancellation call in February. Each month, I am forced to contact my credit company, dispute the charge, fill out paperwork, and have the charge reversed. The next month the charge appears once again. I question how many others have been victimized the same way I was victimized. I question how many victims are even aware that they are being scammed by this business. The charge appears on the credit card as stamps.com. If a person is not careful, they would see stamps and think it was a charge from the post office.

I question Stamps.com's AA rating with the Better Business Bureau, even though Stamps.com has over 1,200 issued complaints. I question how many people don't bother to complain. It's time consuming. After all it's only $15.99 per month. Maybe a more thorough investigation would get the Better Business Bureau to take a closer look at Stamps.com. Even Enron had a good rating before an investigation revealed the truth to the public.

Perhaps one or two of the items above will raise a red flag with you. Perhaps your viewing audience should know about the scam so that they don't waste their money.

65 comments
Add a comment
B
B
bonson
Philadelphia, US
Jun 30, 2011 6:58 pm EDT

Dear Mr. McKieman:
I WAS RECENTLY SCAMMED BY A PRIVATE COMPANY, "STAMPS.COM, " THAT ADVERTISES USPS AS ITS SPONSOR AND MISREPRESENTS ITSELF AS A SUBSIDIARY OF THE USPS.
I WAS BILLED BY THIS OUTFIT WITHOUT REASON; THEN DID SOME RESEARCH TO SEE WHO THEY ARE. APPARENTLY THEY DO METERED POSTAL SERVICES FOR A MONTHLY SET
CHARGE. WHY WOULD RETIRED 78 YEAR OLD MAN WANT THIS? REVIEWS OF STAMP.COM ON THE INTERNET INDICATE MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SCAMMED BY THESE FOLKS.
They do state formally that they are a service of the USPS.
I URGE THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE TO STOP THE AFFILIATION WITH THIS COMPANY (? I THINK THEY ARE CONNECTED WITH "AVERY" THAT SELLS FORMS PRINTED USING THEIR SOFTWARE).
PLEASE TELL ME WHO I SHOULD COMMUNICATE WITH. RE. THE ABOVE FELONIOUS ACTIVITY.
The USPS should be ashamed to associate with "stamps.com" The dollar amount charges, $17.95 a month until they are cancelled, are not worth a lawsuit unless Class Action. I am concerned they charged my credit card without my approval!
SIGNED: Jon Bjornson, MD retired (I was consultant to USPS Medical Dept. in Phila.) --- jonbjorn@comcast.net

THANK YOU,

JON BJORNSON, MD RETIRED

S
S
Scott-P
San diego, US
Aug 25, 2011 6:15 pm EDT

I cannot express how disappointed i am in Stamps.com right now. I just tried to cancel my account (which i was not able to do via email or online) and was told by their "Customer Care Team Specialist" (aka "sales retention staff") that instead of cancelling my $17.99 account, i could downgrade to a NEW "Basic Plan" at just $9.95 . I asked why i was not previously made aware of this option or why i could not find it on the web and was told by the "Customer Care" agent that since "it was JUST adopted", the Basic Plan is not posted on their website just yet.

Well, its very interesting/telling to see blogs written well over 2 years ago that stamps.com has had the Basic Plan /$9.95 pricing plan in place for a long time and this is simply their "Customer Un-Caring" way of customer retention.

Furthermore, they also told me that if i wanted a credit on my postage account that i'd have to wait 13 months to get a refund... putting the blame on the repayment cycle from USPS. Although the postage may have been paid to the USPS, this is complete HORSE HOCKEY that they will not immediately refund my money if i cancel my account. As a CFO of MULTIPLE companies, i can tell you that any non-government company has the ability to "hold in reserves" money for refunds and can and SHOULD refund IMMEDIATELY - so as to not create the bad-will that Stamps.com is creating for itself.

Shame of Stamps.com's "Customer Un-Care" strategy!

S
S
Silence_DoGood
US
Mar 31, 2012 1:01 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

After having been a Customer Care rep for SDC in the past and reading the above comments, it makes me laugh at how stupid you all are. Anyone with half a brain who goes through registration will understand what they are signing up for and we make it VERY clear on our website different pricing plan options and what the charges were for. We even have a paragraph for you to read before you enter your CC info into our website as to why we need it. Then, one has to agree to the terms and conditions wit hthe very first condition being Pricing and Plans and then if you still were idiotic enough to continue without knowing there were going to be charges, we send out a welcome email informing you of the promotion you signed up for and the Monthly Charge you will be billed if you decide not to call and cancel within your 4 Week no Risk trial. If you were not aware there was a charge we provide our phone number AND our hours of operation. Our customer care team has won multiple awards and national recognition for the quality of customer service provided. SDC is anything but a scam if anyone does any type of research or spends 5 minutes browsing our website. You all are just part of America's dumbest, maybe even the world's dumbest, if you were not aware of what you were signing up for and still decided you should enter ALL of your personal information into our site and not expect any charges as if we just aksed that stuff for kicks and giggles. Grow Up idiots.

J
J
Jim Sullivan
Warwick, US
Jan 23, 2013 2:09 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

One of my worst experiences with a business in my life. I can not believe that with all the complaints they are still in business after all these years.. For shame USPO for allowing this. Through your affiliation you legitimize this scam!

J
J
Jim Sullivan
Warwick, US
Jan 23, 2013 2:28 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

As for Silence_DoGood you are an idiot of biblical proportions. No business that is straight forward and legit has the volume's of complaints logged against them that STC does. I own 5 businesses in RI that does 6.5 million dollars a year. We take every customer complaint very seriously and resolve it. I have a degree in business and got no where with these so called customer srvice reps on the phone. When I threatened to report them to the BBB they fetched a supervisor and she agreed to refund the disputed fee's but never did. Then to make matters worse they withdrew another month. My advice to you Silence_DoGood is be silent. Now pickup up that rake and get back to work. My yard won't rake itself.. Idiot!

S
S
Snp123
US
Feb 19, 2014 3:39 pm EST

Stamps.com fooled me into signing up on their page saying it is a "No Risk" trial. I was just exploring the possibility of printing USPS stamps online. Three months later, in a sneaky manner, they charged my credit card without any notification. After two subsequent monthly charges I discover the transaction. I call them up asking them to reverse the charges, that I did not use their services. Their response is that they charged based on me having an active account (i.e. because I signed up for a "No Risk" free trial). Usage does not count. They did not send me any invoices or notices because the did not want to bother me! What a scam! Unbelieveable that the USPS partners with such a c****y website.

S
S
Snp123
US
Feb 19, 2014 3:40 pm EST

Stamps.com fooled me into signing up on their page saying it is a "No Risk" trial. I was just exploring the possibility of printing USPS stamps online. Three months later, in a sneaky manner, they charged my credit card without any notification. After two subsequent monthly charges I discover the transaction. I call them up asking them to reverse the charges, that I did not use their services. Their response is that they charged based on me having an active account (i.e. because I signed up for a "No Risk" free trial). Usage does not count. They did not send me any invoices or notices because the did not want to bother me! What a scam! Unbelieveable that the USPS partners with such a c****y website.

J
J
John Cryder
Circleville, US
Mar 27, 2014 4:05 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Stamps.com is a scam. If you try to cancel your $15.99 per month account, they offer a cheaper alternative for $4.99 per month for those who only want to print stamps and not parcel postage. What they fail to tell you is that you are only allowed to print 15 STAMPS PER MONTH!? on the cheaper plan. I canceled my account after putting my NetStamp sheet in the printer and watching it leave 10 of the 25 stamps blank!? So I wasted my money purchasing their blank NetStamp sheets...total theft and a ripoff!

D
D
duped2000
US
Nov 12, 2015 6:34 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I totally agree. I feel duped by the fine print, and wound up paying $15.99/month for "using their software" which I actually never was able to access. This is a middleman- don't be fooled into paying them.

M
M
mbrizzoli
US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

A few years ago I signed up for Stamps.Com in order to get postage on-line. I did not read the agreement carefully and never realized that there would be a monthly fee levied whether or not I used the service. Stupid on my part, but frankly that aspect of the service was not clearly noted. (The sign-up process was so difficult and complicate that I never new I had actually successfully completed it!)

For two and a half years I unknowingly paid $15/month for a service I never used. There is NO notice of annual renewal, which would have allowed me to cancel. There was NEVER a communication from the company reminding me that I was paying for a service I never used. I NEVER RECEIVED A STATEMENT OF ANY KIND. (The debit hit my account but my husband manages our finances and never thought to question me about the charge.) It came to my attention only when my credit card number changed and Stamps.com could no longer charge the monthly fee. Then the communication was endless and very clear!

WATCH OUT FOR THIS MISLEADING SERVICE THAT CAPITLIZES ON UNKNOWING CONSUMERS.

IT IS FAR EASIER AND MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE TO GO TO THE POST OFFICE.

J
J
jn4337
US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

Never got the free bonus they offered and was a nightmare to cancel when I called--passive aggressive and had to answer the same quiestions several times..Don't u just hate that--they require you to call to cancel then you have to get firm to do so after cutting off a sales speach several times..AVOID AVOID AVOID !

L
L
loveismagic
US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

okay stamps.com is a company that gives you a pstg solution..if you choose not to read the legiable words of only 15.99 thats your grown adult fault..no company is going to baby you..this cust above just forgot there was a fee still if u didnt use it...it specifically sayes stamps.com not the usps.com...they serve 400, 000 cust that are very aware there is a fee...i have stamps.com and seen clearly there was a fee for 15.99 per month..if you dont want it dont sign up for it but dont go online and slander a company because you dont take the time too see what service you are looking for..its a great service and i have saved a ton of time and money at the end of the year with my pstg needs...

O
O
omega668
Bergenfield, US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

What about if they don't ship you the free scale and the Welcome Kit which they said they will ?

Stamps.com is a fake. No one could argue that.

G
G
Gloria Garner
Los Angeles, US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

I am having the same problem. I e-mailed them about going into my account and told them they had better stop, however they are still going into it, so now I am going to report them to the proper authorities that will stop them. Hope you do the same, The Better Business Bureau, Consumers Affairs and an Attorney.

T
T
tennesseegirl
springfield, US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

THESES PEOPLE TRIED TO USE MY CREDIT CARD THAT HAD BEEN CANCELED. FOR $17.95 . I DON'T BUY STAMPS ON LINE AND HAD NEVER HEARD OF THEM. CALLED MY CARD CO. THEY TURNED IT IN AS FRAUD. CLOSED MY NEW CARD. I WANT THESES PEOPLE STOPPED.

A
A
ava10048
US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

I added $$ to my account to ship packages, when I found out the service I needed was unavailabe I called to cancel my service and was told it could take over a YEAR to refund my money.

I got the runaround from this CS person for 20 minutes about all the other options I had. I am a very capable person, having this person try to show me something I already know wouldn't work for me was insulting. Stamps.com should teach thier employess the USPS services so they know what they are talking about.

Very dissapointed in this service and refund policy for postage in your account is a joke.

M
M
Milbert
US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

I fell for the slick advertising "$100 free postage." So I thought why not give them a try? I got the material and could see it was a joke. You pay for the labels, you pay for the laser ink, and you do the work of printing a stamp every time you need one. I didn't finish setting up my account and didn't use the $5 free postage they gave(not $100). They told me that you only get the $100 worth of stuff after paying $17.95 for several months. No thanks. Well, we got charged $17.95 so I called to ask them to remove the charges and cancel any future ones. They made it very difficult to cancel and they WOULD NOT refund my $17.95 even though I never used their service and did not finish verifying my account (on purpose). Oh, and all the raving reviews on stamps.com appear to be posted by stamps.com themselves as advertising. I could find no place to add my negative review. Of course! This would be right in line with the ways of this unscrupulous company. All the "reviewers" who say the service saves them from having to go to the post office are not making an intelligent argument. Avoiding the post office does not require paying stamps.com! Stamps can be mailed to you and you can go to usps.com to print postage for packages. It's a free service. All you need is a postage scale. Why not let the P.O. do the printing of stamps for you - for free? We keep first class and second ounce stamps on hand and rarely see the inside of a post office. Don't get ripped off by this company as we did.

S
S
Sheri Lyon
Greensboro, US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

BUYER BEWARE! Stamps.com hides the fact that they don't work on MAC computers (apple) and charge you service charges $15.99/month plus shipping and handling of additional machines until you figure it out on your own. THis is such a scam! They later admit that if you look in the fine print under terms and conditions, you will see it does not work with Mac computers. Legalized stealing is what I call it! They have opportunity after opportunity to end the service - but they continue to suck you dry until you figure out on your own. WHY doesn't it say in large print on the cover page -NOT compatible with MAC computers. This is a service to use your computer for your mailing needs as opposed to going to the post office for stamps... Considering this is the main use your COMPUTER ! you think they would let you know upfront it doesn't work with MAC's So sick of scams - Also, they selectively use terms to make you think they are part of the US Postal system NOT TRUE - they have nothing to do with the US Postal Service! Don't get snowed like me - STAY AWAY !

Stamps-ComCorp
Stamps-ComCorp
Los Angeles, US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Hi Sheri,

I am sorry for any frustration that Stamps.com may have caused you. Regarding Macs, we do currently support Macs in our web-based postage solution. If you would like, I would be happy to assist you with this.

If there is anything I can assist you with, please feel free to email me at social@stamps.com.

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

S
S
susiq
US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

Stamps.com is a huge rip-off! Nobody should even consider signing up for their "free trial." Apparently I must be naive, but I was under the impression that my "free trial" was for the use of their software, which I downloaded to see if it would be appropriate to print the postage on my daughter's Sweet Sixteen invitations. I decided it was not, and instead purchased stamps from the post office. A few months later, I was being charged $15.99 per month from Stamps.com because my "free trial" had exprired. Imagine that! All I did was download their software to take a look at it, and now I was being charged a monthly fee! FOR WHAT? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! So don't be suckered by these people like I was, and benefit by my $31.98 lesson and steer clear of stamps.com.

D
D
Deepa B
somecity, US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

Were you able to (successfully) cancel your account?

T
T
tulsabobt
US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

I signed up for a 4 week trial and ordered the start up kit and scale. They never came. A month later I checked with them, nothing. Two months later and BAM, $48 in "service fees" charged to my CC, but still no ordered supplies.

I called to cancel, asked them what I was paying for if I could not use the service and they said "access". So it costs $16 a month for "access" the then go buy postage from them. They acknowledged that they never sent the ekit but still charged me. The lady in cancellations was terribly rude and high pressure, keeping me on the phone for 25 minutes trying to talk me out of it. Her name was Terry B. Stamps.com is like a bad used car lot that valets your car and holds the keys hostage while they pound you.

I'll be filing a complaint with me credit card company over the charges.

Stay away!

K
K
kath23
US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

It happened to me as well. I was surprised when i saw my credit card statement and found out that I was charged $15.99 on their so called monthly plan, that I never signed up for. It all started when i wrote usps about not letting their clients know of the changes they made on the flat rate international, and that I also has problem printing label.. they replied to me and and gave me some sites to check it with..etc. so by curiosity, i went to stamps.com just to check but you will need to sign up before you can go and check on it, so i did signed up not knowing, that it is a set up so they can scam you. They never gave me credit for it, what a dirty business! people beware!

V
V
visionary007
Longview, US
Aug 17, 2016 3:17 am EDT

unauthorized carges for stamps. never ordered or received ONE STAMP. Called their customer service- They will treat you like S==t and refuse to stop billing you, while LAUGHING at you ! We have contacted the United States Postal Service Inspector General's complaint hotline [protected] or email: hotline@uspsoig.gov or fax:[protected] or mail: 1735 North Lynn Street, Arlington, VA [protected]. If enough of us contact the Inspector General, maybe the Government will shut down these crooks. We are also sueing these ### in Small Claims Court, so they will have to spend $$$$ to hire an attorney in our state. Lets stop thses ### !

S
S
stopthemadness13
US
Nov 15, 2017 5:58 pm EST

They are still a fraud! This is exactly what I just sent them...

I want to close my stamps.com account.

I have been a customer for a year or more. I signed up thinking I would get a scale...never got one even thou that was your big bait and switch to get people in! I paid $15 a month, in fact you made $309 off of my acct, and always had issues. I have several other people I know doing this same thing. Leaving because you don't reply to messages on your phones, you probably won't reply to this. You take 2 months to refund postage that's mailed to you.

I had one thing to mail recently, tried to login to the software, it told me I couldn't because my monthly fee wasn't there, so I tried and tried to change the card, there was no space to put and expiration so you repeatedly denied my card obviously. So I come online to do it...change the card # and get the message change your card over and over. Then I got no funds add a card, IT WAS ADDED! It was a valid card because I went over to a competitor of yours and had NO ISSUES!

I did a ton of business with you. Even referred a lot of fellow sales people who work from home. I am done. In fact your software continues to get stuck and I have to stop it in Task Manager! What a joke... I will tell the sales people on my team to now go to the company like yours I just joined that is the same but a lot more professional.

thanks,

(No Response From Them, And Their Software Is Locking Up My Computer and Can't be Unistalled)

More Stamps.com reviews & complaints

Stamps.com - Awful experience 2
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Stamps.com - Scam and lies 10
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Stamps.com - Stamps.com does just what they say
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Replied
The company left an official comment to this complaint.
Stamps.com - We've been a customer for 9 years 4
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Replied
The company left an official comment to this complaint.
  1. Stamps.com Contacts

  2. Stamps.com phone numbers
    +1 (888) 434-0055
    +1 (888) 434-0055
    Click up if you have successfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (888) 434-0055 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (888) 434-0055 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (888) 434-0055 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (888) 434-0055 phone number
    +1 (310) 482-5800
    +1 (310) 482-5800
    Click up if you have successfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (310) 482-5800 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (310) 482-5800 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (310) 482-5800 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (310) 482-5800 phone number
    +1 (855) 889-7867
    +1 (855) 889-7867
    Click up if you have successfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (855) 889-7867 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (855) 889-7867 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (855) 889-7867 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Stamps.com by calling +1 (855) 889-7867 phone number
    More phone numbers
  3. Stamps.com emails
  4. Stamps.com address
    1990 E. Grand Ave, El Segundo, California, 90245-5013, United States
  5. Stamps.com social media
  6. Rachel
    Checked and verified by Rachel This contact information is personally checked and verified by the ComplaintsBoard representative. Learn more
    Nov 04, 2024