Shipping label not accepted at USPS

[HatArtByCathy]

Printed an Etsy shipping label and it was not accepted at USPS.  They said they could not verify that it had been paid for.  Has anyone else had this problem?  Ended up just paying for a label there and asking Etsy for a refund. 

[UppNorthEh]

No, never have, have you?  Did you go to a different post office?  new employee?  Anywhere I buy postage I can't print the label until I have paid for it.  

[HatArtByCathy]

Took the package to two different post offices.  The message popped up on their computer screen when they scanned the label.

[NanaLetha]

@HatArtByCathy  Either go to a different post office or ask to speak to a supervisor! Evidently the clerk is clueless.

[HatArtByCathy]

It was there computer not the clerk

[ArtDollsbyJD]

The clerk may not have scanne correctly or their scanner was down.  

I have used Etsy labels for 10+ years and never had this issue.

Did you by any chance wrinkle the label when pasting it to the package?  Is the ink too light?   The bar code has to be a certain dark color to be scanned and it cannot be wrinkled or have a tear in it.  

[NanaLetha]

I would try reprinting it. Make sure your printer does not need the heads cleaned first.

[TBQSC]

That's ridiculous, of course it was already paid for ... you can't even print a label without paying for it first!  Next time, schedule a USPS pick up or just drop it in the package shute, or talk to the postmaster.  Seems the postal counters are getting rather confrontational lately.  Sorry that happened to you!

[quiltpanelsforyou]

When you printed your Etsy label, did the shipping label fee  show in your shop payment account?

[DragonflyDreams1]

I have not had it happen with an Etsy label, but I have had it happen with a USPS click n ship label. I paid for a new label at the PO then went home and called the post office helpline. It was a clerk error. The customer service agent I had on the phone was quite embarrassed it happened. I did get the first label refunded.

[PoochandTabby]

I'm in Canada but I have had this happen to me before using Etsy labels long time ago. When the clerk scanned it at the PO, the system told her it wasn't paid for. I had to pull up my receipt on my phone to show that it was paid and then asked how I was able to print a label if I didn't pay for it first? I don't know what she did in the end, but she was able to get me my acceptance scan and had no problem with it making it's way after that.