Problem Buying US Stamps From The USPS's On-Line Site

For a few years now, I have bought stamps successfully from the USPS on-line site:
https://store.usps.com/store/browse...d=buy-stamps

Yesterday I tried to make a purchase and could not get beyond the Billing Information page. On this page one has to check the "I agree with the USPS privacy policy" box and select a payment method, i.e. credit card or pay pal. While I have a pay account, I always use a credit card for USPS purchases.

The credit card payment is pre-selected so I click the "agree" box and press the continue button and a message appears that instructs me to choose a valid payment method. I could not get beyond this page choosing either the credit card or pay pal options so had to make the purchase via telephone which was a somewhat annoying experience for different reasons.

I called the USPS tech service and asked why the Billing Infomation page was not working for me. This was a very unsatisfactory experience from which I got no useful info. The gist of the Tech Service person's response was that either my credit card was no good or I was using the wrong browser and I gave up for the day.

Has anyone on this forum had the same unsuccessful experience attempting to buy stamps using the USPS on-line website?

If so, is there a work-around to overcome the "Please select a valid payment method" message on the Billing Information page?

Thanks.

Don

You might try registering a new account, if the system lets you. (I use the USPS PayPal store with no trouble.)

I recommend that folks install and use at least two different browsers. I would estimate that half or more these type problems are browser related. Being able to quickly try under another browser is always the first troubleshooting step in these kinds of issues.
If nothing else, it gives you the opportunity to push back on IT people when they try to blow you off.

Keep in mind that once a computer has been in use for a month or two you end up with a customized configuration. Do not assume that everyone else might see the same issues; even if they have the same model computer.

There are plenty of free, easily installed browsers available for download. If you install one, and it doesn't work either, please let us know the operating system, browser types, and versions and we might be able to assist a bit more.
Don
APS #094826

Agree with Don. While chrome is my choice I do have Firefox as a backup. This seems to work fine for me

Don:

Thanks for the response.

I am using Windows 10 with Firefox but have Internet Explorer also loaded and available. I can't say what version I have of either browser, but use Firefox regularly and keep it updated. Internet Explorer has remained unused, except for the attempt to get past the Billing Information page, The laptop I am using is a new one purchased in January of this year. I have used it successfully to purchase stamps from the site that now no longer works.

Perhaps, it might be quicker and easier to try KGB's recommendation and open a new account.

Don

An update.

Created a new account and tried to make a purchase. No luck! I cannot get past the "choose a valid payment method" page.

Looks like my on-line ordering from the USPS is over.

Don

Don,
Thanks for the update. Next step is to start FireFox without any add-ons. Here are the instructions

1. Launch Mozilla Firefox, click the "Firefox" button, click the small arrowhead next to "Help" and click "Restart with Add-Ons Disabled" in the submenu.

2. Click the "Restart" button to confirm the action and restart Mozilla Firefox.

3. Click the "Start in Safe Mode" button to start Mozilla Firefox without the add-ons.

4. Close Mozilla Firefox and then launch it as you would normally to use the add-ons again.

Please start FireFox without any add-ons, try the USPS web site again, and let us know if it behaves the same way.

I would also like to know if anything has changed since it last worked. When was the last the time you were able to use the USPS site? Has any software, add-ons, or other changes occurred in this time period?
Regards,
Don
APS #094826

Edit: Alternative instruction for starting FireFox without add-ons...
Press and hold down the 'shift' key on your keyboard. Click on the FireFox menu/icon while you continue to hold down the 'shift' key. A dialog box will popup saying you are starting FireFox in Safe Mode. Test the USPS while in Safe mode and let us know the results.

I just ordered some stamps on usps.com using a credit card. No problem whatsoever. I used Chrome as the browser ... still on Windows 7.
Added: Don, I can attest to the need for at least two different browsers from personal experience. It was a few years ago & involved a problem on ebay. Actually two problems. As I recall, I had to use Firefox to avoid one problem ... and Explorer to avoid another problem. The ebay task at hand dictated which browser I used at a given moment. Eventually the problems disappeared, presumably when the offending software was patched.

"A very unsatisfactory experience from which I got no useful info" the definition of the USPS.

Update #2

Thanks, Don, KGB, & JLLebert: I appreciate your help and attention to my problem.

I am back in business with the USPS on-line. Did what Don suggested, but I'm not sure that made the difference. I checked my account history and found that I, previously, had not made an on-line purchase using this new computer.

First, I started Firefox in the safe mode and was able to successfully select PayPal as a payment method, but not payment with a credit card. In frustration, I checked the new credit card box just under Pay with Card, put in the data, clicked on continue, and it went to the next page which was the Complete Transaction page.

Next, I closed Firefox in the safe mode and opened it normally, went through the payment routine again, PayPal, okay, credit card, no. I reentered the "new" card data again and it again went to the next page.

While it may be a bit cumbersome, it now seems possible for me to use the on-line purchase feature. I'll go with what I have. All's well that ends well even though I don't understand why I needed to enter the credit card data, especially since I used the same card successfully when making the telephone purchase.

Don

Postagedueguy:

Oh boy, don't ask me what made my experience unsatisfactory or the telephone purchase "somewhat annoying!"

Don

sometimes your flash player can be out of date and cause problems, Did you try from a differant computer?

Thanks for the suggestion. Problem solved, I hope.

Don

Perhaps the credit card you have on file with USPS needs to have its expiration date updated.

.

The employee who took my telephone order did not so indicate. Same card I use when I used to order on-line.

I think the problem is solved for now.

Don