Internet brand

The internet brand is an online service launched by Deutsche Post AG in August 2008 for self- printing of digital postage indicia as PDF for letters sent via PC and standard printer. There are no additional costs beyond the usual postage.

technology

Example of a current internet brand

Example of an internet stamp incorrectly processed by the mail center (this is actually not canceled with a stamp, but digitally) - old layout with postal matrix code

Example of an internet brand integrated into an address field with details of the sender

The internet brand has a matrix code and, in the new franking layout, has had the "IM" identifier for the type of franking since 2018. In the old layout, the complete name "Internet mark" was given in the postage indicium.

Until July 2018, the 26x26 DataMatrix code was preceded by two vertical bars (the so-called post matrix code), which should make it easier to find and identify the matrix code in Deutsche Post mail centers . In addition to the fee, the month and year of the creation were also printed.

Since then, only the matrix code has been used, but the exact date of creation is also given. The stamp has a 20-digit identification number, the so-called franking ID, the first 10 digits of which represent the serial number (unique identification for every registered user) and the second 9 digits a consecutive numbering and 1 digit as a check digit. This Franker ID is used to check and digitally cancel the postage in the mail centers. This measure recognizes and prevents multiple use of the brands. The internet brand is therefore similar in appearance and functionality to the other digital postage indicia from Deutsche Post AG, such as B. franking machine, IT franking or branch franking.

use

In principle, no registration is required for use. Payment with PayPal is possible. You have to register to pay by direct debit. A maximum amount of 20 euros applies (with the exception of topping up the postage account, top-ups of up to 110 euros are possible here). Every single purchase is confirmed by email.

The following products can be franked:

Letters and postcards nationally, including additional services registered mail, PRIO
Books and goods shipments as well as mail
Postal delivery orders
Wrapper newspapers
International letters and postcards without additional services
International press and books

The postage is automatically calculated based on the selected product and any additional products selected.

The delivery is possible in the branches of the Deutsche Post, via mailbox, at a packing station . Parcel stamps for parcels and small parcels cannot be created using internet stamps; this is the DHL online franking to use.

Internet brands can either be created directly via the Deutsche Post AG shop, integrated into PC software via an add-in, or linked via web shop software or a merchandise management system.

Franking can be printed out directly as franking (analogous to a postage stamp in the franking zone - top right corner of the shipment) or together with the recipient address (e.g. on the address label or in the window envelope and, if applicable, with the sender's details). When franking in the franking zone, it is possible to print out a motif (to the left of the matrix code) from the Deutsche Post AG picture gallery.

Printing is carried out using a PDF file and a standard printer on labels, envelopes or paper. Alternatively, franking can also be done on the PC using an add-in for the Microsoft Word word processing program . An add-in for Open Office and Libre Office is no longer provided.

If the printing fails, the file can be reprinted. The internet stamp as a franking mark is (not as with STAMPIT) linked to a recipient address that must be specified beforehand and initially remained valid for an unlimited period, provided the postage did not change. Since June 2014, the internet brand has lost its validity at the end of the third year following purchase.

In the event of postage increases, only internet brand supplementary stamps can be used for the internet brand, which can be purchased via the Deutsche Post AG shop. Mixed postage with postage stamp supplementary stamps is not permitted.

Unused or mistakenly purchased internet brands can be refunded online; the amount will be refunded in the same way as the original payment was made.

automation

If an online shop operator wants to offer its customers inexpensive shipping with Deutsche Post, the shipments have to be largely handled manually. Automation with the internet brand is only possible to a limited extent. Multiple addresses can be imported by uploading a CSV file via the browser interface. However, the tariff cannot be selected via the CSV file, so that the shop operator has no choice but to use the more expensive tariff for all shipments or to benefit from low tariffs at the expense of extra work (multiple imports).

Deutsche Post provides a Microsoft Word add-in and an OpenOffice add-in for automation. Lexware also offers a connection via its own Windows software. Software developers can use the Report Generator List & Label from Version 22 to generate the franking directly in the Report Designer (agreement with Deutsche Post required).

criticism

The handling of the internet stamp is not as flexible as that of a conventional postage stamp . For example, “mixed postage” is excluded by the product's terms and conditions, which means that internet stamps and ordinary postage stamps may not be combined.

According to the letter documents from the company's data protection officer at Deutsche Post, if fraud is suspected, the buyer of the internet brand can be identified using the serial number printed on the brand. Each individual franking of an Internet stamp is entered in a positive list and thus blocked for repeated use; this data is stored indefinitely by Deutsche Post. In the answer of the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information , this is not objected to, since no sender / recipient data, but only the data on the Internet brand itself are stored. This is also possible in accordance with the Postal Act to secure payment, i.e. the exclusion of fraudulent use, e.g. B. Multiple use of an internet brand. This also enables civil and criminal prosecution.

When purchasing an internet brand, the e-mail address and the sender address must be given when registering. If you use the guest access without invoicing, it is not necessary to provide the sender address. Account details are also collected for payment, either when creating the postage account or when paying via giropay. Anonymous registration and payment, as is common with postage stamp machines, is not possible.

It is possible to add an image to the mark, but only if you do not print an address with the mark. Here you have a selection in a sorted gallery with around 200 image files. Unlike with the postage stamp, you cannot insert your own or freely selected license-free images here, no minimum quantity is required and no surcharge is due.

history

The Internet brand was preceded by the Stampit Web service , which was discontinued on September 30, 2011. However, the server was still available until October 5, 2011 and with the option of post-dating up to 30 days, you could theoretically buy and print franking up to November 4, 2011 at the latest. The recipient had to be specified in advance and the printed postage could only be used for this recipient. This restriction has now been removed.

Up until March 18, 2012, DHL parcels and small parcels could also be franked with the internet brand.

literature

Jürgen Olschimke: A new product from Deutsche Post: Die Internetmarke , Philately and Postal History 295, Philately 374, pages 30 to 32, August 2008
Jürgen Olschimke: News from the internet brand , philately 401, pages 30 to 33, November 2010