Why doesn't TrepStar offer dual layer 8.5GB DVDs?

TrepStar does not offer dual layer DVDs (DVD-9 8.5GB). Even the best blank dual layer media (as of this writing 10/14/21) often fails during the burn of dual layer discs. 

Our research shows that up to 20% of the burns are bad, and a fair percentage of DVD players are incompatible with even the best burned dual layer discs. This is why we do not offer them. It would cause too many support issues and costs for us, as well as refund requests from your customers. 

We suggest you re-author your DVD into two discs, or use compression software to fit your larger source DVD onto the single layer DVD-5 (4.7GB) DVDs that we offer. 

You might want to consider purchasing 1Click DVD Copy PRO. We do not receive any affiliate commission or money from 1Click. We've worked with them before and we trust their software and their company.

Another option is to re-author your DVD and set the video bitrate so it will fit on a single layer DVD-5 (4.7GB).

For example, the free DVDStyler DVD authoring software lets you change the video bitrate. By changing the video bitrate you can put more than 126 minutes but quality will go down. 

In the DVDStyler help section  you can read "On one single layer DVD (4.7 GB) can be stored up to 126 minutes of video in good quality (Video bitrate ? 4.5 MB/s). If you selected 'Auto' as video quality in new-project dialog, it is also possible to put more than 126 minutes but quality of video will be automatically reduced."

Most likely, regardless of which DVD authoring software you use, there should be a way to adjust the video bitrate such that it will fit to a single layer DVD.  Otherwise, you'll have to split the discs up into two single layer DVDs.

TrepStar does not offer bluray either.  There is too much data.  Uploading, downloading and storing 25GB files is not something we find economically viable.

keywords: dual layer, single layer, DVD-5, DVD-9, bluray, blu-ray

Amazon MOD DVD/CD service closing

Several new and recent TrepStar publishers have confirmed that Amazon is closing down it's CD/DVD MOD (media on demand) service.   

TrepStar is actually a lower cost option.  Create a free CD/DVD project within your FREE TrepStar account.  Order copies of your product at low wholesale prices (we don't take a percentage of your retail price like Amazon).  

Create a FREE TrepStar CD/DVD/USB account here:

Read more about Amazon MOD CD/DVD service closing here

Value Added Tax (VAT) of 20% required for UK customers

Last update to this document: 11/9/21

TrepStar WILL ship to the UK.  Please provide your valid UK VAT ID# if you have one:

As of 11/9/21, we've learned that we can ship product to the UK without a VAD TAX ID# for publishers that sell below £85,000 worth of product each year to UK customers.   This means most (if not all) publishers do not need to provide the UK VAT TAX ID#.  If you have one, please use it (see how to configure it below). 

For sellers that sell more than £85,000 per year, you would be required to provide the UK VAT TAX ID# (see how to configure your TrepStar account below).

Starting early this year (2021), the UK government is now requiring a 20% value added tax (VAT) to be collected from the sender (not the recipient) before they will accept any packages from the USA.  This is part of the new BREXIT rules.  

In the past, the recipient would pay any VAT tax.  Now, the UK is requiring  the seller (you) to collect the VAT in advance, account for it, fill out Tax forms, and submit payments to the UK on a quarterly basis.  There is news that the EU will start doing this in July of 2021. 

The United Kingdom (UK) are countries in Great Britain: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 

IF you have the UK VAT ID#, within your TrepStar Dashboard, choose the blue 'Account Settings' button. Scroll to the bottom to find a section where you can place a UK VAT TAX ID#

If you apply and receive your UK VAT TAX ID# save it within the Account Settings.  It may be possible some  merchant/shopping cart systems may provide their ID# to you, but we're not sure if this will work (or if this is true).

When orders for the UK come through, we will be able to print that VAT TAX ID# on the postage/customs forms.  We are not sure how this will work yet, but we will be monitoring the system. 

VAT and other countries:

2/1/21: Australia: 

If you have a code that shows tax was paid for your Australia customers, you can try placing it directly on the address.  For example, eBay collects the VAT for AU and your receipts may include this paid code.  Example:

John Smith
ABN#64653316681 Code:PAID
372 James Avenue
Hallam, VIC 3803
Australia

Additional Resources:

Here is a good article describing these UK VAT requirements from the Endicia.com/Stamps.com site

Are you frustrated by this type of government regulation and overstep? Read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  It may change your life for the better.

Tracking Status Page on Order Notification Email

A link to the new tracking status page is now included in the TrepStar Order Notification Email sent to the customer.   When you submit an order with TrepStar, an optional order notification email is sent to the email address used during ordering (often to your customer).   It contains an order summary as well as a link to the new tracking status page.   

The link brings the user to a page like the following (a different customer in this example) which changes as tracking information changes. 

The customer will also receive a 2nd email with tracking when postage is printed (hours after the first order notification email).

New Order Automation Integration Released

We just released an integration with SamCart. If you use SamCart, when you receive an order, it will be automatically submitted to TrepStar once you set up the integration.

We also have integrations for ShipStation, Shopify, ThriveCart, WooCommerce, and several others.

USPS Postage Rate Increase January 2019

Each year the post office raises rates.   TrepStar raises rates accordingly.  The biggest change this year is in the small domestic first class package category.  If you're a TrepStar publisher that ships single quantity products to individual customers, this change affects you most.   Any package (parcel) under 16oz (which is just about all packages we ship) are affected.  Packages over 12oz but under 16 get an even higher price raise.

First Class Package Service:

• Overall rates for First Class Package Service will increase by 11.9%.
• Zone-based pricing is being added to First Class Package Service in 2019.
• Any package going across the country (Zone 8) is seeing a significant rate increase going up from $0.43 (Zone 8 – 1 ounce = $3.09) to $1.43 (Zone 8 – 13 ounces = $5.53)
• 13 ounce packages in particular are rising across all zones, increasing $0.84 (Zone 1/2 = $4.94) to $1.43 (Zone 8 = $5.53)
• Heavier items weighing 15 ounces to 15.999 ounces are seeing a smaller increase, going from no increase at all (Zone 1/2 = $4.94) to $0.59 (Zone 8 = $5.53)

What this means:

Zone pricing is new.  In the past, the price was the same whether you shipped a package to your next door neighbor, or from New York to LA.   This year, the zone is based on the distance between where the package is sent and the destination.  We're located in south eastern Minnesota (the Twin Cities).  This is centrally located between almost all points in the USA and Canada.   The good news is we will rarely have packages in the most costly zone 8 which keeps your costs as low as possible.

Over the years, the 1 pound media rate (which we can use for CD/DVD/USB media) was always the lowest cost (by far) for anything over one pound.  In those past years, first class parcels always cost less than the 1 pound media rate.  However, this year, anything over 8oz costs about the same or less than the 1 pound media rate (as you reach 12oz and up).  Thus, if you choose our 'Standard' shipping method and your package is over 8oz, it will ship at the lower cost, but slower media rate.  If you always choose our 'Standard + Tracking' shipping method, this means it will not ship at the media rate but will always be first class parcel service which is faster than media mail.   In both cases, tracking is provided.  Always choose 'Standard' if you want the lowest cost rates.  This is new for 2019. 

Summary:

Ultimately, it will cost you about 20c more to ship a single quantity CD/DVD/USB in a CD or DVD style case.  These ship at the 4oz weight.    The average increase for a 4oz first class parcel is about 25c to 30c.   We are not charging as much as our costs have risen, but once we see how the average rates look, perhaps we can lower rates or at least not increase them to 30c.

TrepStar Tracking Link Email Order Confirmation

Customer Email Notifications:

When you order from TrepStar, by default, a 'Customer Email Notification' is sent.  You can turn this off.  There is a setting within your TrepStar Dashboard Account Settings. 

This is sent when the product is ordered. This email can be configured.  To configure, login to the TrepStar dashboard and click the 'Account Settings' blue button.   Then scroll down to the Customer Email Notifications. From here, there are instructions on how to customize that email.

* Tracking information only becomes available when postage prints which occurs after the order is placed.  Postage prints after the product is ordered based on delays you may set within your Dashboard 'Account' settings.  You, "the publisher", and your customer may modify the address before it's printed (a great feature).  Finally, there are cases when your order is on hold.   We don't send the notification until after the order is paid, and postage printed (at some time later).  

International Example:

Heike  Dradel:

'4 Magic Words Special Edition' (and any other products ordered) will be in the mail on or before 12/05/2018 via U.S. Postal Service First-Class International, Flats.

It will be shipped to the following address:

Heike  Droste

Refflingser Strasse 187, D-58340 Iserlohn GERMANY

The package's First-Class Mail International Customs ID is UM636906111US

To check the delivery status of your package at any time please visit:

https://www.endicia.com/Status/?PIC=UM636906111US

or the U.S. Postal Service's web-site:

http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm

Domestic Example:

John Doe:

'ABC Software Suite' (and any other products ordered) will be in the mail on or before 12/05/2018 via U.S. Postal Service First-Class, Package.

It will be shipped to the following address:

John Doe Jr

34310 Lanfranco St.

Los Angeles, CA 90063-2952

The package's USPS Tracking ID is 42090063940011020088190718

To check the delivery status of your package at any time please visit:

https://www.endicia.com/Status/?PIC=940011020088190718

or the U.S. Postal Service's web-site:

http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm