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USPS Not Activating Tracking
I mailed a customers item from my driveway mailbox on Saturday. I, via Ebay, provided a tracking number for the item. It has yet to be scanned by anyone at USPS. Two days now and no tracking showing.
Since I am buying shipping from USPS and Ebay, it would seem it is Ebay's responsibility to insure I am getting what I am paying for by speaking to USPS to resolve WHY their carriers can't scan a package. Why a package can go into the USPS system and NO ONE has any duty to give the customer what he paid for when he purchased the shipping label.
Instead, I will be catching a "failure to upload tracking" ding for something I have absolutely no control over. Nothing new there.
rathmik
OP6 months agoMaybe if we just paid more for shipping??? LOL
inceptions
Mentor8 months agoHi @rathmik
But you DO have control over this...
If you don't obtain an acceptance scan from either your carrier or the post office clerk, then there may be no scan until delivery (or somewhere else in the delivery stream). It is your responsibility to obtain this scan.
Sounds like it's a good time to meet your carrier, make friends with him, and let him know you need a scan. If you have one package and you're leaving it in your mailbox, put a post it note on it asking him to "Please scan - thanks!" If you have multiple packages, then use bulk shipping and print a scan form for him. If you have several packages, USPS has no obligation to scan each one separately. Remember that he likely has a day off and substitute carrier. You can cask if he'll let his sub know what you two have agreed on.
I have had multiple carriers over the years and every one of them has been wonderful and so helpful. They pick up at my door daily because I schedule pickups. I consider them an important business partner.
You can schedule pickups here:
https://tools.usps.com/schedule-pickup-steps.htm
rathmik
OP8 months agoI put it in my mailbox. USPS is suppose to scan it when THEY pick it up. I rarely do it this way but sometimes it is the best option. I normally walk it inside, hand it to the clerk, and they scan it then. I have seen times when this failed too. They will tell you quick they have bugs in their system and it does makes messes.
Maybe you don't know as much about USPS as you think you do. Recently in my area, entire billing routes were affected by delayed delivery of utility bills. They showed up 4-5 days past the due date and this was a direct fault of the Memphis USPS hub, and they've known about the problem at that hub for years.
You can learn a lot by calling your state public service commission
Been doing this for a while. I know how to give myself the best chance of a good tracking experience, but I cannot guarantee the process will work after the package leaves my hands.
inceptions
Mentor8 months agoHi @rathmik
I put it in my mailbox. USPS is suppose to scan it when THEY pick it up.
But you're posting here to say that's not happening. Presumably you want it to happen, so I've given you advice on how to increase your chances of it happening.
I've been selling here for 21 years and have shipped over 70,000 items, so I have a little experience. Making a partner out of your mail carrier will most likely increase the chances of getting consistent scans for packages left in your mailbox. Printing a scan form will increase your chances of getting your packages scanned when left in your mailbox or handed over the counter at the post office.
If you don't take steps to receive a scan, the package may not receive it's first scan until it's at a sorting center or delivered, and you'll continue to receive defects for not getting an acceptance scan.
rathmik
OP8 months agoThus why I normally take it in to the clerk. And that can fail too.
inceptions
Mentor8 months ago@rathmik
Yes it can. That's why I watch while the scan form is being scanned.
rathmik
OP8 months agoLOL So much for "watching" the scan.
Item taken inside today, scanned by the clerk, and I go back to the house. I look to make sure the tracking was activated and what do you think I saw?
Tracking says "Package Delivered Picked Up at Post Office in Columbus, MS"
My mouth fell open as it was mailed to Pell City, AL not 20 minues ago? So I call customer to see if that is correct. NO it isn't.
Back to the post office to find out why I got this message.
System glitch accepted the item and then marked it as local pick up....but should still deliver but tracking won't show movement now.
At this point, my faith in humanity (and machines) is like this, when I cross a one way street, I look both ways.
inceptions
Mentor8 months ago@rathmik
It sounds like this was a recycled tracking #.
I always look both ways when crossing a one-way street. 😊