when do items put in the blue mailbox get scanned?

[brandoate7]

When do items put in the blue mailbox get scanned by usps, because tracking info doesnt seem to update after some few days.

[berserkerplanet · Accepted solution]

They get scanned when they get scanned (if they get scanned).

I'm not aware of a general answer to that question, and don't know if there is a defined, universal protocol for blue box mail - I suspect it totally depends on your location and the local setup.

In some cases blue box pickups go to the local PO, and are scanned there along with PO deposited mail, in others (like it used to be here) the pickup drivers drag their truckloads straight to the local sorting center to be scanned, or alternatively, as I think is happening here now, the pickup driver goes to the local PO and transfers his unscanned load to a semi on the loading dock headed to the sorting center along with all the unscanned mail that the local PO isn't scanning anymore either.

6-12 months ago the pickup driver here was scanning everything he pulled from the blue box at about 5pm and things were good.

Something changed to where nothing was getting scanned until 7 or 8pm at the local sorting center, but pretty much everything was getting scanned. Things were still good.

Recently (because the Aug 1st USPS APV system rollout?) things changed again. Now scans are hit and miss, some around 8pm, some later, but some pkgs are not getting scanned at all. In the last week I've had 1 that never got scanned until it made it across the country, and another a couple of days ago that still has no scans and may do the same.

Those two constitute more acceptance scan fail in  a week than I saw in the last year, and my metrics here on eBay are going to take a hit. (and dropping at the PO doesn't fix that for me - dropped 3 2 days ago and only 2 are showing any scans starting at the sorting center)

So the answer to your question is maybe. Or 42.

[dhbookds]

I'd talk to the postmaster and ask him........  according to what USPS has said, every package is supposed to be scanned at the local PO......  before it's sent on.  If that isn't happening and local people seem to be unconcerned that the scans are made, you need to complain on line to higher ups.  Alot of sellers have done that and had success with "straightening out their local PO".........

[brandoate7]

Thanks for the help 🙂

[brandoate7]

Thanks for helping XD

[berserkerplanet]

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I'd talk to the postmaster and ask him........  according to what USPS has said, every package is supposed to be scanned at the local PO......  before it's sent on.

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I'm starting to suspect that that was then, and this is now, and USPS just hasn't issued a statement outlining the changes to the flow I suspect have taken place recently.

Everything seems to be indicating a shift to offloading the scan work to auomated systems at the sorting center.

All guesswork based on talks with the pickup drivers a while back, a lot of scrutiny of tracking locations and times, and the fact that I haven't seen a single package I've dropped on the counter get scanned recently as they used to be. I just see them sorting and tossing them into big bins behind the counter. (this is a large main city PO too)

I'm guessing that

"Because the mail never stops. It just keeps coming and coming and coming. There's never a letup, it's relentless. Every day it piles up more and more, and you gotta get it out, but the more you get out, the more keeps coming in! And then the bar code reader breaks! And then it's Publisher's Clearinghouse Day...!" 

they've turned it over to teh bots at the sorting centers  🙂

[berserkerplanet]

Sure thing.   Hope something in that blerb helped 🙂