Note: this would be just as useful to anyone who takes their packages to the post office and doesn't have a kiosk with an auto-scanner, and you insist on witnessing your items being scanned (which is wise but also pushing your luck if your post office's counter clerk is not the cheerful type; I have yet to meet one of those). They will appreciate performing only ONE scan, rather than having to turn your multiple packages around and scanning them all one-by-one. People in line behind you will appreciate it too.
Because of disabilities I cannot go to the post office every day, but I can still be a Top Rated Seller Plus, even with it requiring a 1-day handling time (package must get its' first carrier scan on the same day or next business day after each item was paid for). Before I go any further, I should clarify that my only experience is with USPS; things may be totally different with other carriers.
Most days I rely on Scheduled Pickup to get my packages in USPS' hands, and for the most part it works perfectly. If anyone reading doesn't know about scheduling pickups or how to do it, reply and I will guide you, unless someone else sees your reply and guides you before me (all help appreciated 🙂 ). I have had occasional frustrating periods of substitute neighborhood carriers who would skip my scheduled pickups for whatever reason, and when that happens it's frustrating and there's no excusing it on my behalf, as far as Ebay goes. But far more often, and just as frustrating, is when the carrier DOES pick up the items on the scheduled day, but the items don't get any scans until the next day or even later. Even the email that USPS sends which affirms completion of the scheduled pickup isn't satisfactory proof for Ebay, because when you schedule a pickup, there is no way to indicate the specific tracking numbers of the items, just how many, what shipping tiers, and the approximate total weight (so the carrier knows whether to take an empty box to your door). So, even if you could get a digital copy of that email to an Ebay employee to look at, it would only show that X number of packages were successfully picked up, NOT necessarily the exact ones for which you got demerit strikes.
So one day about a year ago I "caught" my mailman on the porch and asked if he wouldn't mind scanning the bar codes on my packages when he picks them up, to show that they really were picked up. He said his scanner couldn't do that --I'm not sure if that's true, or if he just didn't want to commit to scanning everything I ship out, including days when there are 'several' packages; in that case I could definitely sympathize, as I know how pressed for time they are. BUT he said he COULD scan a "Scan Form" of all my packages, if I would just put one out each day.
I didn't know exactly what he meant, so I asked HERE in the Community, and got guidance on exactly how to create and print one. At first it felt like a "bit much" in addition to all the other steps of shipping, but once I got the hang of it, it's second nature, literally adds only a few extra seconds and one sheet of paper to the task. That sheet has just ONE bar code for the carrier to scan, and it will become the first scan for all the bar codes of all the packages being picked up that day, all at once!
NOW for the proof in the pudding!
Look at the screenshot with 2 line items highlighted. The bottom one shows the item was 'Received, Acceptance Pending' this last Thursday June 30th, but it wasn't "Accepted" until Sunday, July 3rd. That's means my mailman scanned my Scan Form when he did the pickup Thursday, but for whatever reason, that package just sat at my local post office without any movement or any more scans until Sunday. If not for that 'Received' scan, this item (which sold on Wednesday) would be STRIKE, with no way to excuse it. But if it does show as a strike, I will be able to get it removed, because the tracking shows it actually left my hands on time.
I believe I have seen at least one member in the Community say that Ebay doesn't count anything less than "Accepted" as the official first scan, but that's not true. I know because I've had at least a couple strikes removed by calling and having employees look at the Received scan. Thing is, Acceptance just means the package has been examined for any red flag packing problems and weighed to verify sufficient postage was paid for. If you have packages picked up, you can't help how long it takes for facility workers to get around to doing this inspection, therefore 'Received' is as good as 'Accepted' as far as your responsibility goes! And that's exactly what you should (politely) to any Ebay rep who wrongfully tries to deny removal of your strike. Though like I said, I haven't had that problem; the ones I've called had enough common sense to agree that 'Received' means RECEIVED.
About the other screenshot: For some reason I have yet to hear, occasionally the first scan reads "Picked Up" rather than "Received, Acceptance Pending." I mean to sometime ask my mailman why that is, but if anyone reading knows, holler! All I know is, I had one strike from the Accepted scan being a day or two after the Picked Up one, and I was able to get the strike removed, same as if it had the 'Received' scan.
@gurlcat wrote:Thank you! And that's basically an expansion of what I knew already, that just because a package says 'in transit' doesn't mean it's not sitting somewhere, in fact it's more likely sitting in the next place AFTER the last one showing.
Hard to say for sure, because "In Transit" is a filler status, used when tracking hasn't been updated in 24 hours. I'm not positive of the exact condition(s) for when an In Transit message may be triggered, but usually it's sent in reply to a tracking request (such as email notifications) whenever the latest scan was more than 24 hours ago. In Transit notifications can be sent up to three times (a day apart), after which the system goes silent until a new scan occurs someplace. In Transit messages are removed from the history once a new scan appears.
@gurlcat wrote:But I have to say, that's extra sneaky of Memphis to blatantly mislabel the location of the scan on the 3rd at 5:51 as if it's Mobile just FINALLY accepting the package (then somehow Memphis has it and is speedily processing it just over an hour later, ha!!
Well, it's not unique to Memphis; that's how the software works at all locations. That "Origin Acceptance" scan is logged for any package that doesn't already show a normal Acceptance in its history. Prior to that it could have had a provisional Acceptance from either a Self Serve Kiosk or a SCAN sheet, or might not have ever been scanned at all. The first sighting anywhere within the USPS network will be logged as an Origin Acceptance, and the supposed location will be logged as the ZIP code from which it was apparently shipped, not where it really is now. Weird, I know. Only the Origin Acceptance records do that; all other scans report their true location.
@gurlcat wrote:Oh, and I also didn't know that the KIOSK scan is provisional! There isn't one at any of the p.o.'s in my town that I know of, so I've never used one can't picture the interface, the "chute", etc. I'm surprised it doesn't have a scale to affirm the weight. Anyway I sure have seen a lot of sellers talking like it is the golden ticket for guaranteeing a true 'Origin Acceptance' scan without waiting in line and making the desk clerk scan all the packages. Now I wonder if the desk clerk's scanning even counts as official Origin Acceptance, or just a provisional scan!
Okay, let me clarify several things here. The Kiosk scan is indeed a provisional scan, and says so on its screen when dropping off a package:
The post office is supposed to do their own scan of the package once it's actually in their possession, and then the provisional Acceptance is upgraded to a full one. eBay acknowledges the provisional scan at the kiosk; they don't wait for a later one. For example, I dropped off a package on Sunday, July 3rd that eBay acknowledged was in the carrier's possession that day, even though it didn't actually go anywhere until Tuesday the 5th, after the July 4th holiday.
The kiosk does have a scale on it, as well as a scanner, but the scale is not used for the Acceptance of a pre-paid package; it just tells you to hold the label up to the scanner window, and it's done. You can weigh your package anyway if you like, but that is not added to the label record since you generated the label yourself at home. Only thing I would add here is that you should make sure the chute isn't clogged before doing the kiosk Acceptance, so that you can actually drop off the package as planned.
A desk clerk scan is a full Acceptance, because they're taking possession of the package at that time, and the front desk Point of Sale terminal doing the scan is in the USPS network. If Accepted at the front desk, the clerk's scan will also log the weight of the package they received. A provisional scan at a kiosk does not. (Provisional scans use data from the customer, which they can't verify until they actually have hands on the package.)
