eBay

no_zero369 · ‎12-23-2020

We all have been there, a line around the Post Office with everyone spaced at 6 feet and just one clerk working! You want to scream! You know if you place your packages in the bin there is a chance that with the crush USPS is under those packages might not be scanned timely. So in fear of messing up your seller metrics and having irate buyers, you resolve to camp out in the line.

But then you look over to the side and see this APC machine sitting there. It beckons to you with its siren song: Come use Me, I'll make things better! So is this true or will you end up on the rocks?

So you think, What IF this is true? It could be a way to be in & out, or a way to get scans after the Postal window is closed! So you think, what is the worse that could happen? Let's try it!

So fwiw, I DID try it and here is a screen that came up in the middle of the process!

(sorry for the blurry photo My iPhone 12 Pro is "in the mail")

So it looks like it IS a scan that says you were there, but not official since you could scan a package and then walk out with it and later file an insurance claim. Also, wonder if eBay would accept this "scan" as proof item is in the USPS system for seller metrics (met handling time).

How hard would it be to make a box/machine. You open the door, place your package label side up, close the door and a scanner scans the package and a conveyor moves it forward and dumps it in a bin. Sure would save 50% of the labor costs of clerks just scanning packages and giving receipts.

a_c_green · ‎12-23-2020

@no_zero369 wrote:
So it looks like it IS a scan that says you were there, but not official since you could scan a package and then walk out with it and later file an insurance claim. Also, wonder if eBay would accept this "scan" as proof item is in the USPS system for seller metrics (met handling time).

Yes, it's a "provisional" scan, like that of a SCAN sheet. You get a Pending Acceptance in the tracking history, but it's not actually confirmed to be in the system until it gets an actual in-network scan somewhere further down the line. I doubt you would get an insurance settlement for a "lost" package on the basis of that provisional scan and nothing else.

Unfortunately I suspect that when this is in full use (I tried it out at our local PO and just got a "Not available" message when I picked it off the menu), there will be even less incentive for behind-the-scenes workers to scan packages coming out of the drop chute bin. Hopefully that won't happen.

@no_zero369 wrote:
How hard would it be to make a box/machine. You open the door, place your package label side up, close the door and a scanner scans the package and a conveyor moves it forward and dumps it in a bin. Sure would save 50% of the labor costs of clerks just scanning packages and giving receipts.

Probably a lot harder: you'd have to engineer a machine that would fit the majority of post offices to make it worthwhile. You'd have to pay for its installation. You'd have to train workers to maintain it. Probably a bunch of other expenses that I haven't even thought of.

At least this is a step in the right direction. They re-engineered the APC with a scanner in a revised version that uses the same footprint as the old one in the PO, so it was an easy swap to update.

The only downside that I've heard of so far is that, according to several workers in my local PO, the new machine breaks down or malfunctions a lot more often than the old one did, not to mention it showing an Acceptance scan on its main menu that was not actually implemented yet if you tried to select it, so apparently there are still some issues to be worked out.

maros9416 · ‎12-23-2020

How about a window just for drop offs? One post office I go to has a worker with a handheld scanner and she canvases the line asking for drop offs only. Another main hub post office that I go to has a package room and you can just throw your packages in to these official carrier bins. It's not the best, but at least they are having the customers self-sort and skipping a step, as they go directly to the package hub from there. Another place just leaves open the empty teller windows and people load them to the hilt...No matter what the idea, it is going to take a responsible worker to scan each package in...I think the scan sheets help at this point where the USPS can at least have a clue where the package was, without any scan at all the package is 50-50 they will ever find it. The local post office knows nothing because by 5:00pm or so every piece of mail has left the building.

sextons-sweet-deals · ‎12-23-2020

So these machines are normally put in locations that have high volume. Not all USPS locations have them.

Now as far as scanning your printed label that you printed from home and tossing in the bin could be an open opportunity for fraud by bogus sellers. Maybe I'm thinking to hard, but give it some thought!

I have noticed that people that do print from home and wait in line, the clerk weighs the package and scans the label. I'm guessing they can confirm the label is authentic and cost is correct based on the weight of package in the USPS system. The customer then gets a printed receipt of acceptance.

lac358232 · ‎12-23-2020

I sought and found acceptance and solitude at the APC.

@no_zero369 wrote:
How hard would it be to make a box/machine. You open the door, place your package label side up, close the door and a scanner scans the package and a conveyor moves it forward and dumps it in a bin. Sure would save 50% of the labor costs of clerks just scanning packages and giving receipts.

The Automated Parcel Drop (APD) is a self-service machine that allows customers to mail pre-paid and merchandise return parcels. Customers scan the package’s pre-paid label barcode at the APD, deposit the package through its door and collect a paper receipt with acceptance scan date, time and tracking information.

glasser · ‎12-23-2020

How hard would it be?

We are talking the PO here right?

Two years to spec the machine

Two Years to bid the machine

Two years for the losing bidder to appeal the decision

Two years for the first prototype to be field tested and corrections made

5 years to roll out to every PO in America

So 11 years. However, machine will be declared obsolete after 5

🙂 🙂 🙂

no_zero369 · ‎12-23-2020

@a_c_green wrote:
Probably a lot harder: you'd have to engineer a machine that would fit the majority of post offices to make it worthwhile. You'd have to pay for its installation. You'd have to train workers to maintain it. Probably a bunch of other expenses that I haven't even thought of.

At least this is a step in the right direction. They re-engineered the APC with a scanner in a revised version that uses the same footprint as the old one in the PO, so it was an easy swap to update.

eh not a mechanical engineer, but how hard would it be to add a scanner to the lid or tray of the existing drop box such that it scans the package once the door is closed and one can't retrieve it?

Sure there would be expenses, but off set that by not having to pay one bloated pension, etc.? just asking