Do you have so many problems with USPS as me?

[lovingroger2020]

I think I'm ending my seller carrier.  I call USPS all the time because the pack is lost or delayed and in absolutely different state it should be. I'm so tired of it. I call them and hear: wait, it's in transit. Call us in three days (when I should refund money to customer.) 

I didn't sell many items - just some, and some quiete expensive. It's my fault - I should ship it by Priority Mail and I shipped by First Class, because it's super small. 

I shipped something on Saturday. It's Wednesday and one is missing (still in transit to California, but the pack didn't even get distribution center so it can't be in transit) and second one is still in Chicago. It should be delivered yesterday. 

For 30 items I sold, I called the USPS like 10 times. And I just hear that they can't do anything because they have 14 business days delivery. Of course, it super hard to call post to depart the item to the next facility. 

[sam9876]

Why wouldn't you know the exact weight of every package?

[lovingroger2020]

Is it important? Sometimes I prefer to go to post and ship it there. I know I pay more but it's my problem. I never had a problem with them. I mostly have problems with items where I printed shipping labels. Labels are fine, just almost always late. 

It's not about shipping labels - my post office always "forget" to ship it. Like right now - two days after picking up there is no info and I'm sure they still keep on the truck. 

I will never win with USPS and always have to wait, because they have 14 business days for delivery, so they hold my packages super long time. I'm not going to sell more items. I'm gonna refund money to my customers and stop calling to USPS, because they are not willing to help. 

[sam9876]

"Is it important? "

Yes, knowing the exact weight of every package is very important.

[lovingroger2020]

Why it's so important? Because USPS will cheat me on the weight and I pay $1.00 more? It's simple - sometimes I go to USPS straight from work and I don't know how many pounds it is with bubble wrap and evelope because I don't have a weight there. I'm not guessing - I let them do it. 

[sam9876]

"Why it's so important?"

So your customers don't have to pay postage due.

"Because USPS will cheat me on the weight and I pay $1.00 more?"

I have shipped more than 75,000 package through the post office and have never had postage due.

[lovingroger2020]

I need to change the subject. The man at the post office told me that I should print shipping form. What is it and what's the name of it and why it's important? I've seen a guy today with this form and I'm not sure: do I need it? 

[nederlander1]

DO NOT place clear packing tape over the label barcode . The reason for this is the tape acts as a reflector to the scanner and the barcode scan won't be picked up. Always leave the barcode area free of tape. From a USPS employee who has worked in mail processing for 28+ years.

[thallidguy]

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@nederlander1wrote:
DO NOT place clear packing tape over the label barcode . The reason for this is the tape acts as a reflector to the scanner and the barcode scan won't be picked up. Always leave the barcode area free of tape. From a USPS employee who has worked in mail processing for 28+ years.

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That used to be the case, but you guys are using much better scanners these days. I always tape over the barcode and I have never had a problem with them scanning.

One of the last times I took a package to the PO counter, the clerk — the veteran at that PO, a woman who was always on top of things — told me up and down that a taped-over barcode wouldn't scan, and then she gave it a try... and it scanned without a hitch. That was at least five years ago, probably more like ten.

[thallidguy]

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@lovingroger2020wrote:

Is it important? Sometimes I prefer to go to post and ship it there.

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So you have no idea what to charge your buyers for shipping when you list, to make sure all your costs are covered?

That's... a rather curious way of doing things.

[lja440]

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@nederlander1wrote:
DO NOT place clear packing tape over the label barcode . The reason for this is the tape acts as a reflector to the scanner and the barcode scan won't be picked up. Always leave the barcode area free of tape. From a USPS employee who has worked in mail processing for 28+ years.

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I have worked as a mail carrier for 18 years CLEAR TAPE DOES NOT IMPEDE A SCAN IN THE LEAST. I don't even have any trouble scanning through the translucent plastic bags that I put large packages in when weather is bad (or in the case of Pink Zebra when the weather is fine, we even bag them when they sit in the office). A lot of companies use a label sleeve that the whole label and packing slip slides in, these case no problem for the scanners.

Things that do cause problems:

Getting the label wet, causing smearing or just swelling of the paper.

Being placed around a curve or bend.

Being placed over the junction of box flaps causing the label to buckle.

Reducing the label too much is a problem for both the scanner and the mail carrier. Labels should be able to be read at a glance, not with a magnifing glass.

[rolenboy01]

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@lja440wrote:

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@nederlander1wrote:
DO NOT place clear packing tape over the label barcode . The reason for this is the tape acts as a reflector to the scanner and the barcode scan won't be picked up. Always leave the barcode area free of tape. From a USPS employee who has worked in mail processing for 28+ years.

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I have worked as a mail carrier for 18 years CLEAR TAPE DOES NOT IMPEDE A SCAN IN THE LEAST. I don't even have any trouble scanning through the translucent plastic bags that I put large packages in when weather is bad (or in the case of Pink Zebra when the weather is fine, we even bag them when they sit in the office). A lot of companies use a label sleeve that the whole label and packing slip slides in, these case no problem for the scanners.

Things that do cause problems:

Getting the label wet, causing smearing or just swelling of the paper.

Being placed around a curve or bend.

Being placed over the junction of box flaps causing the label to buckle.

Reducing the label too much is a problem for both the scanner and the mail carrier. Labels should be able to be read at a glance, not with a magnifing glass.

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I've found a lot of times it's just a lie told by lazy clerks who don't even wanna bother lift the scanner off it's holder, god forbid you gotta move the scanner or try different angles to get a barcode to scan according to some of these people.

[original_photoguy]

I am a buyer and a seller so I use USPS on both sides. As a seller I have not had any real issues.

However, I frequently (1 out of 20ish) have incoming packages that get diverted from a normal route and go off on a walkabout and finally make it back. I have complained to the USPS using their online forms and typically get emails from the local postmaster appologizing. It seems they have issues with their sorting machines here. It is frustrating to see the tracking predict delivery and then see it go off to other locations and incur several more days of transit time. I will continue to complain in the hopes that the ywill fix the issue some day.

  Since I can see this happen I always cut the seller slack as it is not their fault.

[lovingroger2020]

I offer free shipping "Fast and free" just I have some doubts about fast. I mostly print shipping labels and I use printable sticker paper so I don't tape it. I've never had a situation that they couldn't scan it. 

I complained USPS as a buyer twice. Once I waited over a month and second time never got it, but I'm sure seller shipped my item. Just found in another state and later... no info. 

Could someone explain me what form should I print? I know only about custom form, but I ship only to USA. 

[lovingroger2020]

Next problem with USPS. I should get a pack on Friday. It was in Chicago, so 10 miles from me. It's Sunday. It's in Virginia. 

I'm pretty sure I won't get it before Easter. Tommorow I have to call again to USPS and never ever again I will not order anything with USPS shipping. 

[pingpong517]

honestly it seems you should look at how you are shipping..as in, is the package actully too small...maybe a bigger envelope, or is label too small or put on so it isn't read by the machines easily....

just saying that, i ship 1st class , some pirority and have had little trouble....and when i need to call..seems to be found and all is well....

we all us USPS mostly...and you seem to have more issues than most ..maybe most all of us.... so i'm saying , in a nice way, to think what else may be causing issues...and maybe  a different approch to it on your side is needed....

you can complain and get a headache, or you could change or fix or look at how/what going on to start...

just saying.... it may help overall, but depending it may not...but help yourself by helping yourself.