How can USPS tracking be trusted?

[packratville]

I ordered an item (not from eBay) that was scheduled for delivery tomorrow but it arrived today - yes, happy about the early delivery. However, the postal carrier didn't scan it when it was delivered around 1:15 pm. It was placed just outside my door on the porch. I saw the mail truck parked outside on the street and retrieved my package as soon as it drove away.

So, at 5:14 pm today my phone beeps and I have a text message saying that particular package was delivered in/at my mailbox at 5:13 pm.

My regular mail carrier is awesome, but I've had other problems when substitutes are used, for example when they failed to deliver a package when scheduled they fudged by stating it was delivered to an agent (then delivered the next day).

Yesterday the carrier scanned one small outgoing media mail package but failed to scan the large outgoing priority mail package, which had me very nervous until it finally showed up scanned in the mail stream hours later.

My point is, if a postal carrier can scan a package as delivered at a time and place it wasn't, how can scans be trusted? It could have just as easily not been delivered at all but still scanned late (probably when the mail carrier returned to the post office) showing it was. If it was an eBay transaction, I'd have a buyer saying they didn't receive the package and I'd be saying it was scanned as delivered. And each of us would be thinking the other is a scammer.

Actually, I've had the same type of thing happen with FedEx, so it's not just limited to USPS.

[dhbookds]

Anyone, everyone can/will make mistakes.........even sellers..

That said, I would (and have) report every problem  I've had subs sent back to my house at 6 p.m. on "their" time, to pickup packages........... 

[packratville]

I certainly make my share of mistakes. That said, I would think scanning is a pretty basic function, even for subs. I'm mainly concerned how the scans can be manipulated. That just seems to defeat the purpose of scanning.

[buyselljack2016]

I understand how a scan for a pick up can show up later.  We had a Saturday relief carrier that would scan all packages as accepted after getting back to the office rather than continually changing the scanner event from deliver to accept. I never said "boo" about it. Got scanned. Got back in time for the afternoon outgoing truck. I was a happy camper.

Not sure how a delivery could show up time stamped 4 hours later unless for some reason the delivery person did not physically have a scanner.  Maybe not enough scanners to go around for everyone they sent out with deliveries today? Possibly a list was made, then deliveries entered after return to the office.

[nobody*s_perfect]

A related possibility is that the carrier had one of the older style scanners and uploaded his scan information for the day  into the system all at once when he returned to the Post Office.

[yuzuha]

I would suspect that is the most likely answer.  The post office near where I work uses those scanners, and as a result, acceptance scans do not show up until the end of the day when they upload all of the information to the system.

[3eyedfishcatcher]

The carrier is using a hand held device that does not update their servers right away. Even when shipping if you take items to the counter and get a scan at the register it can take a few hours to update. 

If you issue was that you were not notified right away that the item was delivered. You can always message the seller asking for a invoice so they can add signature required on delivery to the label but this will cost extra.

[packratville]

Thanks, everyone. I guess it just seems like the scan should match the time and place of delivery, but as long as the packages are scanned at some point and delivered to the appropriate recipients, then all is okay. The majority of the time, the package scans for pick-up and delivery are instantaneous.

[johnrj1226]

@packratville

Through eBay we've shipped 1558 packages, bought 159 items + we  have shipped a 100+ packages  to family & friends via USPS all with tracking.  Most of our shipments (80%+ I guess) our carrier picks up at our home.

Had no major issue or minor one that wasn't resolved in time.

Only had two  separate packages that were lost forever at the same USPS distribution center in Jamacia, NY  at  different times.  Maybe the were  routed to Boston via the  MTA like poor ole Charlie  (re.  Kingston Trio song from 1959)

Guess I'm saying I trust USPS tracking.

[johnrj1226]

@packratville 

Even with the most  basic tasks people will make mistakes,  some times boredom sets in.

Recall my summer  jobs working at the Ford Dearborn Assembly plant building  '64  to '67 Mustangs at the rate of 68 per hour or about 1  every 58 seconds  working 11.5 hours/day 5  days a week and 10.5 on Saturday.  Very redundant & boring work - similar to  delivering & picking up mail every day - rain or shine.  Will guarantee you I made some mistakes  plus I never received all 100% on my exam or term papers all the way thru High School & 4.5  years in College.  The paychecks were nice at $2.54 to $2.67/hour and paid for all of my college expenses (tuition,  R & B, books and minimal spending money - like $5 a week.

[johnrj1226]

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@packratville wrote:

Thanks, everyone. I guess it just seems like the scan should match the time and place of delivery, but as long as the packages are scanned at some point and delivered to the appropriate recipients, then all is okay. The majority of the time, the package scans for pick-up and delivery are instantaneous.

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The  carriers hand held scan guns are downloaded when they carrier returns to their home distribution or sort  facility in the afternoon - the time of pick will then show as be the actual scan time  but does appear in real time (if scanned) .  Data is not auto transferred  from a mobile vehicle.  If you take packages to a USPS post office and don't wait in line to get you package scanned in - it more than  likely it won't  get scanned in until  later in the afternoon.  That is  how it works here in Newton County, GA pop 108K.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@johnrj1226 wrote:

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@packratville wrote: ... . The majority of the time, the package scans for pick-up and delivery are instantaneous.

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The  carriers hand held scan guns are downloaded when they carrier returns to their home distribution or sort  facility in the afternoon ...

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Delivery scan uploads and email notification from USPS CAN be instantaneous (or nearly so). That's how it works here in Hampshire county, MA, pop 160K.  It depends on which type of scanner the carrier uses. That's why I mentioned "older style scanners" in my post above. 

[3eyedfishcatcher]

Also when shipping when ever possible it is better to go into the post office and have the item scanned at the register. This is the only thing that will stop the clock on your handle time other than a sort at the regional post office. If the carrier picks up your item but does not get back before your local post office send items for that day to the regional post office, then you item will sit counting down on your handle time clock till the next time they ship items out. This could add 1 or more days to the handle time for that sale.

This mainly would effect sellers using the guarantied delivery program or those who have 1 day handle time. If you have a longer handle over 3 days then you really would not need to worry.

[packratville]

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@3eyedfishcatcher wrote:

Also when shipping when ever possible it is better to go into the post office and have the item scanned at the register. This is the only thing that will stop the clock on your handle time other than a sort at the regional post office. If the carrier picks up your item but does not get back before your local post office send items for that day to the regional post office, then you item will sit counting down on your handle time clock till the next time they ship items out. This could add 1 or more days to the handle time for that sale.

This mainly would effect sellers using the guarantied delivery program or those who have 1 day handle time. If you have a longer handle over 3 days then you really would not need to worry.

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Thanks. That's true, but I wasn't up to standing in a long line at the post office (only one open with short hours on a Saturday). Even though I typically ship the same or next day, I set my handling time to two days to cover delayed scans by the post office, or personal delays that occasionally come up.

[packratville]

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@johnrj1226 wrote:

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@packratville wrote:

Thanks, everyone. I guess it just seems like the scan should match the time and place of delivery, but as long as the packages are scanned at some point and delivered to the appropriate recipients, then all is okay. The majority of the time, the package scans for pick-up and delivery are instantaneous.

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The  carriers hand held scan guns are downloaded when they carrier returns to their home distribution or sort  facility in the afternoon - the time of pick will then show as be the actual scan time  but does appear in real time (if scanned) .  Data is not auto transferred  from a mobile vehicle.  If you take packages to a USPS post office and don't wait in line to get you package scanned in - it more than  likely it won't  get scanned in until  later in the afternoon.  That is  how it works here in Newton County, GA pop 108K.

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Pick-up I'm not sure about, but it's usually real time here for delivery. In the past I've waited in line to have a package scanned, but the scan didn't appear until much later.