Mission Control...We have a Problem with USPS

[12345jamesstamps]

Mailed a box Priority Mail yesterday with USPS...in person...and took photo of it with clerk in person...LOL...and sent it to buyer...nothing as far as it scanned...or on its way...at $18.40 for the box. Ouch!

This will become a nightmare if buyer is not honest in receiving it.

Has scanning become obsolete? All my other items without tracking make it cross-country 4-5 days.

[toysaver]

My Priority boxes are averaging at least a week for delivery and many of the scans I used to see are missing.  It's way too early to worry.  

[fern*wood]

Once I stopped shaking my head over the photo part, I have to wonder since you don't print your labels online, if maybe you entered the number incorrectly.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

Did you not wait for the clerk to scan and give you a receipt?

Sounds like you may have sat it on the counter and left. When you do that, you take a chance on who then handles those packages and scans them in. I believe some slip through and probably won't show tracking until it's next stop or at delivery. 

[simba6]

I have had many packages that were only scanned at delivery and some that never were marked delivered.  You can call the 800 number on the USPS web site.  I have gotten many packages found that way. They can also pull up more info than what is on line.

[lakefor94]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

Good points.  

My carriers, and offices are also great about scanning.

OP is in a different boat here. Purchase is made at the Post Office at retail, and there is no scan to be done. The tracking # is (should be) in the system when that purchase is made, and a label is generated at the sales terminal.

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Sounds highly expensive. 

[12345jamesstamps]

Update on this...I got "positive feedback" for it today from buyer. LOL. It was mailed Monday afternoon.

Did buyer really get it? I won't ask.

I think I covered my butt by taking a photo of it at the counter with a partial clip of the clerk in the photo and sending it to buyer "item has been mailed'.

Still no any scan of it being accepted. LOL.

[mam98031]

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@12345jamesstamps wrote:

Update on this...I got "positive feedback" for it today from buyer. LOL. It was mailed Monday afternoon.

Did buyer really get it? I won't ask.

I think I covered my butt by taking a photo of it at the counter with a partial clip of the clerk in the photo and sending it to buyer "item has been mailed'.

Still no any scan of it being accepted. LOL.

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Are you trying to buy trouble????

Have you checked the tracking today?

[12345jamesstamps]

I look on eBay and USPS.

I think I am just gonna stop looking at my items with tracking.

Puts a damper on my days activities.

[fern*wood]

Did you ever double check your number to see if it was input correctly?   Your photo didn't cover anything.  

[yuzuha]

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@fern*wood wrote:

Once I stopped shaking my head over the photo part, I have to wonder since you don't print your labels online, if maybe you entered the number incorrectly.

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Given that OP seems to have consistent problems with their packages, I'm betting it's this, or that their handwriting is difficult to read.

[pjcdn2005]

It isn't a good idea to check tracking imo and it isn't really needed. If there is a problem the

buyer will let you know.  If the item hadn't been scanned, I would not contact the buyer first.

Do you actually buy your postage at the post office or do you put stamps on the package

and then go to the post office to mail it?   I don't know if it is possible in the US to use stamps and then send an item with a tracked service but it can be done in Canada. Many stamp dealers who have access to discounted stamps ship their items that way. 

My husband has bought stamps at a 50 discount off of face value although that isn't usual.

[buyselljack2016]

OP ships at the PO. Does not purchase labels online.

Package was not "just left on the counter".

Clerk inputted the data. The point of sale terminal printed a tracking # label. 

Label is affixed to the package.

OP takes photo of package.............. held up by the clerk.

OP has a printed receipt with tracking #, and other info.  (destination city, state. Package weight)

OP uses stamps, of pays for postage needed to ship the package.

(may not have this time, but still paid at PO)

The # should be in the system by default when the label with the tracking # is printed.

[buyselljack2016]

Yup, good observation, but neither here nor there as to the presented issue😶

OP prefers not to use online shipping. That is the OP's choice to make.

OP deals in highly discounted postage stamps and may be paying less to ship than we do.

At $18.40....................  it may not have been the case this time, but we all deal with our own business model decisions.

[12345jamesstamps]

The "photo"...did something...I got "positive feedback" already from the buyer...I am sure he hasn't gotten it yet. LOL.

[12345jamesstamps]

I don't mail big items as such all the time. I was in a hurry and didn't care about saving a few dollars on shipping.

I do have free "Insurance up to $100. for a lost item"...from using this box. I didn't have to pay for the insurance which is a plus using the box.

Still no update on tracking...just "Information available soon".

Here's the crazy thought...if buyer gets item...I got positive feedback already"....it seems like a person can claim lost item with no tracking which I would never do and claim the insurance.

I have had a number of items last year missing tracking saying "delivered" on tracking.

But I have a receipt from a clerk and it was handed to a clerk.