eBay

argy_eyes · ‎09-22-2022

Experts,

In the last couple weeks I've just dropped shipments off on the counter of my local post office (Burlingame, CA) without asking for a scan. This morning there was no line so I gave it to the person at the counter.

I asked for a scan and was told that this was no longer done at the counter when the package is dropped off, that this was a recent directive, and that it was a national policy.

The reason given was that the USPS had converted to "hand scanners" that did not generate a paper receipt. (I would have been fine with just witnessing the scan and not getting a receipt, but did not press the issue.)

Can anyone confirm this? I have a message into the USPS "hotline" but I'm not holding my breath for a reply.

Mike

richard1rst · ‎09-22-2022

Actually that sounds about right.

I live in a large city with a very busy post office. It is not uncommon to have a lengthy line, sometimes out the door (especially around Christmas).

I routinely drop my packages on any open counter and then turn and leave. I have witnessed back room personnel coming up the counter areas to collect the mail for sorting. I have witnessed them hand scan it as they took it off the counter and placed into the “laundry” carts. They use the hand scanner you mentioned although I have never asked for a receipt.

In my mind once it is scanned in so that my buyer can see it in the system I don't need a superfluous piece of paper. The scanner then uploads the information to the main U S post office computers at the end of the day.

"Laissez-faire capitalism (AKA The Great Material Continuum) is the only social system based on the recognition of individual rights and, therefore, the only system that bans force from social relationships." ~ Ayn Rand

chevymontecarlo88 · ‎09-22-2022

I have had one of our local post offices limit scans to 5 items and the others scan when i go in. If the counter is busy, they do have a self service kiosk that allows you to scan your bar code before dropping it off in the bin. If you have a self service kiosk, check to see if you can scan them there.

- Roasting id

heckofagame · ‎09-22-2022

I had several packages scanned today and I got a receipt. It's either a lie or we haven't been updated yet.

Anonymous · ‎09-22-2022

seems your post office is either too busy (not even Xmas yet) or lazy

donsdetour · ‎09-22-2022

@argy_eyes wrote:
Experts,

In the last couple weeks I've just dropped shipments off on the counter of my local post office (Burlingame, CA) without asking for a scan. This morning there was no line so I gave it to the person at the counter.

I asked for a scan and was told that this was no longer done at the counter when the package is dropped off, that this was a recent directive, and that it was a national policy.

The reason given was that the USPS had converted to "hand scanners" that did not generate a paper receipt. (I would have been fine with just witnessing the scan and not getting a receipt, but did not press the issue.)

Can anyone confirm this? I have a message into the USPS "hotline" but I'm not holding my breath for a reply.

Mike

Hmm Ask at the counter who initiated this policy so you can report it to the FBI for a major fraud and theft ring investigation of the USPS.

Tracking was done for this particular reason: not to say it was delivered or not.... Most of course do not know this.

simba6 · ‎09-22-2022

Look at the bright side. Al least they did not mark it delivered in place of accepted. That really gets some buyers yippy. Those employees are often clueless.

yuzuha · ‎09-22-2022

@argy_eyes wrote:

The reason given was that the USPS had converted to "hand scanners" that did not generate a paper receipt. (I would have been fine with just witnessing the scan and not getting a receipt, but did not press the issue.)

Can anyone confirm this? I have a message into the USPS "hotline" but I'm not holding my breath for a reply.

The hand scanners themselves cannot produce a paper receipt, but they absolutely can be used to produce one from a receipt printer. Around the holidays my local PO has someone going up and down the line with a hand scanner asking if anyone has prepaid postage that needs a scan. They pull you out of line, take you over to the side of the counter, scan your packages and then print the receipt from a wireless receipt printer they have set up over there.

collectfest · ‎09-22-2022

They won't do it at any post office around me, no line or not. I do it myself in the lobby at their kiosk. The machine will email receipt and for now still give a hard copy, but I am sure that will go away. Hopefully your post office has that at your disposal. 100% successful at this point.

Anonymous · ‎09-22-2022

I get counter scans. I don't know if that is because the postal clerk recognizes me or not, which clearly he does.

richard1rst · ‎09-22-2022

@donsdetour wrote:
Hmm Ask at the counter who initiated this policy so you can report it to the FBI for a major fraud and theft ring investigation of the USPS.
Tracking was done for this particular reason: not to say it was delivered or not.... Most of course do not know this.

I'm sorry that just sounds over the top paranoid.

"Laissez-faire capitalism (AKA The Great Material Continuum) is the only social system based on the recognition of individual rights and, therefore, the only system that bans force from social relationships." ~ Ayn Rand

johnrj1226 · ‎09-23-2022

Shipped 3 items w/my prepaid shipping labels this week via USPS and received 3 scans and receipts that I requested. This PO services a county population of 118K people - that I call Dog Patch, GA

"I have the right to remain silent but I didn't have the ability." Ron White, Fritch, Texas
"Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution." A. Einstein
"The Devil made me do it!" - Flip Wilson
"If the band can only play loud - they ain't no good - peps too!" J.R. Johnson

deserdog · ‎09-23-2022

I believe that the decision not to scan prepaids is made on individual post offices by the local postmaster. Since it is built into the software of USPS to be able to print out a receipt for a prepaid along with he weight, it must be in the DMM that it is permissible to scan prepaids at the counter.

rfmtm · ‎09-23-2022

• Scanning PS Form 5630 is the only way to ensure that all items tendered by the customer will receive the "Acceptance" event from the Post Office™. This SCAN feature is designed to better meet customer needs around tracking and visibility.

• The Postal Service employee accepting the shipment must scan the barcode at the time the mail is collected. There is no need to bring PS Form 5630 back to the Post Office.

• PS Form 5630 can be used for single or multiple package shipments, as well as domestic and international.

https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2006/html/pb22192/pb6ktxt.html

donsdetour · ‎09-23-2022

@richard1rst wrote:
@donsdetour wrote:
Hmm Ask at the counter who initiated this policy so you can report it to the FBI for a major fraud and theft ring investigation of the USPS.
Tracking was done for this particular reason: not to say it was delivered or not.... Most of course do not know this.
I'm sorry that just sounds over the top paranoid.

Not so; the original idea of the tracking system was for internal use so that items were scanned and where problems happens; it could be delt with. It was an easy step from there to go to tracking for the consumer.

This lack of scanning shows a service in which is now not being completed from the start...

If what folks are saying is policy: it is a problem and should be delt with through say the proper investigating authority of the USPS.

May be even congress....as this does show an internal problem that exists within the USPS.