No at-the-counter USPS scan ("national policy"?)

[argy_eyes]

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

[ms.rodriguez*]

They are lying. I just came from the post office and got a receipt.  It probably depends on the post office.  If they are very busy, I can understand them not scanning them at the moment.

[the_fancy_fox]

It’s not national policy. I asked three different po’s about it.

[the_fancy_fox]

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@chevymontecarlo88 wrote:

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. 

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There’s a sign on my po’s kiosk that states it’s not an acceptance scan. 

[johnrj1226]

All I know our PO of 26 years always scans our prepaid label w/o issue when I ask.  My understanding each PO is measured on how many scans the get on labels they sold.  Me thinks some PO adopt the  policy of "it ain't my job man and I don't do any unpaid performances" plus they will go to  break or lunch when they are schedule to no matter how long the line is.  Also my carrier performance a scan that say she picked up the package then the local  sort facility states they  accepted it and is so noted on almost all of my shipments - yes they  do miss it some times.  The packages that are scanned at the PO counter show up as being accepted at the date & time it was scanned

[justafemster]

My local post office scans packages as they come in, while the larger post office doesn't.  

Local post office states they get credit for all scan-ins with THEIR zip code, doesn't matter where the package is dropped off, they get credit.  

It's up to the actual office if they do scan-ins.  Local post office is slow, rarely anyone ahead of me, unless it's just before the holiday, while the larger post office is always busy with a line out the door, don't even attempt to go there during the holiday, it'll take at least 40 minutes. 

I have a great relationship with my local, I'm there every day.  Larger, also there every day, but I don't get to talk to the counters like I do at the local.  

I do take my other site purchases to the larger office, because it's closest to my warehouse.  Local loves that, they get the credit, while the larger does the work!

[argy_eyes]

@justafemster @johnrj1226 @the_fancy_fox @ms.rodriguez* @donsdetour

@richard1rst  @heckofagame @Anonymous @donsdetour 

@simba6 

Thanks to everyone for useful, constructive observations. As suggested by many writers, the no-scan policy appears to be far from nationwide – I went to another post office this morning and was asked if I wanted a scan/receipt (without any prompting from me).

Also, this post office had a kiosk and the staff accompanied me to it and demonstrated its use to do a scan. I would not have known about this without the responses on this topic.

Mike

[oldwestgold]

First off I am a retired Postmaster of 33 years with the USPS. There is no national policy, just a few lazy entitled clerks. Ask for the PM or Mgr. Ask for a copy of the national policy they claim. Maybe it has changed since I retired 4 years ago but my PO scans and prints a receipt for me. Don't take no for not scanning. Of course, there is no receipt for handheld scanners, but if presented at the window the POS will print a receipt. If you have more than 5 packages you should be creating a scan form. I always ask why some here do not use the free pickup service.  I do several days a week and live down a 1,000 ft drive. Try not to use any attitude towards employees but hold them accountable. Their world will not end if they take 10 seconds to scan your packages. Expect service and what you pay for.  The postage you pay includes items like the cost for scanning and not just delivery of your items. Do NOT accept subpar service, especially from any Gov't agency. If all else fails, write your Congressperson. Be specific with dates and people you made contact with, including the clerk's name. If you live in an area like I do where the USPS Processing plant is known for "misplacing" items(Detroit), make sure you get items scanned and/or a receipt. Your items are not entered into the USPS mail system until the first scan hits. So it's like you never dropped them off. This is especially a problem(for you) if insured. I never accept service people that do not do the jobs that they are being paid for. Neither should you. As Barney Fife would say, "Nip it! Nip it in the bud."

[argy_eyes]

Same message, due to 10-user reply limit:

@justafemster @johnrj1226 @the_fancy_fox @ms.rodriguez* @donsdetour @richard1rst 

@heckofagame @Anonymous 

Thanks to everyone for useful, constructive observations. As suggested by many writers, the no-scan policy appears to be far from nationwide – I went to another post office this morning and was asked if I wanted a scan/receipt (without any prompting from me).

Also, this post office had a kiosk and the staff accompanied me to it and demonstrated its use to do a scan. I would not have known about this without the responses on this topic.

Mike

[oldwestgold]

Someone printing out a sign does not mean anything. Check to see if there is an official USPS PS form number on the edge of the sign somewhere. If there is not, it is a fake sign that someone just created for the heck of it.  These types of self-created signs are NOT allowed at any Post Office. Only official USPS forms or signs are allowed to be posted. Again it should show PS followed by numbers or something official like Poster 7.

[the_fancy_fox]

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@oldwestgold wrote:

Someone printing out a sign does not mean anything. Check to see if there is an official USPS PS form number on the edge of the sign somewhere. If there is not, it is a fake sign that someone just created for the heck of it.  These types of self-created signs are NOT allowed at any Post Office. Only official USPS forms or signs are allowed to be posted. Again it should show PS followed by numbers or something official like Poster 7.

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Actually what it says that the scan shows it was deposited in the kiosk and not an acceptance scan. Will ebay accept that if a package goes lost? I don’t know and prefer not to find out the hard way.

 I believe the sign is actually on the kiosk screen not a hand printed sign. If I have another drop off while I’m in that PO I’ll get a picture of it and post it.

All of what you say may be true but it seems each po does what it wants anyway wouldn’t you say? I prefer to be safe rather than sorry. I had two late scans due to this no scan policy and I am not getting another.

[newoldstockforbikes]

Ask the clerk to show you the policy.

[alwaysauthentic1]

That would be crazy if that's the case because I've just went through the school of hard knox about the importance of having your labels scanned in. 

I was a regular seller on Ebay 6+ years ago going back to around 2009 and I rarely if ever ran into shipping problems and I would drop my packages off at a usps without scanning them and never had an issue with packages not getting scanned (not even once). Anyways I just started selling again 2 months ago and I'm running into all kinds of problems (I also moved to another area (las vegas). My first negative experiences with the carriers was as a buyer (packages likely being stolen and my suspicions are with the postal workers/delivers). I've had 3 lost packages as a buyer in the last month.  

Anyways as a seller several late shipments have been hitting me within a very short time frame (and one likely lost and never scanned in) and a couple happened around the beginning of February that I'm just recently becoming aware of.  But 5 happened this last Monday and 2 the week before  So now that I'm aware, I've since made some corrective behavior by making sure everything gets scanned in (this is completely new territory for me) and I'm now driving to a bordering city (Henderson) from Las Vegas to drop off my packages. And it's all the carriers by the way. USPS and FEDex and as a buyer UPS.  I've been Johnny on the spot with my shipments... both usps and Fedex are 1 mile from my house so everyday I make trips to the post office up until the late afternoon.  In truth I haven't had a single late shipment (not even close), but in reality I'm getting drilled. Like I said... I now know to get my packages scanned in, so at least i won't likely be on the hook for it (the post office where I live has a 30+ minute line at all times), but I just found a nice one in Henderson, so hopefully that helps and from now on I'll never drop off a package without getting it scanned.  

Anyways, I dropped off 4 packages on Monday February 24th at USPS. As of March first... 2 have not been scanned in yet. 1 scanned in on Wednesday and one scanned in on Friday.  A package I dropped off on Tuesday has not been scanned in yet. Apparently they're severely backed up in this area, which I didn't know or else I would have changed things. 

There was also a Dyson Vaccum that I mailed out on the February 9th that hasn't arrived, which I'm guessing could be because of the battery.  I attached battery warnings on the box and attached one next to the shipping label, but I forget to put hazardous on the label, which I realized after I printed it so I debated voiding it and printing another one, but i first researched it online and the sources I came across said as long as you have the hazardous label.... anyways, I'm assuming that's why it's taking so long, but maybe not. 

Anyways, I'm in a panic... as soon as I get a chance. I'm contacting Ebay so I could at least say... this is what's going on... this is going to drill me all at once, but just know that I'm now scanning my labels in and I'm taking my packages elsewhere to drop off to hopefully eliminate this problem. 

[kh-shakhib]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.