Refunds on self-service machines for expresses?

[nutmegnumismatics]

The situation was that I went down to a major mail processing facility in Stamford and paid for shipping for two express items around 6:15 that I put into the outgoing parcel mail. I asked the guy behind the partition if they would go out if I put them in the chute, he said "yes". I did that and they stayed in the hold overnight. They went nowhere. So I went back the next morning to pick them up, the window lady said they would have gone out, I said check. They did not go out, she handed them back to me. I work in a customer service job in a garden dept. where you have to serve the customers and be totally honest for $12 an hour. It upsets me when people don't do their jobs.

The next day they said they could not refund these, the lady with a lot of experience said they had never had a request for postage refund on expresses; my po said that because it was paid through their automated machine it would have to be refunded there.  What is the process for getting refunds on express labels that are unused?

[newerused]

hi, I'm not sure of every detail but just from what you've said I'm thinking your expectations were not what the post office was offering.

The post office has a cut-off time to ship via Express, it may well vary from one location to another but at 98537 (my p.o.) it is 2:00 pm, Monday - Friday. Anything shipped after 2:00 is an Express service the following day. 

Now, when you say "major mail processing facility" maybe you didn't mean the U.S.P.S..
Also, if you asked the guy "would they go out" did you specify "will they go out TODAY".
Sorry it got complicated, I offer Express service but really dislike using it 'cause I feel like I'm holding my breath until it's tracked as delivered.

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@nutmegnumismatics wrote:

The situation was that I went down to a major mail processing facility in Stamford and paid for shipping for two express items around 6:15 that I put into the outgoing parcel mail. I asked the guy behind the partition if they would go out if I put them in the chute, he said "yes". I did that and they stayed in the hold overnight. They went nowhere. So I went back the next morning to pick them up, the window lady said they would have gone out, I said check. They did not go out, she handed them back to me. I work in a customer service job in a garden dept. where you have to serve the customers and be totally honest for $12 an hour. It upsets me when people don't do their jobs.

The next day they said they could not refund these, the lady with a lot of experience said they had never had a request for postage refund on expresses; my po said that because it was paid through their automated machine it would have to be refunded there.  What is the process for getting refunds on express labels that are unused?

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[nutmegnumismatics]

I agree that it can be too expensive; I remailed the parcels via regular priority yesterday; the usps hub has an earlier cut off time, but the clerk said it was going out same day.

[sam9876]

You aren't going to get a refund on that postage.

[couldabeenworse]

The normal process can be done online here:

https://www.usps.com/help/refunds.htm#pme

I'm not sure if yours qualifies.  The normal process is for their service guarantee.

[penguins_dont_fly]

I use Scheduled Pickups for my outgoing Priority packages ... but ...

Any time that I've got a PME, I make sure to go to the PO, stand in line and have it scanned.

That being said, you can request to void any USPS label within 5? days.

https://www.usps.com/help/refunds.htm#pme

[sam9876]

"That being said, you can request to void any USPS label within 5? days."

You can't void postage that was purchased at the kiosk.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@sam9876 wrote:

"That being said, you can request to void any USPS label within 5? days."

You can't void postage that was purchased at the kiosk.

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Maybe void was the wrong word because it is not technically a label. It is metered postage.  Unused metered postage can be refunded.

The manual for the kiosks (Handbook PO-106, Automated Postal Center Program - Section 8 ) states that the customer must fill out form PS 3533 to receive a refund for postage purchased at an APC

http://www.apwu.org/sites/apwu/files/resource-files/PO-106%20Automated%20Postal%20Center%20Program%2...

The DMM says that this form can be filled out online.

https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2017/pb22477/html/updt_002.htm

[sam9876]

I don't see how form PS 3533 is going to get you a refund for postage that was printed at a kiosk and then mailed.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@sam9876 wrote:

I don't see how form PS 3533 is going to get you a refund for postage that was printed at a kiosk and then mailed.

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If you read the OP, the item was NOT mailed. It was retrieved from the kiosk bin before processing.

[sam9876]

Once you drop a package into the slot, it is mailed.

[couldabeenworse]

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@sam9876 wrote:

Once you drop a package into the slot, it is mailed.

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There is apparently no documentation of that, as the package was never scanned.

One would think USPS can't have it both ways: they should be able to either refund the postage as unused, or pay off the Express Guarantee.  I would not be surprised if the OP would need to contact the Consumer Advocate to get it done, however.