Scan Form Acceptance

[photofoolery]

I took four packages to the post office today and handed the clerk a scan form (in hindsight I should have just had her scan the packages).  She tried to scan the bar code unsuccessfully the first time, then was apparently successful on the second try. Now back home a little while later, the packages don't show up as being accepted, only that the post office is waiting for them.

Does it usually take awhile for the acceptance to update on the USPS website? The clerk seemed new, so I'm a little concerned. I've also read on other posts that customers are given a receipt for the scan, but she never printed out a receipt or offered one and I didn't know to ask. The one other time I used a scan sheet at the counter, I never got a receipt then either, and I don't remember if the acceptance information showed on the website when I got home. 

[sassykzt]

With a SCAN sheet it can take a few hrs. to show up in the system.  I t has been my experience that the USPS site is more up to date than eBay.  Also with SCAN sheets, no receipt is given since that sheet ( it's supposed to be given back to you after the scan of the barcode) .

The first scan you will see is: Shipment Received, Package Acceptance Pending.  Once your post office  processes and sends it to the distribution center, you will see : Package Accepted.

[robbie31415]

It depends HOW they scan it.

If they used the portable handheld scanner, it can range from when it will reflect.

If you ask them for a 'receipt' they can't use the handheld, they use the register one in order to give you the receipt and it will typically show up in the system within 30 minutes.

In my opinion, it's best to always ask for a receipt and the scans should show up.

[photofoolery]

Thanks. They haven't shown up yet (I've been checking the USPS website) but it helps to know they might take a few hours.

All four packages show label created for now; I'll see if they update a little later when they're on the way to the distribution center, or arrive there.

[photofoolery]

Thanks. She started to enter information at the register then questioned a clerk at the next station about it, who acknowledged she couldn't scan it there for some reason. So she grabbed the hand-held scanner and (supposedly) the scan worked on her second try.

In the future, I'll forgo the scan sheet and have the packages scanned individually and get a receipt. That's what I normally do on the rare occasions I make a trip to the post office with one or two packages. Mailing four packages at one time is unusual for me (not complaining, though!), and I thought a scan sheet would be more appropriate.

It's been about 3-1/2 hours and the USPS website still shows Label Created.

[photofoolery]

Sigh of relief, the status has been updated now:

Shipment Received, Package Acceptance Pending

I'll chill now.

Thanks for the responses!

[toysaver]

Everything at the PO always takes longer on Monday morning.