Shipping Standards

[swflgscc]

I would just like to say how I feel eBay is holding sellers responsible for performance outside of our controle.  It seems every time I reach top rated, I am demoted again to standard because the postman did not scan the item I shipped, within the designated time frame.  I have had items not scanned until they have reached there destination point. Yet, I am still the one held accountable.  This needs to be fixed.  I think 99% of seller do what is required.  Yet we are again let down by people that do not do their job.  Any other sellers have an opinion on this?

[sherminatorog]

It might be beneficial to request them to scan the items in front of you at the post office. This shows it has been shipped. If you have packages picked up I would think they are scanning them to show the system that the pickup request is finished. If not then I would complain hardcore to the post office.

[jayjaspersgarage]

When I hand a package to my postwoman as she arrives at my mailbox she scans it immediately while we chat about things. It pays dividends to get to know the people at the post office as well. At the ADA counter where everyone piles the pre-paid packages the post office employees scan them as they load them into a rolling cart to make room for the next batch. The lobby box fills up too fast for it to be useful until the appointed emptying time which is why they use the ADA counter for this purpose. It helps to have a very busy post office used by hundreds of ebay sellers.

[raischarmu0]

My packages are always scanned in front of us.  Just because they are scanned does not mean the tracking starts.  It sometimes takes a while for tracking to start. This is how items are checked with tracking, not scanning. Happy New Years!!!!

[buyselljack2016]

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@raischarmu0 wrote:

My packages are always scanned in front of us.  Just because they are scanned does not mean the tracking starts.  It sometimes takes a while for tracking to start. This is how items are checked with tracking, not scanning. Happy New Years!!!!

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Scanning provides a tracking "event code". Scanning is the 1st step in the process no matter where it happens.

[buyselljack2016]

It takes many failures to fall from the good graces of Top Rated.  We need to do what is needed to stay there.

I have good carriers, and in office employees that do the scans as they should. In the instances where there have been "scanner issues" (the equipment, not the scanee)(sic) an event code gets picked up at the regional facility over 99% of the time.

Couple of years ago the carrier hand held scanner failed to transmit any events for acceptance or delivery.

Within the past year, one area employee was scanning with the incorrect event code.  I have never fallen out of Top Rated.

How would eBay differentiate between a seller that was not getting things out on time/not using tracking, and those occasions when the carrier failed the scan process.

There must be a "standard" to measure seller performance.

If there is an issue with scanning that is sufficient to cause loss of TRS status it is up to the seller to identify, and correct the issue,  or............  just be "above standard".

[johnrj1226]

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@raischarmu0 wrote:

My packages are always scanned in front of us.  Just because they are scanned does not mean the tracking starts.  It sometimes takes a while for tracking to start. This is how items are checked with tracking, not scanning. Happy New Years!!!!

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The first scan verifies that the package was accepted by the carrier within you stated  handling time. Haven't  had a problem with meeting our  1 day handling time in 1559 packages shipped.But I always have my packages scan buy our carrier (even the subs) or the counter persons at the PO.  I took time to get to know them and  show my appreciation throughout the years - not just Christmas time. 

BTW  scanning does record the tracking events on the assigned tracking number.  Scans by the carrier are not necessarily posted in real time (the actually scan time would be posted) - their scan guns are down loaded when they return their home base at the end of the day. Yes I have had scans on my tracking number only at the time of acceptance and then at the time of delivery.

[johnrj1226]

@swflgscc 

You can control when  your packages are scanned in to the USPS tracking system.  Just  make certain your packages are scanned within  or before your stated handling time by your local PO or mail carrier.

[iart]

We tip our carrier very well during the holiday season. That's because he picks up about 50 packages every week, scans them before he drives off. He also brings us shipping supplies (PO bins, flat rate boxes) AND he makes sure that any temp on his route does the same.

[Anonymous]

AVOID USING THE BLUE DROP BOXES if offering same day or one day handling times. Dropping off a package in one of those receptacles is not an acceptance of the item, no matter the collection times stated on the box.

I was told that items dropped in blue boxes are never scanned to save time. They are sent on and typically not scanned until arriving at the regional facility. THEN is when you may/may not see the origin facility turn up on the tracking info at approx. the same time, which is often the NEXT day affecting a seller's late shipment rate.

We walk all orders in for scanning on the spot and to get a physical receipt in hand. The blue box locations are only an option for sellers shipping small items with a two day or greater handling time.

[judydu2]

I am pretty much home-bound now, so I have to depend on my husband to drop packages off at our post office on his way to work at 6AM on weekdays. Anything that will not fit into the drop bin inside he has to take to the post office near where he works to mail on his lunch break. 

At the start of having to drop off packages at 6 AM, I noticed that some days they were scanned in properly and some days they got back-stamped for acceptance at near midnight  but at the regional sorting facility.  After a couple of weeks of this, I called the postmaster to discuss the situation. It seems that the packages that were getting back-stamped were being done on a certain day by a certain clerk. (I kept notes). I explained to the postmaster how eBay nails me if I don't get the scans done in time. She told me the clerk was in error, as all outgoing packages must be scanned before being loaded on the truck. Story short, my packages got scanned properly after that. The clerk got a dressing down (I assume) because I got the stink-eye from him the next time I actually went into the post office, but by gollies, my packages get scanned.

[sidgotiques]

same happened to me. I have been give 2 months to get back up. What a go Ebay, I am now responsible for something, I cant control.

[theteamsetguy]

That is not true! Unless the box is too big I usually drop them in the blue mail box by my house or the one in front of the building where I used to work. I have dropped off thousands of packages and very rarely will i get one that was not scanned. In those cases i presume the label was bad. 

[tenbiksewingembroideryitems]

If you  schedule a carrier pickup you can have them pick them up at your doorstep and you can "see" them scanned. SO EASY!!

[johnrj1226]

@theteamsetguy 

The main issue with using the blue box for drop offs is getting assurance of a timely acceptance scan time.   The time of deposit in the box - if after the last scheduled  p/u time your package does not get  scanned until the next business day - it  just sits there.  Plus, there is a chance that someone forgot to sweep the blue boxes - the human factor syndrome - this  happens more than we know.

A seller is held accountable by eBay for meeting their (the sellers) stated  handling time period.  This is evidenced by an acceptance scan or carrier pick up scan.   Simply don't put your fate in someones else hands.  If one does & gets busted don't complain - take full responsibility for once actions or non actions.