Still Waiting For 'USPS In Possession Of Item' Notification

[savage_inequalities]

Wondering if anyone has had a similar experience:

So I went to the Post Office today to drop of several orders (I always ship through USPS-First Class, and purchase my shipping through eBay so it can be tracked in their system as well). Rather than drop the items in the box, I always wait in line to hand them to the teller--this way they are scanned right into the system, and I receive a receipt as proof. 

Anyway, I followed this exact protocol today for the aforementioned items. The teller scanned them in, gave me my receipt, and I was on my way. Typically, as soon as this happens, I can check either eBay or USPS tracking and will receive a notification stating 'USPS In Possession Of Item.' However, for some reason today, this notification is still not showing up nearly 12 hours after me watching the teller scan each of my items. Rather, the only notification that I can see is that the 'Shipping Label Was Created And USPS Awaits Item Arrival.' Strange, considering I saw her scan the items in front of me, and received a physical receipt indicating their acceptance.

Can anyone explain this discrepancy? How is it possible that an item can be scanned in front of me, but still not show that 'USPS Is In Possession' of said item(s) almost immediately after? Thankfully, I have the physical receipt I can always bring to the Post Office as proof, but was wondering if anyone else has experienced this. 

[albertabrightalberta]

I've had it happen that the don't show as "accepted" immediately though it doesn't take 12 hours. 

I believe the way it works is that the postal clerks download their scans in bulk and it can sometimes take a couple (or more) hours before they show in the system. 

Also, if you check the tracking on the USPS website, it shows there before it shows on the ebay order. Ebay often takes hours for it to catch up.

If you have the receipt with the acceptance scans, it will show. 

[savage_inequalities]

Thanks for the response! Unfortunately, even on the USPS tracking site, it does not seem to show that they are in possession of the items. I'm hoping it's all a temporary glitch in their system, and all will be resolved by tomorrow. 

[714ricki]

This is normal with the USPS. Sometimes, the scans are very tardy in uploading into the USPS tracking system & you might not see the initial scan until the next day. As long as your items were scanned as you mention in the thread, then you don't have anything to worry about. Please be patient with the USPS. For all we know, their mainframe could be going through some system maintenance & new data is just in the pending mode until everything goes green light again.

Hang in there!

[marthamostly]

Mine are not showing up for 48 hours, sometimes more.

One NEVER showed up.  The only way I knew it had arrived----

the buyer left positive feedback.

Is it the ebay/Pitney Bowes system that is failing the sellers???

Something is failing us, and the buyers, too.

marthamostly