The USPS dropping the ball on orders I had over the weekend

[hillbillymedia]

I shipped 6 orders yesterday morning from sales over the weekend. They were picked up yesterday as I had scheduled. I noticed this morning they still weren`t even scanned. I called my PO and she told me we had a substitute yesterday and that we don`t get a regular fill in person for when our regular mailman is off. The substitute has never done the route. Long story short....my packages are STILL sitting at my post office un-scanned and immobile today.

I realize I live in a small town but it services a big area. She told me they don`t want to pay my mailman overtime to do the job properly so they send some random person that is contracted, at least once a week, to "fill in" so, this has been a regular occurrence that I just noticed. 

I`m curious to see what the date will be on them when they finally do get processed. Totally unacceptable IMO.

[dhbookds]

we live in a small town........PO says all packages HAVE TO CLEARED OUT the day they are sent.......  meaning they have to be put on the truck to the next destination the day they are picked up........  We get a scan when we drop it off at the PO and when they put it on the truck...... 

IF they are still sitting on the counter, having been picked up yesterday......you may have more than one problem......

[dazzlecity]

Pretty much happens alot everywhere.  I changed my shipping to 2 days - I never ship on mondays - I've determined the PO is over-loaded on mondays. I never hand off my packages because although I live in Vegas my carrier would never dream of getting out of his truck to walk up to my house and get the packages.  I live on rural horse property so the mailbox is at the road and the house is set pretty far back.  I take my packages directly to the PO and stand in line like every one else. I want that receipt in my hand. I have to go there anyway since I use a PO box (pay for that) just so no one has my home address and if I get a return I open it at the counter with the clerk. Their happy to have a day off to go to court for fraud (btw - hasn't ever happened yet)  Sorry if you live to far to go to the PO daily. I'm blessed it's 2 blocks for me.

[hillbillymedia]

Exactly. If I knew it was going to be every Monday I could at least be proactive and take the package down myself and have them scanned at the counter. From what she told me it`s random days. I`m going to talk to her again tomorrow to get more clarification and try and find a resolution. I can add to my handling time but I would rather not.

[ekmadonna]

It may not be convenient but if you take them to the PO and get a scan yourself you would never have this problem. Not being snarky, just stating what works for me.

[dazzlecity]

at this stage of the game with things being as slow as they are I didn't feel that switching from 1 to 2 days made any difference. And actually I love it. With 1/2 million small  items that extra day gave me some breathing room to find items sold. I'd never go back to 1 day shipping - that being said I moved my warehouse a few months back and it's getting better for me - spending alot of time sorting and labeling things.  One more thing - since I've been here so long I discovered that things shipped on mondays do not get there any faster than things shipped on tuesday - go figure.

[hillbillymedia]

I will happily take them to the post office if that solves the issue but I`m really not wanting to add to my handling times. The main problem is them sitting at the PO for more than 24 hours on a random basis.

[hillbillymedia]

---

@ekmadonna wrote:

It may not be convenient but if you take them to the PO and get a scan yourself you would never have this problem. Not being snarky, just stating what works for me.

---

I understand but the scan is really just a "cover the butt" measure. I want my package to be fully processed when I send them....no just cover my butt. Them sitting at the post office for more than a business day is the real problem.

[ekmadonna]

Like DHBOOKS said that does not sound right. I have been told the same thing in my area. Packages are NEVER left sitting overnight. And even if they did, you got the scan already so your covered if you take them there yourself and wait in line for your receipt.

[hillbillymedia]

---

@ekmadonna wrote:

Like DHBOOKS said that does not sound right. I have been told the same thing in my area. Packages are NEVER left sitting overnight. And even if they did, you got the scan already so your covered if you take them there yourself and wait in line for your receipt.

---

I put this thread in the wrong cat...woops. Yes, I was shocked when she told me they were still there. I`m going to take new orders there tomorrow and speak with her again in person. I can then gauge what moves I need to make to compensate. I want to thank you and everyone else for your replies and advise. I`ll post back with an update.

[a_c_green]

---

@dhbookds wrote:

IF they are still sitting on the counter, having been picked up yesterday......you may have more than one problem......

---

I agree. It's annoying to have the pickup but no Acceptance scan (which is supposed to be done when the carrier takes possession of the package, in the same manner that the Delivered scan is done when the carrier drops it off), but regardless of that, what did the carrier do when arriving back at the PO at the end of the day? Packages (and mail) collected along the route are supposed to go out with all the other mail taken in at the PO that day. Someone dropped the ball.

...and yes, everything collected at the PO that day is supposed to go out that day. You don't get to leave excess packages in the PO until the next day just because there were... too many, or something. The truck comes in the evening hours, and everything goes on it. Sure, sometimes that doesn't happen due to equipment breakdown or bad weather or Acts of God, something like that, but the normal expectation is that anything submitted for mailing before the last collection time is going to get, you know, mailed.

[luckythewinner]

It seems pretty clear you have an issue with your local post office, not the USPS.

If you want a timely scan, you will either have to:

a) convince the Post Office to process your packages correctly; or

b) file a formal complaint with the USPS asking them to process your packages correctly; or

c) change your process to ensure that you get a scan; i.e. take them there and stand in line.

For my own peace of mind, I decided long ago that I would stop by the post office on the way to work and get my scans in person.

[mr.chopsticks]

If you can prove your mail is sitting there no matter how small or large your post office is, someone will lose their job.  It is totally against post office regulations,  that every piece be delivered or every collected piece has to be sent out, if you mailed  it in time frame.  The carrier or the  supervisor has to drive your mail to the plant that night if they missed the truck dispatched.  I am retired USPS of 22 years.

[hillbillymedia]

While it`s no proof....they were finally scanned and supposedly processed.  All six that were picked up yesterday morning now show this same scan:

I can about guarantee they are still sitting at my post office and won`t really depart my post office until the truck comes between 3:30-4 pm to pick up todays mail just like any other day. I see the truck pass here almost every morning and every afternoon at about the same time. This scan suggest they weren`t in "possession" of these orders until today and have departed my post office. Why am I not surprised?

[a_c_green]

---

@hillbillymedia wrote:

I can about guarantee they are still sitting at my post office and won`t really depart my post office until the truck comes between 3:30-4 pm to pick up todays mail just like any other day. I see the truck pass here almost every morning and every afternoon at about the same time. This scan suggest they weren`t in "possession" of these orders until today and have departed my post office. Why am I not surprised?

---

Well... the Departure scan is supposed to be when it goes on the truck. Maybe they just sealed up a full bin and scanned that for outgoing before starting on filling another. There might also be a second truck, of course. Our small PO gets two-a-day pickups regardless, so if I can get a package in by lunchtime, there's a good chance that it will be on the 1:30 truck instead of the 7:30.

Just for yucks, I would check the tracking tomorrow and see what time it arrived at the origin sort facility.

P.S. I still think that carrier should have gotten your picked-up packages on their way yesterday, not today, if at all possible, and yes, I know sometimes they don't get done with their deliveries until the evening.