USPS Changes to Daily Scanning of Packages; Delays in Accurate Reporting

[saturdaystoys]

We learned from the branch manager at our local USPS (where we deliver all of our outgoing packages for shipment), that the city's USPS Postmaster has now issued an order that incoming package deliveries are no longer to be scanned at the local post office.

Instead, they are now delivered to the Regional Distribution Center where they are scanned when time permits.  In essence, packages are no longer scanned as "received" on the same day.  Instead, they are scanned the next day, if at all.

Since the new directives were issued, just as often as not, we have found that it can take up to 10 days for a package to be scanned and entered into the USPS tracking system... and then they back-date the packages to make it appear that they were scanned "on time."   We've found that a recent package wasn't noted for "origin acceptance" (at our Regional Distribution Center) until a week after we delivered it to our local post office; and only one hour before the package was actually delivered to the buyer; a fraudulent representation of the actual tracking timeline.

It's especially rough when eBay is determining our seller matrix based on delayed or false data from the USPS.  Not sure what to do at this point.  We've asked our local USPS branch manager to review the situation with their supervisor.  Seems like "doing a good job"... is becoming more difficult with each passing day.

[a_c_green]

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@saturdaystoys wrote:

We learned from the branch manager at our local USPS (where we deliver all of our outgoing packages for shipment), that the city's USPS Postmaster has now issued an order that incoming package deliveries are no longer to be scanned at the local post office.

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Every now and then some idiot local official issues an edict that contradicts basic USPS procedure, and you have found one. 

If you're only shipping one or two packages, a Front Counter acceptance should get the Acceptance scan into the system anyway. (On the POS terminal screen, it's the "Pre-paid Mailpiece Acceptance" icon on the left end of the middle row.) If you have more, print a SCAN form to list all the packages in the group, and they have to scan that and return the sheet to you when you drop off the lot.

Once the packages reach the first (origin) sort facility, they will be passing along on conveyors with automated 360° scanners, and while a package might escape one or two along the way, eventually one such scanner will catch it, and the very first in-network scan will be logged as an Acceptance regardless of where it occurs. (The "Accepted at Origin Sort" scan generally lists the location as the Ship From ZIP defined for the label when it was printed, which I have always thought was weirdly misleading. Later scans show the actual location where the scan occurred.) Unfortunately you can have a problem if that delayed first scan occurs beyond your Handling time.

This goes back a few years now, but here is a statement on the topic by the USPS that was originally written as a reply to eCommerceBytes.com and later posted on USPS.com:

Every item accepted at the retail counter at a local Post Office that has a USPS Tracking number must be scanned, whether the customer requests it or not. By the time the items reach the first processing facility, they will have had two scan events.

Ref: https://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/letters/blog.pl?/comments/2014/4/1396456422.html/3/40

Whoever wrote that order you heard about needs to talk to someone higher up.

[1tuna]

it appears to me that some post offcies are run like the boss wants to run them

instead of how they are supposed to be run.

it should be the same service at all of them but you and I both know its up to the boss on  skipping tracking and skipping the drop box packages.

one thiong I learned is I do not want to argue with a window clerk.they dont make the rules but they know exactly whats going on.  I always try to be courteous at the window section

[saturdaystoys]

Unfortunately, the management directives use the excuse that their staff is overworked... that they are limited on staff and services due to Covid... etc., etc.  Any rules in place before Spring 2020... are out the window at this point.  Between overwhelmed management... budget reductions... closing distribution centers... and the unions representing the postal workers... it appears to us they're not likely to be reactivating long-standing  operating procedures any time soon.

[tronix]

Maybe that explains why in the last few weeks, 1 out of every 3 parcels of mine still track as "Label Created" when they were clearly dropped 'em off at my post office days before. This has been happening a lot lately. When I see no scan after 24 hours, I message the buyer to let them know the parcel was indeed shipped on whatever day they received the shipping notice. I guess the only way to prove anything is to hit the counter, but here in NYC, the lines are pretty insane, no matter what time you go.  So much for any form of convenience, or you put yourself at risk for negative feedback.

[little*blackdog]

I just make sure my mail carrier is happy and he makes sure to scan in my packages when he picks them up.  He comes around  11:30 - noon, so I frequently have a sandwich waiting with the mail.  (And/or a piece of fruit, a wrapped cookie or a cold canned beverage.) 

He told me he loves coming here because he's always surprised by the treats I leave out for him.  Awwww

Payola still works wonders!

[postcardcountry]

My region of Post Offices have been doing something like this for 2 or more years.   

If you drop off at the back door or in a bin, the first scan is an acceptance scan at the regional center, in the name of the Post Office on the label.  Then about 40 minutes later the regional center scans it as received there.  It works okay most of the time, except high volume times (oct-jan) when that first scan can occur after midnight (but for me at least 2 hours before ebay time).   When it first started there were problems with getting scans when they should sometimes a delay of 2 or more days, but that seems to have been worked out.  If you use the scan sheet or "scan at the kiosk", they follow the same path, except for the 'temporary acceptance scan pending actual receipt scan".

I asked at least 3 different postal clerks how to be sure and get a timely scan.  All three said the same thing  "have a clerk do it".   Which doesn't help people with large volumes of mail. 

[robinest58]

These so called automatic scanning centers? Are a BIG problem! Until a few yrs ago my husband took my pkgs to any post office to get them scanned.  But I soon learned? That bigger post offices send pkgs to a "sorting" center that no one even knew where it was located!

Because? After over 6mo? I got a notice I UNDER PAID OVER $200.00 on many packages from at least 6mo. Before!

I Protested them ALL & Learned pkgs at bigger post offices sent them to "Sorting" centers where they are  placed on a conveyer belt and a "mechanical" scanner scans them all. 

BUT? If 1pkg is learning on another one? It can throw off weight by a LOT.

I sold identical items in identical rigid Mailers that NEVER weighed up to 20lbs (or could even hold that much!) as USPS claimed they did.

I sent in proof from Ebay all Mailers I sold plus mailed were NEVER Over 2lbs. Yet I was charged for up to 20lbs on pkgs MANY times!

I finally got some of my money back for false shipping weights. But only about 1/2 of it! I  WAS too exhausted 😩 to Keep Trying. It was a Nightmare!

So since then? My husband takes my Ebay packages with pre-paid printed labels on them to our small town p.o.

Where clerks scan them all by hand before they leave! Plus he gets a receipt showing what clerk weighed them as! 

Now? Usps is Telling ALL p.o.s to NOT scan them by hand? That IS beyond awful.

Ebay needs to talk to USPS & get thus straightened out!

[lux.ra_14]

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@little*blackdog wrote:

He told me he loves coming here because he's always surprised by the treats I leave out for him.  Awwww

Payola still works wonders!

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I don't doubt that it works, but I won't bribe someone to do their job.

[kh-vince]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.