USPS not doing origin scan?!

[nycstylepro3000]

Hello all, I dropped off four packages 3 days ago at my local PO. My post office has a secure drop box where I can put the packages and nobody can go in and steal them. 

Three of these packages are already on their way, but the fourth one hasn’t tracked at all. It says shipping label created USPS awaiting item. I asked the clerk today and he said “we don’t do an origin scan at the post office, we send the packages out to the distribution center without scanning.” This makes no sense!!! Now I will have to wait in the long line every time to watch them scan my packages. 

this item is going from NYC to Miami Florida. Should I be worried yet? Thanks everyone.

[no_zero369]

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@innovatilife wrote:

I lost my TRS and most likely will be for awhile because USPS doesn't scan my packages now until a week later, and they deliver weeks late. They amazingly however have only lost one package of mine.

I do pickups only because I refuse to stand in long lines at the post office to get an acceptance scans on every package. Plus, every time I do it the clerk has an attitude and hissy fit like they are not obligated to do it.

At this point, if your packages get a scan in a week, I consider that lucky.

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A clerk having a hissy fit over doing their job is a problem.  If it were me I'd stop in at a different time and ask to speak to the PostMaster.  Otherwise you could go on line and file a complaint there.    Ultimately one could contact their US House Rep as I am sure that they have a constituent liaison to help deal with Gov't agencies.

Our PO had signs up at one point stating no scans at the counter for prepaid labels.  That lasted 2-weeks until enough people complained that they backed off.  Adding you voice often works!

[brru-6232]

You're not alone/ I live in a small town and the same thing goes on. Some they scan, some they don't. You can wait days and not know where your package is.

[postcardcountry]

The Post Office with my zip scans nothing unless it is scanned by a clerk. It's been close to 3 years since they have scanned according to USPS standards.

The Post Office I use as my alternate (when working) used to scan when moving to the sorting center.  It stopped doing that in the summer.

My third option Post Office does not have a package bin.  Everything over the counter gets scanned and anything dropped off before 4pm gets scanned.  Since they close at 4:30, if you drop it off 4 - 4:30 it might get scanned.  They used to have a large shipper drop off packages at 4:15, they have since worked out a deal where a carrier goes, scans on site and loads up their truck.  (talking 100-200 packages a day)

The sorting center has started once again doing the 'origin' scan, then 30/40 minutes later scanning receipt at sorting center.  From mid November until recently, they didn't do either scan.  In my favor is the fact eBay looks at all times and converts to their time.  Otherwise the 12:15 am scan would have me doing late shipping.

All three Post Offices feed into the same sorting center, so I have to assume the procedures are being decided regionally rather than by choice at the local level. 

All of which means....all post offices don't do things the same way.

[thestitcherofoz]

I have at least 5 packages in the last month that USPS has not scanned, EVER. Not origin, not anywhere along the way and not when delivered.   Our only protection is that scan.  Now a buyer can claim they never received a package and get a refund from eBay with ease.  Sellers have no recourse.  

You know, a lot of small items could be shipped for far less than using the First Class package option through eBay, which gives up that all important scan to prove we shipped.  If we are not getting that, we are being cheated. 

[whering660]

I live in a small town also. The clerk always has a handheld scanner by the window. I don’t leave until I see them scan my packages. It has only been an issue once or twice, and they gave me an “oops.” I will not take my package to a counter or box and leave it. I’m not criticizing anyone who does, I just know what has worked for me. 

Diane

[mattashine]

I had this problem last month, and after speaking to a USPS employee in another state (I had initiated a package search) it was revealed that this is something a particular post office will start doing when they are fully aware they are going to be behind. There are metrics in the tracking that provide service data internally. A package origin scanned starts the clock, and when it is behind, that appears negatively on that PO's performance. So, when they know they are going to be behind and the odds are they are going to be getting a pile of bad negative marks, they skip origin scanning and let the clock start when at the next step in the chain.