Maybe assume it became a (retail?) Priority shipment (the default?) when the postage paid couldn't be read (stealthed and mangled 2D barcode), so assumption becomes no postage was paid and full priority postage is due.
(still doesn't explain why a PME only? label was used)
This along with lja440's "We can pull up what has been paid and figurer the difference" raises the question about WHAT exactly the PO systems can pull up.
The original label creation data (weight, postage paid, etc) should all be there buried in the databases, but the question arises as to whether frontline systems (carrier scanners? PO terminals, etc) can access that, or if only what is physically scanned from the label is available.
I still can't figure out what the $8.95 amount is though - doesn't correspond to any listed PM amount, and also doesn't correspond to the difference between any listed PM amount and the FCP postage ($5.53 for 15oz to Z8) that was paid (if that paid amount was able to be determined by whoever scribbled $8.95 on the pkg)
$8.95 IS however the 1 pound, zone 8 USPS Retail Ground rate. Which makes no sense. I thought Priority Mail is supposed to be the goto product for underpaid pkgs. In that scenario, carrier/clerk determined no postage paid (2D barcode unreadable, postage stealthed, PO systems can NOT determine the amount from databases), and decided it was a 1lb Retail Ground shipment?
Oh...... minor lightbulb moment..... If it was determined no postage was paid, then there is no free return shipping, and that $8.95 amount isn't postage due for the original delivery, but is postage due for the return to sender leg of the package trip. (but wasn't collected when it was returned?)
