acceptance scan requirement

[evry1nositswindy]

My mail carrier is also my neighbor, so he texted me last night with a heads up that he is going on vacation next week.  He wanted to let me know that his sub may not scan my packages and that I should take them to the PO.   I haven’t been to the PO in years because I was denied a scan.

The lady at the counter said she wasn’t going to scan it because she doesn’t ‘get credit for it’.   Maybe because my zip code is not the same as the zip code of the post office closest to me?  I have had to drive to the next town where they are quite happy to scan for me. 

Why is this?  Purchasing postage through the USPS, be it in store or online, should make any postal employee happy.    Aren’t they all on the same team??

My main questions have to do with eBay.  My zip code of origin would not match my first acceptance scan.  Is that a big deal?  Also, how many items without acceptance scans can I handle without ruining my top rated seller status?  How long do those stay on my seller dashboard?

I have never, ever had a late shipment with my 1-day handling time and I want to keep it that way.  My mail carrier is talking about retiring…uh oh!

If an acceptance scan is not required (or offered) by the USPS, how can eBay require it of sellers?    

[sapphire_studio]

You should be able to do a package pick up request. Do you print a scan form to make it easier on them? (Assuming you are shipping many packages a day)

[evry1nositswindy]

I have never requested a.pick up, as I have a large mailbox and live in a small rural neighborhood.  I have never used a scan sheet either.  I have never had any issues before.   He said they cannot get workers and he  has the longest route in our township.  

[714ricki]

To guarantee s pickup of your packages at your door, schedule a daily pickup on the USPS website. Also, to make life easy for your mail carrier, print your ebay shipping labels in bulk format & then print a daily scan sheet to give to the mail carrier upon their arrival to your address. Just one scan of the scan sheet will create a pickup scan for all the packages.  So far, my ontime shipping scan has been 100% by using the scan sheet and the mail carrier is a happy camper with the one quick scan.  

[soh.maryl]

When I discover that someone is not doing part of his job, I usually mention it to him.  If that is not possible, I will check with his employer to see if he realizes this.  I usually suggest the employee may need further training.  

[evry1nositswindy]

No thanks on the bulk shipping.  Too bad a scan sheet isn't available to those of us who do one package at a time.

[momdadsstash]

I had a problem with pick up and the sub not scanning.

Of course it got scanned eventually at the next station. But I did send a complaint USPS and got  3 emails plus a phone call from my local postmaster apologizing and telling me the situation had been handled,

Also,  my regular stopped and assured me also, explaining it was a  sub

[stumcneil]

Can one still create a label with the "shipped from another zip code?" I ask because we have a similar situation and are in Ohio (our city has FIVE zip codes, is located in one county, P.O. we get deliveries out of is in another county). This made the one employee happy that had issue in the past with zips being different. Saved the 30 minute drive to our "delivery" address zip post office.

Also, having the different zip codes has never been an issue for us, once the package has been accepted.

At this point, if we sell anything, I am not relying on subs without watching the scan. Again, also in Ohio (northeast). This is what has happened with subs (we have the most wonderful young man for a deliverer, but they are now training him for union management):
1) The sub asked me what to do with her scanner, how does it work? So, I'm guessing she wouldn't have known had I not been there to assist.
2) Another sub picked up  two packages, never scanned, which then took two days to show up as received. Not sure what happened there. Usually, by 4-5 p.m., the package has hit our closest "big city". Maybe not scanning, maybe left in truck?
3) My favorite - two weeks ago, at around 7:00 PM, that sub just left the pick-up ticket they are given in the morning with the info IN the mailbox! Never came up to the porch. Had to take in ourselves in the end.

All that to add that the young man that's our deliverer has told me when discussing sub "issues" that they are WAY understaffed and can't seem to find people to work around this whole area of Ohio.
Does your post office answer the phone (I know some don't) so you can inquire if they will accept the package, if there is no longer that option to input the shipment from another zip?

[pargran3]

An acceptance scan is NOT required by eBay

[the_fancy_fox]

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@pargran3 wrote:

An acceptance scan is NOT required by eBay

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No but the first scan better be within your ship time or your dinged for a late shipment.

I used to just drop my packages in the package box. At least until the hub they went to didn’t scan them till after midnight. Got a bunch of late shipment dings on that and never did it again. 

fast forward to the you scan your package and drop it in the box machine. That only shows up as acceptance once it gets scanned in the sorting hub. (Even though the receipt the machine gives you says acceptance on it)  If the package gets lost between that drop box and the sort hub, USPS will not pay for a lost package. (Think of the scam if they did, people scanning insured packages and not dropping them in the box and coming back in a week to collect their payday). 

Two of my local PO’s started that “we don’t do acceptance scans” stuff and once I explained the above, they all went back to doing them again.

Its a chain of control thing. Unless they actually have it in their possession and there’s proof they have it in their possession they are not liable for loss. 

[evry1nositswindy]

@stumcneil I too am in Ohio and live in a rural township.  Our main PO has a similar zip code, but is not anywhere near me.  The next village over  has a different zip code.   

[evry1nositswindy]

Well, I went a different route.

I heard him coming and went out to the mailbox.  I told him our regular mail carrier is really good about scanning all of my packages and he said he would too.  I had worked a bake sale this weekend and gave him a homemade cinnamon roll.  He was happy to scan!  Is this considered bribery?!

Thanks for all the good responses!  

[nobody*s_perfect]

As long as the cinnamon roll was worth less than $20, you're within the USPS rules.

[soh.maryl]

If you're okay with it, I guess that's all that matters.  But I don't understand bribing people to do their jobs. 

[evry1nositswindy]

With you @soh.maryl .  No work ethic anymore!