Question
The U.S. Postal service has quit scanning packages into thier system when received (I was told by a Post Master General) due to overload (to much business from eBayers), they only scan them when delivered. It burns me up to think that my customers can no longer track their package until it is delivered, and it is costing me valuable time trying to explain this to them. I have been thinking of going over to DHL they still have tracking available to my customers and me. Any thoughts on this?
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My posties scan when I deliver the packages to the post office.
They're also scanned when delivered.
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IF the postage is done at the counter, they scan ours upon receipt. If we prepay and just drop the package at the counter it is not scanned as received. It may or may not be scanned between then and delivery. Media mail almost always gets scanned in between. But things that "fly" like Priority Mail usually do not, until delivery. The scans are done at each stop point in the travel.
Of course, we need to remember that we are paying for DELIVERY confirmation, not tracking, so any information we get in between is just gravy. Sure is nice when the info is there though.
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My DC receipts are round-stamped with the postmark when they arrive at the Post Office. I keep those for 'proof' (more or less) of mailing. They do usually get scanned on delivery also. But to tell you the truth I rarely look to see if they do or not.
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it bears repeating. The PO only offers tracking on Express Mail -- on other forms of mail they only offer delivery confirmation. I realize that the USPS uses the word "tracking" on their website which confuses most consumers but the bottom line is that customers are not paying for tracking they are paying (if they pay) for delivery confirmation only.
That being said...it isn't really too hard to cut and paste that information into notepad and share it with customers who do not understand same. If you really do want tracking for your customers than I suggest using one of the private carriers such as DHL, UPS or Fex Ex Ground. I personally prefer Fed Ex hands down. If it is a package that is 5 pounds or over the cost for a private carrier is close to the cost of Priority Mail.
The other choice is to do as Elaine stated and get the DC that you will be paying for at the PO as they have to scan that into the system for you to pay for it. Either of these changes will end up meaning more work for you which really bites.
Ardee-ann
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Originally Posted by sagemoon-cottage
The other choice is to do as Elaine stated and get the DC that you will be paying for at the PO as they have to scan that into the system for you to pay for it. Either of these changes will end up meaning more work for you which really bites.
Ardee-ann
I absolutely do NOT do either of these things. Too lazy and too cheap....
I use the Shipping Assistant printout, tape the receipt to the pkg when I give it to my carrier (or put it in my mailbox for her). She brings the receipt back when she delivers my mail the next day, postmarked. I pay $.14 for non-priority pkgs. Zero for priority ones.
They do NOT scan it into the system at the Post Office. But I have the round-stamped receipt.
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Originally Posted by goodworks1
I absolutely do NOT do either of these things. Too lazy and too cheap....
I use the Shipping Assistant printout, tape the receipt to the pkg when I give it to my carrier (or put it in my mailbox for her). She brings the receipt back when she delivers my mail the next day, postmarked. I pay $.14 for non-priority pkgs. Zero for priority ones.
They do NOT scan it into the system at the Post Office. But I have the round-stamped receipt.
I do good to get my Mail Carrier to just deliver my mail. I am sure she would fall over dead if I asked her to do such a thing for me. Aren't you the lucky one????
I thought that you must be buying your DC at the PO which is the only way I would be able to get my scanned or marked. I applaud you in having a PO that is helpful to you and your business.
Cheers,
Ardee-ann
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I might be 'lucky', but I think my carrier just understands how her paycheck is calculated... (hint: it's by VOLUME and type of mail)
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The post office has introduced a new thing called the Scan Form. It's available when you use the Click and Ship online postage service. The way it works is, when you are done printing shipping labels for the day, you can print out a single page that basically is a large bar code representing one scan for all of the packages for which you printed out postage labels.
The Scan Form will state that it covers x (number) of packages. The person to whom you give the packages -- and the Scan Form -- is supposed to verify that the number of packages you have presented corresponds to the number of packages printed on the Scan Form -- and then do a single scan with their handheld machine. It puts all of the packages covered by the single Scan Form into the system immediately, showing that they were accepted by the USPS on the date/time that the form was scanned.
I believe that this program is perhaps one or two weeks old. My post office people knew what the form was, but had not seen one until I brought the first one in. I've used it now six or seven times and the sample of packages I've checked have all shown up in the USPS system right away.
I'm lucky in that I've established such a good relationship with the counter staff at my post office that I am permitted to just bring all of my packages to a side counter and leave them -- now, along with the Scan Form on top. So no waiting for me, unless I have to insure a package for more than $500 -- in which case I'm happy to wait in line, even at Christmas time!
Check out this Scan Form business at the USPS Click and Ship website as it would seem to address the concern everyone tends to have with delivery confirmation issues.
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OMG-they actually did something that makes sense and is cuctomer(eta cuctomer? WTH is that? ) service oriented. I wonder if that would work if you have home pick-up?
Originally Posted by sanfranfabu
The Scan Form will state that it covers x (number) of packages. The person to whom you give the packages -- and the Scan Form -- is supposed to verify that the number of packages you have presented corresponds to the number of packages printed on the Scan Form -- and then do a single scan with their handheld machine. It puts all of the packages covered by the single Scan Form into the system immediately, showing that they were accepted by the USPS on the date/time that the form was scanned.
I believe that this program is perhaps one or two weeks old. My post office people knew what the form was, but had not seen one until I brought the first one in. I've used it now six or seven times and the sample of packages I've checked have all shown up in the USPS system right away.