Isn’t the post office supposed to scan in a package when you drop it off even if it’s “pre paid” online?
Yesterday I dropped off some pre-paid (online) Priority Mail packages at the Post Office. He didn’t scan them and I asked if he would. He said that when you pay/print shipping labels online you get a discount and because of that they’re “not supposed” to scan them when you bring them in.
This seems unreasonable and ridiculous to me. Any other shipping service will scan a package as soon as it’s received. Now I’ve got somebody that I’ve sent a package to internationally on June 3rd and he can’t even bring up tracking information that says it was shipped because it STILL says: “The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on June 3, 2010 to expect your package for mailing. This does not indicate receipt by the USPS”. Was the worker right or wrong?
Response to answers:
Well, I shipped a package International Priority Mail to another country. It was never scanned into the system apparently because there’s no tracking information – it doesn’t even state that the package was accepted by the post office and it’s been almost ten days.
I read the FAQ online and it specifically states that the SCAN form is for scanning at the retail counter or by a letter carrier to register acceptance of the package.
both. he could have scanned it but he was being lazy. he doesnt have to either.
I’m a letter carrier, so I can’t answer definitively about what the window clerks are supposed to do. But I wouldn’t worry about it.
Why?
Because, in addition to the entry point scans – which may indeed be obviated by the fact that you’ve done the postage electronically – parcels are scanned once they arrive at the distribution center from the facility where they were dropped off. They are scanned again upon leaving the distribution center. I don’t know how international shipments are handled, but I assume that they are scanned once more before going on the plane. What happens overseas is anyone’s guess; it’s different everywhere. But there’s always the final scan. That final scan can always be blown by the delivery person, and sometimes it does, but there will be other scans along the way to let you know the progress.
One other thing: Ordinary Priority packages are not trackable, therefore, there is no scanning done. Only domestic delivery confirmation items, and all items requiring signature, have scannable tracking numbers. These are extra-fee services. If you don’t buy them, there’s no tracking. You didn’t mention any of these services in your question.
Response to your edit: I repeat, you said nothing about purchasing an extra-fee option which would provide tracking. International Priority, by itself, is not trackable, and is not scanned. For international shipments, you can add Registered service, or send it EMS, both of which require signature at the delivery point, and have tracking.
I am a letter carrier. We do NOT scan packages into the system. We only scan items at the time of delivery, and enter a code for delivered, attempted, refused, or undeliverable as addressed.
We DO scan a sheet of paper with a bar code on it when picking up packages at a residence or business, upon customer request. We note on the sheet how many we picked up, or if the items were not picked up (and why not). A copy is left with the customer, and another is returned to the supervisor. BUT…this is NOT scanning of the packages. Only packages with tracking barcodes are scanned, and that is done by the receiving clerk after we bring them in. No barcode, no tracking service bought and paid for…no scanning.