Lost in the mail...

[MagickalMemories]

everything else, THAT HAS A NUMBER, ONLY GETS SCANNED WHEN DELIVERED, [in the US] unless you get lucky and it's 1 of the random 3-5 pieces that get scanned per container. [a container can hold anywhere from 30-100 items]. [in the US.]

Now, kturock, you know I give you a lot of respect... at least, I hope you do. Especially on USPS related stuff.
The piece I quoted above, though... I think you're being pessimistic.

Honestly, I ALWAYS use a DC on trades (not on PIF's, though). I take my package to the PO. They ALWAYS scan it there (some other traders have maintained that it rarely ever gets scanned at the PO, but they always scan it to charge you). I have ALWAYS seen it scanned at AT LEAST one place between it's sending point & final destination when I looked.

I admit that I don't always look, but I do about 75% of the time.

Anyway, your post above (slightly) and some other pessimistic traders make it sound as if packages almost never get scanned, except at delivery. I can't buy that.

Respectfully, of course.


Eric

[kturock]

i'm not sure i follow you MM.

it's called dellivery confirmation. it gets scanned upon delivery, not handling, [like express mail does]. if you pay postage at the window/counter, then yes it gets scanned. if you pay for postage elsewhere, then it doesn't.

for all items not registered or not express mail; with a number:
in the US, the item is supposed to get scanned,
upon acceptance. [when you hand to the window clerk]
and upon delivery.

when items arrive at the office for delivery, the container, has 3-5 pieces scanned, showing they arrived at the office for delivery.

then when delievered it's supposed to be scanned again.

now. i use usps.com to print my mailing labels.
when i drop off my packages at the po, i don't wait in line. i just drop them in the special drop box. [ i'll explain why i use this later.]

i sometimes use the APC, automated postage center, machine out front. it sells stamps and weighs pacakges and sells postage. the item isn't scanned then. it just shows postage purchased and gives you the item number, IF YOU BOUGHT ONE. [delivery confirmation, insurance or certified]

the only items scanned with every handling is express mail. thats included in the cost. thats why it can be tracked.
registered mail also can be tracked, but it's actually slower delivery.

ok, back to usps.com.
you can set up a FREE account. you can buy postage off a charge card or paypal account. you print the address lable, with postage on it, from your computer.
you don't have to wait in line to mail the item. just place it on the counter or put in the collection box. or.. give it to you regular letter carrier. [delivery person].
with the next rate increase; postage online from usps.com, will be discountered for priority mail. [possibly express mail too.]
all of this is explained on the website.

now, my union brothers, don't like me promoting usps.com. they prefer people to come to the window [counter], and keep people employed. [the window clerks].

[i know i don't like waiting in line, and neither does anybody else. when i was a window clerk i tried to move the people thru as fast as possible.]

.

i don't mean to sound condensending. i try to sound matter-of-fact. i've been employed by usps for over 20 years. i've worked every part except bulk mail acceptance, [accepting large volumes of mail from businesses] and letter carrier. [but i have delivered express amil].

i'm now a mechcanic, working on the machines that sort/handle the mail.
i still have alot of friends and co-workers that work in every area of the po. if i have a question, about procedures, i ask. some of them train other workers, some just take their job that seriously. [like i try to].

when i see someone has a problem here or on 1 of the other sites i frequent, i try to answer or explain, and then follow up, with someone working in that area if there's been any changes in policy/procedure?

.

[MagickalMemories]

FWIW, you ALWAYS sound matter-of-fact to me and NEVER condescending. No worries there.

I do want to respectfully disagree, however, about the D.C.

I recently sent a package with DC... When I check it online, I see messages like this:

Your item arrived at 6:59 AM on May 2, 2008 in MIAMI, FL 33156. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.

I get those type messages every time I check a package.
It starts by showing when it was accepted, then it shows 1 or more stops between. I honestly don't remember EVER checking one and having it go straight from "Received" to "Delivered." Or even straight from "Received" to the message quoted above. Every time I've looked, I've seen a stop-over.

The guy I'm sending it to DOES live in FL (don't recall the city off hand), so I expect theat message to change tonight or tomorrow to the "Delivered" message.

I can honestly say that I've never used the APC. Now, about 5% of that reason is because the small town I live in doesn't have one. the other 95%, though, is because I'm one of those "putting real people out of work" guys. I simply do not "do" automated when a live person is an available option. That's everywhere I go. I can count the # of times I've used "self scan" check-out's at the grocery store on one hand... and every one of those was a HUGE hurry AND all the live cashiers had people in their lines.

I also don't use the USPS.com shipping. Partially because I don't want to buy a scale when the P.O. has one I can use for free. LOL The rest goes back to the paragraph above, though.

Hmm... We're off on a tangent here, a bit, aren't we?
This could be a really good subject to start in its' own thread and have stickied by an Admin, because I know it would end up filled with great insights. I know that, every time a shipping thread comes up, *I* learn something new.

Eric

[kturock]

wow.
1st off 2 things.
thanks for using usps.

2nd.. i gotta pull up my messages. i get 'item delivered at [blank] time, and thas about it, if i'm lucky. like the car ads say, your milage may vary.
[course, then again, i didn't get ripped off by a certain online 'store'.]

i check every item i mail, 2-3 days after i ship it. whether it's minis, or items rts.. ummm returned to sender.. i do alot of online purchases, netflix, barnes and noble, some of the other online stores, computer products, and i have a scale. it cost $20-30 from usps.. it weighs up to 10 pounds. anything other than that goes to the window.. unless it's a flat rate box.

with the new rate change, prices will be based more on distance, than they are now..
gotta love those high gas prices.

.

[JamieFish]

Thought I would conclude the line Necrontyr started.
I am the other trader who hadn't recieved the package. Just when we were starting to make plans for what to do as his shipment hadn't arrived he got the package back. The "TO" shipping label had been torn off and the package returned a bit worse for wear. He reshipped immediately and after about two months...alls well that ends well.
The morale is follow the advice given earlier and when in doubt be patient.
Also write the addresses DIRECTLY onto the box and not on a label...
Thanks Bartertown

[kturock]

Thought I would conclude the line Necrontyr started.
I am the other trader who hadn't recieved the package. Just when we were starting to make plans for what to do as his shipment hadn't arrived he got the package back. The "TO" shipping label had been torn off and the package returned a bit worse for wear. He reshipped immediately and after about two months...alls well that ends well.
The morale is follow the advice given earlier and when in doubt be patient.
Also write the addresses DIRECTLY onto the box and not on a label...
Thanks Bartertown

correct. us a permanent marker, like a sharpie. PRINT THE FULL ADDRESS.
also, cover the writing with clear shipping tape. in case the box gets wet. air plane cargo areas are not presurized.. and the unlaoding area of most airports is open; to the rain, sleet, snow..

.

[morgan kelly]

Bill's goal is very reasonable, let's help him get that, so others will be able to benefit. 5 dollars, 10 dollars, skip a lunch or dinner and help someone with cancer. you can live without the meal, they might not be able to beat cancer without your help.

[kturock]

Bill's goal is very reasonable, let's help him get that, so others will be able to benefit. 5 dollars, 10 dollars, skip a lunch or dinner and help someone with cancer. you can live without the meal, they might not be able to beat cancer without your help.

HUH?

[morgan kelly]

Bill's goal is very reasonable, let's help him get that, so others will be able to benefit. 5 dollars, 10 dollars, skip a lunch or dinner and help someone with cancer. you can live without the meal, they might not be able to beat cancer without your help.

HUH?

my apologies, I had two windows open and posted here instead of the other forum.. please delete if you'd like.