posted on December 10, 2002 02:35:38 PM new
I had my son mail a priority package for me today and the postal clerk said the delivery confirmation the bar code did not need to be scanned by him for delivery confirmation to be activated....is this correct? The clerks I've dealt with since I started using the e-DC have all scanned the code and it printed on my receipt. I went to the SA site and input the code but it says they don't show any shipment for that code, but if it was recently mail, it may not show up yet. Anybody know anything about this? Thanks for your help.
posted on December 10, 2002 02:46:26 PM new
That's right. It won't show up until they do their end of day at the PO..... At least that's the way it works here in "Mayberry"
Remember amateurs built the ark - Professionals built the Titanic.
posted on December 10, 2002 02:47:19 PM new
The clerks at my post office are smarter than most of the window postal clerks. They say the bar scode has to be scanned to trigger the tracking.
Think about it. The tracking number shows when it entered the postal system, and when it arrived at its destination. If the clerk does not scan the bar code, how does the number get triggered? Up to then it is just a number sitting in the system, and if it isn't scanned it dies out. Like if you print a label, then you say oops, typed in the wrong address, so you print another label and the first one never gets used. The first number is nothing, it never entered the postal system as a package because it was not scanned.
posted on December 10, 2002 10:32:40 PM new
flowerj1: My clerks are telling me the same thing: eDC packages aren't scanned when shipped since the number was already assigned in the system. They are scanned on arrival.
BTW, I use Shipping Assistant to send both First Class and Priority Mail with eDC.
posted on December 11, 2002 06:29:14 AM new
You may want to pay attention to clerks not scanning your barcodes at the counter. If they don't and they hit the delivery confirmation key on their terminal, you WILL get charged full retail pricing for the DC. It's supposed to be free of charge when you print and use the e-label.
Same thing goes for first class and media mail e-labels, which are supposed to be 13 cents; instead you get hit for 55 cents each.
My local clerks had some memo saying they were to no longer scan e-labels at the counter. They were simply running the packages through as priority mail with no delivery confirmation. This was no problem for me as I still had proof of the DC from my "receipt" portion of the label. I pointed out to them though that if they stopped scanning the first class and media mail packages with e-label DC that they were losing 13 cents in revenue on each package. The local postmaster sure didn't like that idea!
As far as "triggering" the DC number, it seems that they have to be scanned somewhere before they become "active," so to speak. When I go to check on status on packages through track/confirm, it only says that the shipper notified them that a package was to be shipped on such-and-such a date, and that never changes until someone along the line physically scans the thing. I've had packages go that way all the way to the customer route carrier; no scans at distribution centers or anywhere else along the way.
posted on December 11, 2002 08:10:59 AM new
I have had clerks that scan and those that don't. When I first started using the eDC ones, if they scanned it, the system charged the .44 so they quit doing it or would refund it. Lately, they scan it and it prints on the receipt but shows .00 added. I have sent packages recently where they did not scan it at all. I have never checked on line to see how they look each way. I would only check if someone said they did not get their package.
posted on December 11, 2002 09:34:37 AM newYou may want to pay attention to clerks not scanning your barcodes at the counter.
Absolutely no need to.
My clerks all trust me to have applied the correct postage (I use stamps). They just take the bins of stamped packages I give them and put them in the big outgoing bin for the trip to the main post office. I leave 'em the receipt portion of the label, they round-stamp each one at their leisure and I pick up the receipts the next time I'm there.
posted on December 11, 2002 09:42:37 AM new
Again, there seems to be some confusion here about the difference between "tracking" and "delivery confirmation".
DC and eDC do NOT promise door-to-door reports on package location and status.
From the USPS web page:
"Our low cost Delivery Confirmation service gives you the date, ZIP Code and the time your article was delivered. If delivery was attempted you will get the date and time of attempted delivery."
