posted on August 14, 2009 06:59:41 AM new
I am at the point that I could care less if the Post Office went under. I shipped two packages on August 4th via Parcel Post. Neither have arrived. One customer contacted me and is upset b/c she says, "it should have arrived." I completely agree with her, but the post office tells me it can take up to 14 postal days. What bugs me is that DC only shows I printed the label.
The second package actually was scanned at the processing center on August 5th. After that, there is no info.
I called USPS to inquire. I got quite vague information from the CSR. He asked if I printed from Click N Ship or through ebay/paypal. When I said paypal, he tried to blame them for the problem and suggested I contact them. WHAT???? I replied that I pay the post office to handle the package, not Paypal. I asked him why the Post Office doesn't scan items when they pick it up, he gave me another scripted answer. When I asked for a supervisor he ignored me and said, "have a nice day." and hung up. Never once was I rude. I just want some answers.
I am fuming about this and I will not use USPS Parcel Post, and will phase out USPS altogether. They provide crap for service and calling them is a headache as it is nearly impossible to get to a live person.
posted on August 14, 2009 07:15:29 AM new
Please, file a report with the Postmaster General. They will get on their backside! I did this once and had the main PO here in Cleveland call me right away. He was a bit po'd that I hadn't called him first. However, I did call him first. I just never got to speak to him. I'm fortunate in that I now have a great clerk who helps in any way she can.
posted on August 14, 2009 07:17:10 AM new
I called my local post office, which serves both my residence and my business. The supervisor was able to give me slightly more information on the package, but I am quite concerned about this.
When I give him the tracking number for each package, he was able to tell me when his office scanned it into their system, down to the second. Unfortunately, when I go online, I cannot get this information which would be quite valuable considering:
1) It would give my customers peace of mind that I indeed did ship the item and it is in transit.
2) If there is a complaint filed with Paypal, what information does Paypal see? I doubt they have the same info as the post office.
Again, the local post office supervisor couldn't give me any further assistance beyond this info.
posted on August 14, 2009 10:30:43 AM new
The solution to having your items appear as accepted by the USPS, is to print your shipping labels with Click-N-Ship, and to also print the Scan Form.
When scanned by your carrier, the package(s) listed on the scan form appear as mailed, and in-traansit. Or, if broght to the local office and hand scanned, the same reults.
Why do you have to use PayPal for the mailing labels? Do you have to have ebay printed on the label? Why further the image that you work for ebay?
posted on August 14, 2009 10:37:27 AM new
I make my DC labels from shipping assistant (downloaded from the PO), my clerks always scan when I drop off and if they forget, I remind them.
posted on August 14, 2009 11:15:13 AM new
deichen - I only ship with Priority Mail. I have used Shipping Assistant when shipping by First Class. Click-N-Ship will not create First Class Labels.
Shpping Assistant labels are alwsys scanned into the system at time of purchase by the clerks - if they remember to do the scan, which they should.
The problem is the PayPal labels. The very system which is purported to assist us, creates a problem when the DC# generated through the PayPal system, does not appear as expected by the buyer.
I recall reading that PayPal was going to incorporate the scan form into the system. As usual, no scan form from the PayPal system.
posted on August 14, 2009 01:07:33 PM new
When we lived in Ogden UT, I went to a big antiques show in a large bldg. next to the main P.O. in Salt Lake City. The elevator was crowded as we headed up to the floor the show was on. A man turned, faced us all, and asked, "Is this the way to the postal employees' gun show?"
_____________________
"Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who ***dared to dissent*** from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, ***may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."*** --Eisenhower
posted on August 14, 2009 01:58:59 PM new
I will check the ship assistant info. I used to use stamps.com when it was worth it to me to pay for their service... but now it isn't worth it any longer b/c of the changes made to many sites.
the issue i have with click n ship is that the site is slow and cumbersome. you have to enter info in line by line (similar to fed ex). i liked stamps.com b/c you could copy and paste the whole address at once. can you do that with shipping assistant?
posted on August 14, 2009 02:56:52 PM new
Postal employees were told last february that they are too no longer scan delivery confirmation packages as they go through the system - only upon delivery. Their reasoning was it takes too much time and delivery confirmation isn't tracking only to confirm that it arrived.
Some employees luckily are still scanning. It's no wonder they're in such a deficit. They're cumbersome, a federal agency, have union employees and stink at customer service - that's why they are failing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on August 14, 2009 03:19:20 PM new
This is a typical confirmation of delivery that I receive -
Label Number:
Service Type: Priority Mail Delivery Confirmation
Shipment Activity Location Date & Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delivered CAMBRIDGE MA 02139 08/14/09 9:22am
Arrival at Unit CAMBRIDGE MA 02139 08/14/09 6:20am
Processed through Sort BOSTON MA 02205 08/14/09 4:53am
Facility
Processed through Sort ANAHEIM CA 92899 08/12/09 9:05pm
Facility
Electronic Shipping BREA CA 92822 08/12/09 3:59pm
Info Received
There are similar ones from around the country, which were received today, from PA, TX, NC, etc.
posted on August 14, 2009 03:24:51 PM new
I quit using Parcel Post last year after it took 21 days for a package to travel from Florida to Arizona. Fortunately the customer was a retired postal employee who was very understanding. He had not noticed that he had selected parcel post as his shipping option and he told me that he NEVER ships parcel post because he has seen how those packages are handled and how long they can take to get delivered.
The price difference between parcel and priority is just not worth the hassle IMHO.
posted on August 14, 2009 07:01:12 PM new
Bill,
Many Ebay sellers use Paypal to print shipping labels as we dont subscribe to any service such as stamps.com.
USPS DC is only 18 cents so it is a steal!
Or is it 21 cents now?
*
Economic Reform act of Chairman Obama of the socialist States of America :
10 ounces of meat per month,half a yard of cotton per year per adult.
Hellilujah!
posted on August 14, 2009 08:04:56 PM new
DC if you pay for it at the PO is 70 cents for priority and 80 cents for first class. Not a steal. Just to prove that something actually arrived where it was sent.
posted on August 15, 2009 02:48:53 PM new
But if we print the DC online,it is free for priority shipping and 18 cents (or 21 cents) for parcel post,first class or media mail,and we need that DC as part of Paypal seller protection.
USPS is still the best deal in town for many of us,and that pick up service,they come to my home and pick up packages,i dont have to drive for miles to drop them off at our local post office or pay the mail drop off place in my neighborhood $1 for each package.
*
Economic Reform act of Chairman Obama of the socialist States of America :
10 ounces of meat per month,half a yard of cotton per year per adult.
Hellilujah!
posted on August 16, 2009 12:10:44 AM new
my understanding is that many packages are scanned automatically when they are on the conveyor belt. this is what the supervisor told me at my local station.
Caroline