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According to my local Postmaster, there should always be a minimum of 5 tracking notification updates for every tracked package going out of state.
1. The receiving post office should always be listed once it's handled by them.
2. For longer distance packages, there should always be a distribution/sort center update listed as it's automatic and not at the discretion of a person, packages comes in, goes through an automated scanner tracking system and should be updated.
3. At the end destination it's probably also handled by a large distribution/sort center and the same goes as far as it being an automated process.
4. At the delivery post office it should always be scanned into the system.
5. Upon delivery it should be updated with the delivery info.
She said those are the absolute minimums you should see (skip 2 & 3 if local) regardless of what's going on as they are automated systems. She agreed you may miss a receiving post office scan but you shouldn't be missing automated systems unless the label itself got damaged. Now, these are the ways for priority and express and may differ slightly for all other packages (tracked or not).
It does not matter what "should" be done; and anyone within or outside postal service can quote chapter and verse. What counts is actually what happens on the ground, and myself and others are here to tell you items are not always being scanned.
According to my local Postmaster, there should always be a minimum of 5 tracking notification updates for every tracked package going out of state.
1. The receiving post office should always be listed once it's handled by them.
2. For longer distance packages, there should always be a distribution/sort center update listed as it's automatic and not at the discretion of a person, packages comes in, goes through an automated scanner tracking system and should be updated.
3. At the end destination it's probably also handled by a large distribution/sort center and the same goes as far as it being an automated process.
4. At the delivery post office it should always be scanned into the system.
5. Upon delivery it should be updated with the delivery info.
She said those are the absolute minimums you should see (skip 2 & 3 if local) regardless of what's going on as they are automated systems. She agreed you may miss a receiving post office scan but you shouldn't be missing automated systems unless the label itself got damaged. Now, these are the ways for priority and express and may differ slightly for all other packages (tracked or not).
Since items can originate anywhere, over the retail counter, dropped of at a station loading dock for those with open docks or picked up by a carrier it is only for the last two scans that the service is actually able to assign blame for missing the scan. The scan into the carrier/delivery station and the carrier at the delivery point
Guess I'm just the lucky one. Checked all the tracking on all my USPS packages since Monday and they all show acceptance at PO, departing PO, arrival at Regional Distribution Center, departure from that center, some show arrival and departure at the center near the destination although some only show the departure with no arrival, but they do show the arrival at the delivery PO and delivery. All got scanned in and made it through the scanned hands of the regional operation. And they were all delivered or are on track for delivery as originally stated. But, maybe I'm just the lucky one.
I just did a random check on several of the Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express packages we shipped earlier this week. All had between 9-10 scans and were delivered between 1-2 days.
I think they're all behind. We just ordered some stuff on Amazon. Even with paid shipping, its several weeks before delivery.
Amazon like many other online retailers is becoming nearly worthless. Between so much being out of stock (and they don't know when it will return), and or taking several days just to pick, package and ship an order you might not get things for two, three weeks or longer.
Starting Monday I had to say bye to my friend the big blue mailbox At least for a while.
I started taking all my orders inside to get scanned after paying for them and printing out the labels and stuff online. I figure I pretty much have to now so I don’t get as many customers messaging me who don’t understand that a pandemic just might slow things down a little.
Trust me my local USPS is annoyed by me enough as it is. Now every few days one of the workers gets to be the lucky one to scan 30 or so packages I bring in.
I’m trying just to go 2-3 times a week to cut down on risk. I was hoping I could just use the mailbox until things calm down a little. Anyway business is actually booming for me. Highest it’s been in about 6 months.
Starting Monday I had to say bye to my friend the big blue mailbox At least for a while.
I started taking all my orders inside to get scanned after paying for them and printing out the labels and stuff online.
Maybe you go to my post office. They're horrible. I have put things in the mailbox outside and the package slots inside. They won't scan those and many times they won't ship them the same day, even express, even when dropped off early in the day. So, I've learned the only two ways to get my packages moving is to have our mail carrier pick them up (she has to scan them) or go inside the PO and have them scan them. That's our last resort because it's a time suck.
We can't arrange official carrier pick up online because the usps system says our store address doesn't exist. Gotta love it. So we have a good relationship with our mail carrier and she picks up when we put up a sign for her that we have items.
But really, we are seeing normal delivery times, no slow downs.
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At least for a while.
