USPS Frustration

El_Toro

El_Toro

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I just took two prepaid USPS Priority mail packages to my local post office to ship out. I never just leave them on the counter, instead I wait in line and turn them in, making sure they are scanned into the system, and I'm given a receipt. Anyhow, today the clerk told me that they do not do that and that I have to pay $1.40 to get a receipt! He was saying that USPS online is different than purchasing postage in person because I get a $1.00 discount for purchasing online and that it cost them more to scan and print a receipt. In the few minutes I sat arguing with him over this he could have scanned a whole lot more than two packages!

This is ridiculous, I've sent out multiple packages over the past month without having to pay to get the package scanned with a receipt. I went back half an our later with a receipt from two packages that I sent out last week. Unfortunately there was a different clerk at the counter and she gave me a phone number to contact the local postmaster in my area. She said the clerk that helped me had gone to a meeting recently and was told that they have to now charge for receipts if the package is prepaid.
 
There's a reason for an online discount because you're not tying up the local post office and supplies. OP was getting something for free that others like me who use the local post office kiosks pay $0.55 to $1.65 more depending on the size of the Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes.
 
RamZar said:
There's a reason for an online discount because you're not tying up the local post office and supplies. OP was getting something for free that others like me who use the local post office kiosks pay $0.55 to $1.65 more depending on the size of the Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes.
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It is ridiculous that you have to pay for proof (a simple receipt) of dropping off a package that you paid for online. Yes, the fee is the same as the discount you get for purchasing online, however they don't mention this when your are purchasing the postage online. It's bait and switch if you ask me.
 
And according to the tracking numbers, my local post office still hasn't scanned the packages into the system. I assume that they will eventually get scanned when the are put on a truck. However what happens if the packages get "lost" before then, when there is no proof that I dropped them off?
 
I've dealt with this before.
At my local Post Office, they don't give me any problems.
If I go to the Miami Beach post office, they gave me attitude because I was mailing an international package and I didn't have the plastic envelope that sticks to the outside of the box. I asked them for it and that's when they laid down the attitude about buying postage online and how I got a discount and blah blah blah.

The employees do not like online postage. At my local office, they've already removed a desk in favor of two automated machines. People are losing jobs. I think that's where the attitude comes from and I can't really blame them.

When you get in situations like that, it is likely specific to the employee as I've never seen the post office state that there are any extra charges if you bring a package with online postage into the office. Your best bet is to either go to another employee or just pay the amount extra and file a complaint. I've found that the post office is pretty responsive to inquiries.

I dropped off a package in the deposit after hours on May 7th and it didn't get scanned until May 14th. I will never blindly drop off a package again. I require a receipt each time.
 
No need to go to the post office. You can have the postal service pick up your packages for free. They will scan them before they take them. My carrier comes every day to pick up.
 
Well according to the tracking one of the two packages got scanned and is on its way, the other still says "electronic shipping info received". I just called the post office that I dropped the two packages off at and spoke to the guy who would not give me a receipt. He said on the phone, "we don't scan packages here". I asked why one was scanned and the other has nothing. Said I have to come in person with the information.

The package has to still be sitting in the post office. It would have been scanned around the same time at the distribution center if it wasn't.
 
Well, my package finally showed up in the system, half way across the country, lol. I stopped by a different post office by my work (next town over) and the clerk told me that my home post office is no longer scanning any packages that have postage purchased online. He told me that it was due to a higher amount of packages coming in with prepaid postage. Anyhow, he said that they will do the acceptance scan there, so now I will just avoid my local office.

This still doesn't make sense to me, as one of my packages got scanned before leaving the local office and the other didn't. With this new policy, I see my local office having problems if someones package gets lost sometime before getting scanned. You would be SOL even if you purchased insurance as they would have no record that you actually dropped it off.
 
Hello,

I've been reading this thread and I thought I would help out my fellow BladeForums Members of this great community!

I went through the same situation, but you know what they say, "when there's a will there's a way." So I took it upon myself to find it! There actually is a way to get the "receipt" that we who want that extra insurance seek. It comes in the form of a piece of paper you print with the shipping labels your going to ship that day, called a "USPS (SCAN) FORM."

SCAN meaning: Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice

All the shipping labels you print with the "SCAN" sheet will be associated with the 1 bar code printed on that sheet of paper. The USPS Employee or Carrier scans the sheet and gives it back to you. Then when you go to check the tracking numbers, they should all show an "acceptance scan" at the time received, indicating receipt to USPS. Which gives you, your "receipt," piece of mind, and protection against lost or theft.

In a way you're kind of doing USPS a favor also. Just think if you had 50 packages for a USPS Counter Employee or Pick Up Carrier to scan that day. All they would have to do is scan that 1 bar code on the USPS SCAN FORM and all the packages associated with it would be entered into the system simultaneously.

You should be able to google or go to the USPS website for more information but it's pretty simple. Just look under the options menu or tab before you pay for the label and it should have a "check box" you click for the USPS SCAN FORM. The form will always print BEFORE the actual shipping labels.

Hope this helps.......... :)

-Dee
 
GuestWho101 said:
Hello,

I've been reading this thread and I thought I would help out my fellow BladeForums Members of this great community!

I went through the same situation, but you know what they say, "when there's a will there's a way." So I took it upon myself to find it! There actually is a way to get the "receipt" that we who want that extra insurance seek. It comes in the form of a piece of paper you print with the shipping labels your going to ship that day, called a "USPS (SCAN) FORM."

SCAN meaning: Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice

All the shipping labels you print with the "SCAN" sheet will be associated with the 1 bar code printed on that sheet of paper. The USPS Employee or Carrier scans the sheet and gives it back to you. Then when you go to check the tracking numbers, they should all show an "acceptance scan" at the time received, indicating receipt to USPS. Which gives you, your "receipt," piece of mind, and protection against lost or theft.

In a way you're kind of doing USPS a favor also. Just think if you had 50 packages for a USPS Counter Employee or Pick Up Carrier to scan that day. All they would have to do is scan that 1 bar code on the USPS SCAN FORM and all the packages associated with it would be entered into the system simultaneously.

You should be able to google or go to the USPS website for more information but it's pretty simple. Just look under the options menu or tab before you pay for the label and it should have a "check box" you click for the USPS SCAN FORM. The form will always print BEFORE the actual shipping labels.

Hope this helps.......... :)

-Dee
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Thanks for the tip! Whenever I have to ship something, it's only one or two boxes, so I still don't get why they won't just scan the box itself (it does have a bar code on it). I thought the scan form was for "bulk" packages. However, if you can use it for only one, I'll have to remember that if I have to use the post office by my house.
 
El_Toro said:
Thanks for the tip! Whenever I have to ship something, it's only one or two boxes, so I still don't get why they won't just scan the box itself (it does have a bar code on it). I thought the scan form was for "bulk" packages. However, if you can use it for only one, I'll have to remember that if I have to use the post office by my house.
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No problem and yes you sure can. I use it for 1 or 2 packages all the time.
 
Quick question, if you're taking the packages right to the counter anyway, why not buy the postage at the desk instead of online, and get em read into the system on the spot, isn't the charge going to be the same?

I've done it both ways (all I use are the priority flat rate boxes) and never had any issues, postage was the same whether in person, online, or at the kiosk, including international shipping.
 
HeavyHanded said:
Quick question, if you're taking the packages right to the counter anyway, why not buy the postage at the desk instead of online, and get em read into the system on the spot, isn't the charge going to be the same?

I've done it both ways (all I use are the priority flat rate boxes) and never had any issues, postage was the same whether in person, online, or at the kiosk, including international shipping.
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You get a $1.00 discount purchasing the Priority postage online. These packages were for two knives that I sold on ebay and it was convenient buying it online so I could just copy and paste the tracking info into ebay and Paypal.
 
Sometimes it is not convenient to visit the Post Office. The Post Office in my rural area is several miles away and is now staffed on reduced hours. I do all my postal business online, including ordering supplies like "the plastic envelope" required for International shipments. The supplies are delivered to my door, free of charge, and I can leave my packages in the drop box in front of the P.O. on my way to work in the mornings. Never lost a package this way.
 
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