A question about scheduling pickup by USPS

[Emerald_Door]

If I schedule a pickup at night for the following morning, and then something sells overnight, can I leave it with the other packages?  Do I need to schedule a pickup for the one additional package?  Thanks. 

[Desire]

Mar 25, 2020 13:24:54 GMT Emerald_Door said:

If I schedule a pickup at night for the following morning, and then something sells overnight, can I leave it with the other packages?  Do I need to schedule a pickup for the one additional package?  Thanks. 

No, don't schedule another pickup.  You can't schedule another one anyway for the same day, it will go to the next day.

I always put new packages in the mail crate for my carrier if I have an overnight sale and it gets packaged.  I asked my carrier about this awhile back and she said no problem.  I think if you sell large items with large size boxes and want to add several of them it might make a difference with room in their truck, but a few clothing packages won't matter.

[Emerald_Door]

Thanks!

[labbypaws]

As long as one item is Priority, you can add on whatever you want.

[kat]

Depending on your area, having a Priority package isn’t required. You can go in to schedule a pickup and see if it’s required.
The quantity doesn’t really matter unless you have a lo t that would require a separate truck or would take more than two minutes. I usually round up. If I know I have 3 FC I’ll say I have 5 and 5lbs.

[Desire]

We also don't have a requirement for (1) Priority Mail package here, ours can be all First Class Mail.

[zoesam]

No need for any of them to be Priority.

I asked my carrier if he minds me adding to the pkgs & he said no, so I add any that sell the next AM, but I do NOT do another pickup request.

Also, you will have to see how good your PO is about picking up & about scanning. The only reason I did pickups was to be 'guaranteed' the scan. Any substitute carrier over the last couple of years f's something up, whether it be not scanning or not coming at all. If you can catch your carrier to have a convo & let him/her know that you plan to use the svc regularly & that you MUST have scans, I def would. I couldn't do pick up at all at the last house (a mail away & same PO) b/c the carrier was a moron & missed it at least 50% of the time, even tho' the pkgs were in sight of the group boxes. Here, he has to drive up a 150 foot long driveway, but as long as it's my regular guy, it's done & done right.

My 'hood will be 800 homes when it's done & to give you an idea, only 2 of us use the pickup svc (per my carrier), so it's easy for the subs to miss it or not know how to do it right. 

[somany]

I haven’t done a pick up for awhile, but I used to do them all the time and at least one priority was necessary to be able to schedule it.

[zoesam]

Mar 27, 2020 22:17:39 GMT somany said:

I haven’t done a pick up for awhile, but I used to do them all the time and at least one priority was necessary to be able to schedule it.

That used to be true, long ago.  Has not been true for a long time now (at least 2 years).  I suppose it may be dependent on where you live, since the form still has a check to see if pick up is eligible in your area. 

[somany]

Yep, you are right. I tried it for my Monday shipments so I wouldn’t have to go to the PO, and it let me do just first class. I had quit scheduling them because the pick up times can be anywhere from 9:30 to 3:00 or so as we get new carriers all the time. Since I’m home now, the time doesn’t matter, but when I’m out and about, that window of time wasn’t manageable since I don’t like to just leave packages outside my door for who knows how long.

[Emerald_Door]

I didn't use the service in the past, because I don't often use Priority Mail. However, since that's no longer a requirement, this is very convenient. And I have learned that you can revise the pickup order to add more packages, although the deadline to change it is in the middle of the night.

[denise15601]

I am glad that I have one of the larger mailboxes that can hold more. But since I have few sales, it doesn't matter much now.

On Facebook, a seller from MD was told when she dropped off packages at her PO, that although it was okay to be in the PO, the travel to the PO was not allowed.

[zoesam]

Mar 31, 2020 14:38:43 GMT Emerald_Door said:

I didn't use the service in the past, because I don't often use Priority Mail. However, since that's no longer a requirement, this is very convenient. And I have learned that you can revise the pickup order to add more packages, although the deadline to change it is in the middle of the night.

LOL, I'm the most functional when that deadline hits :-)  

I would def have a chat w/your carrier as I mentioned above, if you plan to use it regularly, b/c how good it works or doesn't, is TOTALLY & completely dependent on your carrier.  Also find out your carrier's day's off, as it will almost for sure get missed on those days unless he/she has a regular sub.  I won't bore you with all the details, but it's a nightmare every time my carrier gets sick, goes on vaca, etc.  To the point where I have to leave a pad of sticky notes outside for him to write down if he's going to be gone.   I get it though, they aren't used to doing it, he told me that in my hood of soon-to-be 800, only 2 of us use the service, so they just don't do it often.  

ETA:  If you don't have 1 day handling, it may not be as important for you to take precautions, like I do.  With 1 day handling & a sorting center that is in another city, so scans don't happen til after midnight, I HAVE to have my scans upon pickup. 

[kat]

Fortunately my carrier scans at my porch. I switched to 2 day even though we are protected from late shipments dings right now. Keep in mind if you are 1-day, if the item qualifies for guaranteed delivery to your buyer and it’s late getting scanned you are protected from a ding, but you’re still responsible to refund shipping if the buyer requests a GD claim. eBay should suspend GD because it’s not fair to sellers that are not familiar how it works and we have no way to know which items sold under GD.

[zoesam]

Apr 1, 2020 20:04:58 GMT kat said:

Fortunately my carrier scans at my porch. I switched to 2 day even though we are protected from late shipments dings right now. Keep in mind if you are 1-day, if the item qualifies for guaranteed delivery to your buyer and it’s late getting scanned you are protected from a ding, but you’re still responsible to refund shipping if the buyer requests a GD claim. eBay should suspend GD because it’s not fair to sellers that are not familiar how it works and we have no way to know which items sold under GD.

IDK anything about how that guaranteed delivery works or if my items are in it or not.  How would I know?  

Let me ask you something though that I bet you'll know...I am 2 day right now, but normally 1 day.  If I am 2 day, but I print the label with today's date, then it has to get scanned today by midnight today (or is it tomrrow), right?  Like what just happened, I forgot it's my carrier's once a month day off & although the item was 2 day handling, I just printed the label with today's date on it, assuming he'd be picking up momentarily.  The fact that I printed with the date today, negates my 2 day, right?  b/c the label is already printed with today's date.  I hope that makes sense. 


It turned out ok b/c my carrier's once/month thing was canceled due to COVID, so it turned out to be him who does the pick up & scans it immediately, but I was freaking out b/c I thought I was gonna have a sub.   

[kat]

When you print or date your label doesn’t make a difference. It used to before USPS implemented package acceptance scans as part of the process.
As far as guaranteed delivery I think, but I’m not sure, there’s a place to opt out. Say you are selling a jacket, priority shipping, a buyer in your state or a nearby major city will see delivery is guaranteed if you offer 1 day shipping. A buyer in Alaska or rural PA probably won’t get a guarantee.
If it’s accepted in time and it’s late to your GD buyer and they request it, eBay will give them a voucher out of their pocket. If it’s accepted late and arrives late, you pay.

[zoesam]

Apr 1, 2020 22:22:50 GMT kat said:

When you print or date your label doesn’t make a difference. It used to before USPS implemented package acceptance scans as part of the process.
As far as guaranteed delivery I think, but I’m not sure, there’s a place to opt out. Say you are selling a jacket, priority shipping, a buyer in your state or a nearby major city will see delivery is guaranteed if you offer 1 day shipping. A buyer in Alaska or rural PA probably won’t get a guarantee.
If it’s accepted in time and it’s late to your GD buyer and they request it, eBay will give them a voucher out of their pocket. If it’s accepted late and arrives late, you pay.

Ok, thanks, it sounds like the Guaranteed Delivery is automatic.  I won't worry about it.  

I thought the handling time basically only applied until you print your label (& the date on the label is taken into account) - in other words, once you print the label, you've used your handling time, if that makes sense.  I know I was getting dings on 1 day b/c my items were hitting the sort center after midnight.  I 
think that still applies, but I could be wrong, it's hard to keep up with all their changes.  If I'm on 2 day handling, I always print the label an extra day out, that way I'm covered no matter when it gets its scan, just as insurance for me. 

[Desire]

After I read this I went to check and saw that I was checked off for guaranteed delivery. There is a big block with several choices. Since I have 2 day handling that I just changed it to 3-day, I unchecked that guaranteed delivery box. It might have been from way back when I was next day shipping.

I don't think you need to extend the date on the shipping label. I never change the date on my labels and mail my packages out 2 days later quite a bit and never got a ding, especially through the weekends. I don't think ebay makes any connection to the date on your shipping label and the day your item gets scanned. You're late if you don't get it out within your allotted time from the time the buyer PAYS for the item. That's when the counting starts on a purchase for handling time.  

I've printed a few labels by mistake before a buyer has paid, wrote to them and told them to ignore the email that the item was shipped, and then shipped it using that label with the earlier date when they paid a few days later. Never a problem on my end.

[kat]

Apr 2, 2020 19:22:44 GMT zoesam said:

Apr 1, 2020 22:22:50 GMT kat said:

When you print or date your label doesn’t make a difference. It used to before USPS implemented package acceptance scans as part of the process.
As far as guaranteed delivery I think, but I’m not sure, there’s a place to opt out. Say you are selling a jacket, priority shipping, a buyer in your state or a nearby major city will see delivery is guaranteed if you offer 1 day shipping. A buyer in Alaska or rural PA probably won’t get a guarantee.
If it’s accepted in time and it’s late to your GD buyer and they request it, eBay will give them a voucher out of their pocket. If it’s accepted late and arrives late, you pay.

Ok, thanks, it sounds like the Guaranteed Delivery is automatic.  I won't worry about it.  

I thought the handling time basically only applied until you print your label (& the date on the label is taken into account) - in other words, once you print the label, you've used your handling time, if that makes sense.  I know I was getting dings on 1 day b/c my items were hitting the sort center after midnight.  I 
think that still applies, but I could be wrong, it's hard to keep up with all their changes.  If I'm on 2 day handling, I always print the label an extra day out, that way I'm covered no matter when it gets its scan, just as insurance for me. 

The date printed doesn’t matter as far as handling time goes. eBay goes by acceptance within your stated handling time.
You’re right about the facility scan though, a scan a second after midnight would be counted as the following day.

[val2525]

You guys might want to consider extending your handling time if you do same day/next day. Most buyers won't mind and it reduces the time exposed at the PO. Yes, that includes touching the box as you dump your packages in.

I stopped using pickup after too many times having the pickup scanned as delivered and buyers demanding a refund. I'm in an apartment now so they don't do pickup. The PO is just down the street though. I have 3 day handling and ship 2x a week right now.

[zoesam]

Apr 3, 2020 1:16:48 GMT kat said:

Apr 2, 2020 19:22:44 GMT zoesam said:

Ok, thanks, it sounds like the Guaranteed Delivery is automatic.  I won't worry about it.  

I thought the handling time basically only applied until you print your label (& the date on the label is taken into account) - in other words, once you print the label, you've used your handling time, if that makes sense.  I know I was getting dings on 1 day b/c my items were hitting the sort center after midnight.  I 
think that still applies, but I could be wrong, it's hard to keep up with all their changes.  If I'm on 2 day handling, I always print the label an extra day out, that way I'm covered no matter when it gets its scan, just as insurance for me. 

The date printed doesn’t matter as far as handling time goes. eBay goes by acceptance within your stated handling time.
You’re right about the facility scan though, a scan a second after midnight would be counted as the following day.

So, if I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying that handling time is measured from the time it sold to the time it gets it's first scan?  

I guess I thought that the date you choose to print on the label, played a part in it.