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Post by zoesam on Apr 18, 2021 6:14:29 GMT
For those of you who were asking about this or those who still aren't insisting on Acceptance Scans, it's gotten MUCH easier if your PO has an APC. Mine has 3 or 4 that are open 24 hrs, as do most of the PO's around here.
You can now use the APC to scan. You choose Other Services, then Scan PrePaid Pkg, then follow the prompts. The only annoyance is that you get asked the question about fragile, liquid, etc, which you shouldn't be asked at all, since you already attested to it AND you get asked it for every pkg. Other than that, piece o' cake - prints you a receipt. Even with 12 pkgs, it goes pretty quick.
I've been using it quite a bit. The other great part is that the message in tracking, says nothing about an APC, it's just one of the normal messages.
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Post by Emerald_Door on Apr 19, 2021 12:58:45 GMT
Thanks. I'll have to try that the next time I'm at the PO.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on May 24, 2021 16:36:31 GMT
There was a guy who walked in the post office right in front me and used the APC to scan his packages so I gave it a try and had the scan emailed to me. This was about 45 minutes ago and it hasn't updated yet. MESA 135 N CENTER ST MESA, AZ 85201-9998 (800)275-8777 05/24/2021 08:52 AM --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Product Qty Unit Price Price --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prepaid Mail 1 $0.00 Naples, FL 34119 Acceptance Date: Mon 05/24/2021 Tracking #: [https:/tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction!input.action?tLabels=420341199400109205568637270705]9400 1092 0556 8637 2707 05 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Total: $0.00 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ****************************************** USPS is experiencing unprecedented volume increases and limited employee availability due to the impacts of COVID-19. We appreciate your patience. ****************************************** Preview your Mail Track your Packages Sign up for FREE @ informeddelivery.usps.com
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Post by zoesam on May 24, 2021 17:28:45 GMT
I don't use the email, I always print it, so I have no idea how long it takes to update. But I use it all the time & have never seen one that didn't go through. When I do pickups, I always have some that scan right away & others that take a few hours, I think it has to do with their devices, but I'm not sure how the APC transmits data.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on May 24, 2021 17:31:50 GMT
It doesn't matter either way, not sure it's something I'll use as I haven't had any problems with my post office scanning my packages. I think it might have happened around the holidays when the whole system was mess then with the winter storms but it's been smooth sailing for a while a now. I was just curious to see how it worked... now I know
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Post by Emerald_Door on May 24, 2021 20:40:17 GMT
I tried it the last time I went to the PO. There were two problems. 1. It wouldn't scan my package. 2. Even if it had worked, there was a disclaimer that said it didn't really count as an acceptance scan. That makes sense, because someone could scan their package, then leave with the package, without having mailed it.
I waited in line and took the package to the counter. The person at the counter told me they aren't supposed to scan them any more, and I should scan it at the thing in the lobby.
I guess I'll stick with carrier pick up for packages that need an acceptance scan.
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Post by Emerald_Door on May 24, 2021 20:42:36 GMT
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kritter
Mod Squad
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Post by kritter on May 24, 2021 21:22:04 GMT
That must be a local post office directive because my post office has no issues with scanning my packages.
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Post by Emerald_Door on May 24, 2021 22:03:31 GMT
Our local post office has a history and practice of being uncooperative.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on May 24, 2021 22:41:14 GMT
Just checked again, it's not showing as accepted on Ebay or usps. I had brief chat with the guy who I watched scan his package. He too mentioned that it didn't count as an acceptance scan.
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Post by Emerald_Door on May 24, 2021 22:48:23 GMT
I'm not sure I see the point of doing it if it isn't an acceptance scan.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on May 24, 2021 22:54:18 GMT
I'm not going to be doing it, kind of a waste of time for me as I don't have an issues with my post office scanning my packages. I've never waited in a line for acceptance scans either.
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kritter
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When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
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Post by kritter on May 24, 2021 23:01:27 GMT
I catch a line every now and then depending on my timing but it is never more than a 5 minute wait at the most.
I am never that pressed for time that it is any inconvenience compared to knowing they are scanned in.
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Post by Emerald_Door on May 24, 2021 23:41:20 GMT
I want a scan for expensive items. I had one a couple of years ago that wasn't scanned for several days.
And, in December, a package was scanned as accepted at the post office 10 days after I mailed it. EBay gave me a late shipping ding for that one.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on May 25, 2021 1:04:29 GMT
I like being there and gone long before the post office opens... if I was truly concerned about packages being scanned I do it but there is no reason for concern. They're completely reliable and have been since I've been going to this one, with exception of a few hiccups here and there but not unreliable enough to change up my early morning runs.
This is what the tracking is now for the APC scanned package.... it changed from earlier.
May 24, 2021
USPS expects item for mailing (SSK)
MESA, AZ 85201
USPS has received electronic notification from our Self-Service Kiosk (SSK) in MESA, AZ 85201 on May 24, 2021 to expect your item for mailing.
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Post by Desire on May 25, 2021 1:36:47 GMT
That must be a local post office directive because my post office has no issues with scanning my packages.
My post office has no problem either. But the next town over sure does. I was rudely told a few months ago when I got to the counter, that I should not be requesting scan-ins any longer - that my packages just need to be dropped off on the counter and they would be scanned in when taken to the back room. Then she points over to the drop-off section. I told her the post offices were not doing their job of scanning lately (this is referring to when there was the big problem) and I needed to be sure my two packages were acceptance scanned. She did it but gave me a dirty look. I'm lucky with my carrier, she scans everything as soon as she picks it up. Also, I just walked into my own PO today with a large package of items I was returning to a store, so wanted to be sure I got a scan as proof of mailing. No one was in line, hardly ever is, or there's usually just one person ahead of me. No problem with requesting scans there. I hesitate to drop packages off at either post office unless I'm in a rush or it's very inexpensive, otherwise I wait to get it scanned. Don't think I'd trust the auto-scan if it's not actually recording it as dropped off.
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kritter
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When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
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Post by kritter on May 25, 2021 1:45:40 GMT
That sounds like the same thing tracking would show if you bought the postage at the kiosk.
Not good enough in my mind for me.
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Post by chapeaunoir on May 25, 2021 4:09:07 GMT
I just checked and there are no post offices near me that do the APC - I have to go north into the next county, or down almost to downtown Seattle. Interesting.
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Post by Emerald_Door on May 25, 2021 9:30:50 GMT
So, if I want to get a package scanned at the PO, I might have to look for a PO that doesn't have the APC.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on May 25, 2021 13:50:28 GMT
Here is latest
USPS tracking
May 25, 2021, 3:54 am Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility PHOENIX AZ DISTRIBUTION CENTER ANNEX Your item arrived at our PHOENIX AZ DISTRIBUTION CENTER ANNEX origin facility on May 25, 2021 at 3:54 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination. May 24, 2021, 6:46 pm Departed Post Office MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021, 3:41 pm USPS in possession of item MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021 USPS expects item for mailing (SSK) MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021, 6:45 am Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item MESA, AZ 85214
Tracking on Ebay
May 25, 2021 3:54am PROCESSED THROUGH USPS FACILITY PHOENIX, AZ 85043 May 24, 2021 6:46pm DEPART POST OFFICE MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021 3:41pm USPS IN POSSESSION OF ITEM MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021 8:52am USPS IN POSSESSION OF ITEM MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021 6:45am SHIPPING LBL CREATED USPS AWAITS ITEM MESA, AZ 85214 May 24, 2021 6:45am Tracking number provided
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kritter
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When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
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Post by kritter on May 25, 2021 14:50:29 GMT
My PO has an APC and I still get my packages scanned at the counter. The postmaster there offered to show me how to get packages scanned on the APC and I told him that I would rather go to the counter. No problem.
Apparently it depends on your PO rather than whether they have an APC or not.
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Post by zoesam on May 26, 2021 21:03:47 GMT
I've never had it not work, though sometimes you have to shift the pkg a bit to get it to scan, you hear the beep. It is technically not an acceptance scan, but it's good enough for me compared to waiting in line. I have almost 5000FB & I bend over backwards for my buyers, so they typically will believe me when it shows the scan.
On Ebay it shows different than it shows on USPS. On Ebay, I believe it says "USPS is in possession of item" or something like that, I don't have 1 handy to check, which is the same thing it says with a variety of other drop offs. I didn't think to look on USPS, but there it's a different message, saying it's expecting the pkg & says SSK for self service kiosk. That's good enough for me, as the only people who are gonna go to the PO, scan it & not drop it off are scammers & it's clear from my acct that I'm not a scammer.
I'm shocked there are urban areas without an APC. Every PO around here has 3 or 4 & we are a small city.
Works for me, may not work for you. I will not go without an acceptance scan (this counts to me) & I will not wait 45 minutes in line, so it's the best solution for me when my carrier is off. Luckily he is now back from an extended vacation, so I don't even have to do that. I just text him there will be a pickup & he gets it :-)
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Post by zoesam on May 26, 2021 21:07:48 GMT
Here is latest USPS tracking May 25, 2021, 3:54 am Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility PHOENIX AZ DISTRIBUTION CENTER ANNEX Your item arrived at our PHOENIX AZ DISTRIBUTION CENTER ANNEX origin facility on May 25, 2021 at 3:54 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination. May 24, 2021, 6:46 pm Departed Post Office MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021, 3:41 pm USPS in possession of item MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021 USPS expects item for mailing (SSK) MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021, 6:45 am Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item MESA, AZ 85214 Tracking on Ebay May 25, 2021 3:54am PROCESSED THROUGH USPS FACILITY PHOENIX, AZ 85043 May 24, 2021 6:46pm DEPART POST OFFICE MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021 3:41pm USPS IN POSSESSION OF ITEM MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021 8:52am USPS IN POSSESSION OF ITEM MESA, AZ 85201 May 24, 2021 6:45am SHIPPING LBL CREATED USPS AWAITS ITEM MESA, AZ 85214 May 24, 2021 6:45am Tracking number provided Yup, it scans on Ebay (which is where I was looking) as "USPS is in possession of item" & differently on USPS, which I didn't realized until well after I'd posted this b/c I never look on USPS unless there's a problem. This is good enough for me. YMMV.
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Post by zoesam on May 26, 2021 21:12:33 GMT
My PO has an APC and I still get my packages scanned at the counter. The postmaster there offered to show me how to get packages scanned on the APC and I told him that I would rather go to the counter. No problem.
Apparently it depends on your PO rather than whether they have an APC or not.
If you don't have a 45 minute line every day, that's certainly an option, if they allowed it (some PO's don't). I prefer dealing with machines than humans, so the APC works for me & the scan is good enough for me since it reads on Ebay "USPS is in possession of item" (same scan as a drop off). No way I'm waiting in line 45 minutes while they do 100 passports for military families. Luckily my carrier is back from vaca, so I don't have to deal with going at all, anymore.
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kritter
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When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
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Post by kritter on May 26, 2021 21:24:35 GMT
No 45 minute lines at my PO except maybe around Christmas.
Everybody has their own comfort level and if the machine works for somebody, that is fine. I have no fear of being labeled a scammer either but hanging out in the PO for maybe 5 minutes at the most to get a scan and know it is done is worth those 5 minutes to me. I am there anyway so no big deal. It would probably take me longer than 5 minutes to get the machine to work.
That works for me but maybe not for you.
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Post by zoesam on Jan 24, 2022 1:08:18 GMT
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Post by chapeaunoir on Jan 24, 2022 7:09:11 GMT
We still don't have a scanner where I am - the post office I like to use isn't even open all day. I finally did find one in the post office two towns north of me where I sometimes take packages if I'm there for another reason. They might get one down in the one on the edge of town(Seattle). I'd love to try it out!
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Post by zoesam on Jan 24, 2022 18:58:01 GMT
We still don't have a scanner where I am - the post office I like to use isn't even open all day. I finally did find one in the post office two towns north of me where I sometimes take packages if I'm there for another reason. They might get one down in the one on the edge of town(Seattle). I'd love to try it out! That's so crazy. Being in a major metro area & all.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Jan 25, 2022 3:08:18 GMT
We still don't have a scanner where I am - the post office I like to use isn't even open all day. I finally did find one in the post office two towns north of me where I sometimes take packages if I'm there for another reason. They might get one down in the one on the edge of town(Seattle). I'd love to try it out! That's so crazy. Being in a major metro area & all. I'm up in an area called "North City" or "Northlake" a couple of miles north of city limits in what used to be unincorporated county and is now a bunch of little towns. According to one of the letter carriers I chat with, it seems that Regional (in Denver, CO) is kind of clueless about us. For instance, the North City post office which serves my zip code is broken up actually into three different sites, one not even in my county. They got kicked out of the building (an old supermarket) they had been in since the 70s, the site sold out from under them and they had 30 days to move everything. They ended up in a storefront next to a Little Caesar's for retail, their processing (where we pick up packages) is just over the county line in an old Office Max, and they park their trucks in a parking lot they rent down the highway from there. All because Regional wouldn't purchase the property and old supermarket and just leased it for 40 years. There's only one mail pickup per day despite the fact that the North City station basically services about 50,000 people, because they can't fit the big truck in the alley behind the strip mall with the Little Caesar's and our post office without blocking everybody, so it's once after the post office is closed. I go down the hill to the little one in the next town - it has shorter hours but is less confusing (it doesn't serve my zip code, but they're always glad to see me) - that one is I think in an old dry cleaner lol.
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Post by zoesam on Jan 26, 2022 0:54:48 GMT
That's so crazy. Being in a major metro area & all. I'm up in an area called "North City" or "Northlake" a couple of miles north of city limits in what used to be unincorporated county and is now a bunch of little towns. According to one of the letter carriers I chat with, it seems that Regional (in Denver, CO) is kind of clueless about us. For instance, the North City post office which serves my zip code is broken up actually into three different sites, one not even in my county. They got kicked out of the building (an old supermarket) they had been in since the 70s, the site sold out from under them and they had 30 days to move everything. They ended up in a storefront next to a Little Caesar's for retail, their processing (where we pick up packages) is just over the county line in an old Office Max, and they park their trucks in a parking lot they rent down the highway from there. All because Regional wouldn't purchase the property and old supermarket and just leased it for 40 years. There's only one mail pickup per day despite the fact that the North City station basically services about 50,000 people, because they can't fit the big truck in the alley behind the strip mall with the Little Caesar's and our post office without blocking everybody, so it's once after the post office is closed. I go down the hill to the little one in the next town - it has shorter hours but is less confusing (it doesn't serve my zip code, but they're always glad to see me) - that one is I think in an old dry cleaner lol. Yup, sounds clueless. How weird. Every state I've lived in, the PO's have been dedicated buildings built specifically for that purpose. Some new, some really cool old bldgs, but all actual PO's, not old grocery stores.
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