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PROOF OF SHIPMENT: You can now PROVE your USPS shipment was made, in addition to the standard proof of delivery you get with Delivery Confirmation. With the form called "SCAN," issued by the United States Post Office, you can prove the entire shipment with one barcode scan. This one scan can be done with your route carrier (with or without Carrier Pickup request by you), or at the post office teller window. And it is at no additional charge.
Unlike Delivery Confirmation services -- where the Post Office DOES NOT have to scan the acceptance of the individual package, The USPS Postal service allows you to achieve the same results with only scan for every package in your entire shipment at one time. This can prove to your buyers, "when package(s) was(were) shipped" and also at the same time" this acceptance scan validates any online purchased insurances." And remember, it is at no additional charge.
Note: As stated above, the post office does NOT typically scan
delivery confirmation bar codes (and usually doesn't), but with this SCAN form they HAVE TO scan
all packages (that have Delivery Confirmation issued online) amd associated -- in proxy -- with the
shipment by issuing a unique SCAN number that corresponds to the number
of packages in the shipment.
What is SCAN? What does it mean? SCAN is an acronym created by the USPS that stands for:
S hipment
C onfirmation
A cceptance
N otice
Again, this should not be confused with Delivery Confirmation. Delivery Confirmation records date, time, city and zip code of the final scan. The SCAN form is a separate form you print after all associated packages are completed. It allows you to take one or more packages to the post office, and with ONE scan they record all your boxes in the shipment at once. The post office does NOT scan Delivery Confirmation barcodes individually; only with the SCAN form can you be assured that the package has been recorded in the USPS system.
Ebay Sellers (and Buyers) wanted confirmation when packages were actually in the hands of the postal service, NOT just when a label was created and then again when delivered to the buyer.
- Now you can prove to your buyer, or a buyer can know exactly when you put the package 'in the mail',
- Now you can prove that the insured item WAS given to the USPS should proof of delivery to the USPS be in question, and
- Now your recipient can know the package is on its way with the new Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice, or SCAN Form buyers can create that confirms the package(s) are in the mail.
- Now you can validate your insurance by proving your item was given to the carrier/teller of the United States Post Office.
- A SCAN number does NOT validate delivery to a buyer making a claim with PayPal.
The SCAN Form contains a master barcode that represents all the packages in a shipment. It looks similar to this:
(actual size 8 1/2" x 11")
When your packages are received by the Postal Service, this single scan enters all of your associated packages into the Post Office database as 'Shipment Accepted'. The USPS does not scan Delivery Confirmation numbers when you drop off packages, but they DO HAVE TO SCAN the SCAN form associated with the entire shipment, be it one or many packages.
Think about it, one scan by the carrier (you don't have to take it in to the retail postal location) for ALL the packages you are shipping, NOT just Priority Mail shipments.
Side note: many post offices, and carriers, see this infrequently and may not understand how to make it happen. Tell the carrier, or retail clerk, to use the hand scanner. If you hand the packages to the retail clerk at the counter, along with the form, my experience has been across multiple zip codes and post offices they don't know about it. They cannot scan it at the counter in the fixed scale/register. They must go get the hand scanner, the same one your carrier uses for delivery confirmation, then only scan the sheet. They do not scan any packages. The reader recognizes the unique SCAN barcode, screen reads 'confirm', then they press the correct acceptance button. They give YOU back the SCAN form, and sometimes they retail clerk postmarks the sheet, though not necessary.
Both you and the recipient can see when a package (or multiple packages in the same shipment) was entered into the Postal Service’s mailstream by using USPS . com’s Track & Confirm tool. Small businesses and online retailers can show customers that shipments really are on their way. Click-N-Ship Shipping History is archived for up to six months in your USPS account.
How do you find SCAN when shipping?
The process is simple:
1. Create your label (online at Click-N-Ship, or on PayPal).
2. Check the label's Add to SCAN Form check box on the Shipping Cart page.
3. After printing all your labels for the day (or after each one) close out and print the SCAN Form.
4. Bring the form with you to the Post Office or place it with your packages if you request Carrier Pickup. (YOU CAN ALSO GIVE TO CARRIER AND HE OR SHE SCANS IT !)
5. A USPS employee will scan the barcode on the SCAN Form and return it to you for your records. (If the front counter clerk has never see this before, tell them to use the blue hand held wand like the carriers use)
6. Use Track and Confirm on USPS's website to see the date and time that your package(s) entered the USPS mail stream. To check package status, enter the individual package label number into Track & Confirm on USPS.com. You can also use the SCAN Form number to see the "Shipment Accepted" time and place.
UPDATE: USPS SCAN NOW WORKS WITH PAYPAL SHIPPING
Works with PayPal too. If you use Multiple Package creation via PayPal you can print a master USPS SCAN form that summarizes all packages created and being shipped together at one time, same day, from one zip code. See PayPal's multiple package shipping option for details.
See ebay announcements: Ebay Shipping Page (this guide created mid April, 2007)
Note: SCAN Forms are only available for labels with online paid postage.
UPDATE: Read the USPS terms.
If you choose to create a SCAN form, then NOT use it, you may forfeit any potential claims if insured, or refund requests for postage for guaranteed deliveries such as Express Mail. Also, most post people and postal tellers are not familiar with this USPS tool. You should know they must use the hand-held scanner to scan bar code. The postal tellers attempt to use the cashier station scanner, which does not recognize it. They do not give you a receipt for the scan, but only visually and audible say "complete," then they return the SCAN sheet.
LEARN ABOUT IDENTIFYING COUNTERFEIT POSTAL MONEY ORDERS FROM THE USPS POSTAL SERVICES AND CANADA POST HERE: IDENTIFYING COUNTERFEIT MONEY ORDERS
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