Light packet label prints incorrectly.

[beadndangle]

When printing a light packet label the printed label reads air mail small packet.

This causes issues at the post office with over zealous clerks that tell me that my label is not correct and missing the bar code.

There isnt a bar code for light packet and I explain this but then they argue that I am using the wrong label.

I have tried contacting paypal and I end up dealing with a bunch of robots that read lines from a script. I have not been able to get a resolution.

Has anyone else noticed or had problems with the light packet label?

thx

kim

[westernstargifts]

"a nice walk for the exercise"

It is interesting how different methods are used to achieve the same goals.

My doctor has ordered me to walk every day.  The postal station, located at the regional shopping mall, is too far to walk to but I drive, park far away from the doors, do the postal outlet first, then walk around the mall, every day. 

The doctor is OK with that. Since I started my daily walk at the mall, my blood sugars are down. !That is a good thing. I also meet folks while walking around.  That drives Mary crazy

Luckily, we seldom have a lineup at the postal counter.  And if we do, it is one more chance to start a conversation with a stranger! 🙂

Life is good.

OMG you are just like my husband!  He talks to strangers everywhere we go.  If we are in our own city it is even worse because he knows so many people.  We just attended the local Home Show and couldn't walk 5 feet without stopping to talk.  And it drives me nuts!

We have great service at our local postal outlet.  It is different in the summer when we are at the lake and I ship from a small town.  They don't seem to know much about small or light packet but they are learning.  One clerk charged DH small packet rates for light packet and he didn't notice.  We took the receipt back in the next day and another clerk gave us a refund for the difference.

[rose-dee]

"you do get a cancellation date of sorts"

I know but the problem is that the date represents the date postage was purchased and in now way confirms when the item was actually shipped. That can only be done by the postal service once it enters the system.

Too many sellers have been known to print the postage upon receipt of payment and ship several days later.

Pierre, this is true only if the seller is not using the Paypal online labelling properly.  There is a useful little window near the bottom of the 2nd screen that gives you the option of selecting the date that should be shown as the actual shipping date.  And even with Light Packet, once scanned by the P.O., that "drop-off" date will confirm the shipping date the seller specified.

Granted, this screen only permits a 4 or 5-day span to choose from, but I personally wouldn't delay past 5 days to ship.  I often prepare a parcel on a Sunday, and choose Monday's date as the shipping date, and this function is helpful. 

Also, that screen does state that the date chosen from the drop-down list is the date the shipping confirmation email will be sent to the buyer -- I assume this happens, although I can't confirm this is actually so, as the seller doesn't receive a copy of the email.   

My only gripe with this service is that the "shipped" icon does immediately show up on my Sold page next to the item.  I don't like this and wish Paypal/eBay would fix this aspect.  If I'm preparing a package on a Sunday of a long weekend, and know it can't go out until, say Tuesday a.m., I usually email my buyer to let them know they'll see the "shipped" icon because I've purchased the label, but I advise them of the actual shipping date.

So, although slightly flawed, the option to date the shipping forward is there, sellers just have to choose it.   

[pjcdn2005]

There is a useful little window near the bottom of the 2nd screen that gives you the option of selecting the date that should be shown as the actual shipping date.

Specifically, it shows the intended shipping date, not actual shipping date.

And even with Light Packet, once scanned by the P.O., that "drop-off" date will confirm the shipping date the seller specified.

How can the post office scan light packet as there is nothing to scan? If you feel that proof of shipping is important the only way to have that with light or small packet is to have the post office stamp the bottom portion of the paypal label.

[rose-dee]

Specifically, it shows the intended shipping date, not actual shipping date.

Well, my point was that it gives the seller the opportunity to avoid appearing dishonest about shipping dates, and helps to get around the problem of preparing a label one day and dropping off a day or more later. 

You are correct that Light Packet has no scanning, but Small Packet and up do.

[pjcdn2005]

I'm sorry but small packet labels can not be scanned. Perhaps you are thinking of Tracked Packet.

[rose-dee]

I'm sorry but small packet labels can not be scanned. Perhaps you are thinking of Tracked Packet.

Well, it looks like I'm not having a particularly good day today.  Yet I'm sure I recall our postal clerk keying in the number ("tracking number", which as we all know is really just a confirmation #) off a Light/Small Packet parcel. 

When I've checked later on the Canada Post link through eBay, the "tracking" number shows "item accepted at Post Office" after I've dropped it off (i.e. that information doesn't appear simply by purchasing the label).  I just assumed that by keying in the Light/Small Packet number on the label, the clerk was entering it into the system. 

Maybe I'm totally discombobulated...

[pjcdn2005]

Perhaps the clerk can input that number...I have no idea. However, there is no number on the top part of the label so unless you include the whole sheet or cut below the number, the clerk doesn't have access to the number generated through paypal shipping.

Oh...I think I know what you are looking at. I just checked a small packet parcel that I sent out a few days ago and it does say Accepted. However, if you hover over that area, the following comes up....

A grey Accepted bar indicates your domestic item has been submitted electronically, but not yet received at a postal facility. If your item is international, it is en route to Canada.

So at casual glance, it does look as if it has been accepted at the post office.

[rose-dee]

Oh...I think I know what you are looking at. I just checked a small packet parcel that I sent out a few days ago and it does say Accepted. However, if you hover over that area, the following comes up....

A grey Accepted bar indicates your domestic item has been submitted electronically, but not yet received at a postal facility. If your item is international, it is en route to Canada.

So at casual glance, it does look as if it has been accepted at the post office.

Here's an example of one of my sold items that went out by Light Packet, when I click on the "tracking" number under the item:

2013/04/04  12:21  Order information received by Canada Post

That's all the "tracking" you get with Light/Small Packet of course, but somehow it appears only after I've physically dropped off the parcel at the P.O.  So I assume it's either something the clerk has keyed in (I'll have to watch her more carefully next time!) or something picked up later. 

I suspect what you see when you "hover" over the grey "Accepted" area is what appears after purchasing the label, but before dropping off at the P.O.  I happen to have a particularly helpful and friendly postal clerk at our little P.O. (it's not one of those back-of-the-pharmacy counters), so perhaps she's doing something for me that others don't bother to. 

Next time I'm at the P.O. I'll check this with her.

P.S. pj, you have a "to die for" handbag in your store that I've put on my Watch list in the hope I can afford it some day!  :^O

[007steveb16]

There are 2 good clerks and one bad clerk at my local CP.....I have their cars memorized so I always know when to stay away 😉

Sometimes though, when push comes to shove, I have to go in and deal with "him"........

[pjcdn2005]

2013/04/04  12:21  Order information received by Canada Post

That's all the "tracking" you get with Light/Small Packet of course, but somehow it appears only after I've physically dropped off the parcel at the P.O.  So I assume it's either something the clerk has keyed in (I'll have to watch her more carefully next time!) or something picked up later.

Never assume. 🙂

All that means is that Canada Post knows you purchased a label. It will say that for anyone who prints a label online although for some reason it does not appear immediately. If it was to indicate that the package had been scanned at the post office it would say package accepted by Canada Post or something similar.That information has nothing to do with the clerk at the post office as there is no number for the clerk to input.
 

[pjcdn2005]

I have their cars memorized so I always know when to stay away

LOL

Like many others here, the only contact I usually have with the postal clerk is to say hello and thank you as I drop off my already labeled packages but when I do have to deal with them, they are all super nice.

[renfrewite]

I have never had this problem and I use light packet a lot.  The easiest solution to your problem is, drop your packages in the drop off box outside the post office, or at any drop off box, if they are light packet then they fit, so you don't have to deal with clerks.

[jt-libra]

Even though both light packet and small packet read air mail small packet, there is one major difference between the two.  I don't have one in front of me right now, but on the light packet, there's a black box near the upper right hand corner about 1/2 inch square which denotes light packet.  It's been that way for as many years as I can remember.  I don't know if the postal workers or sorters even notice that.

[pjcdn2005]

P.S. pj, you have a "to die for" handbag in your store that I've put on my Watch list in the hope I can afford it some day!  

Oops, I missed this comment earlier.

I have a feeling I know which one you mean and I love that one too. 🙂

[rose-dee]

 Never assume. 🙂

All that means is that Canada Post knows you purchased a label. It will say that for anyone who prints a label online although for some reason it does not appear immediately. If it was to indicate that the package had been scanned at the post office it would say package accepted by Canada Post or something similar.That information has nothing to do with the clerk at the post office as there is no number for the clerk to input. 

Well, you're probably right, but as I say, I'm going to check into this further with my friendly postal clerk next time I'm at the P.O. and will try to remember to post the answers here.

P.S. Can I trade you something in my store for that handbag?  Just kidding... :-x

[007steveb16]

I have their cars memorized so I always know when to stay away

LOL

Like many others here, the only contact I usually have with the postal clerk is to say hello and thank you as I drop off my already labeled packages but when I do have to deal with them, they are all super nice.

I do drop off the majority of what I ship of course but I have to go to the counter for heavier over-sized letter-mail items over .201g and to buy $1.34 & $1.10 stamps.

You're lucky then. The one clerk I have to deal with is "cruising"...it's his final 7 months until retirement. He's the type that cannot work and talk at the same time and is disenchanted with his job VERY obviously. He doesn't have a filter either on his brain to mouth connection, he says so many inappropriate things and seemingly has no clue when to draw the line. He's been reported many times.