‘Unscanned’ option, what constitutes a ‘parcel?’

[FrozenToes]

some are saying we automatically get extra credit for manual input?idk...so confused-i had 4 amazons today alone that i had to manually input-it does take more time.??

The engineers came up with the delivery time standard for scanned parcels. Large, medium and small.
The engineers included "extra time" in the delivery standard to include manual entries.

 

[gotstamps]

if they have until oct to map- how are we gonna get accurate time to door on the routes that havent been mapped in june?

The Engineers have calculated a TEMPORARY Credit that will be used for routes that are not Mapped before the Mini Mail Counts. It is said that it favors the Carrier.

 

[neciat]

If a clerk sells it as a parcel, it’s a parcel to us also and that’s the way the engineers set it up.

It actually ALWAYS WAS that way, WE just never got the credit for it ALL those decades. I remember one time, no , not in band camp, years ago those AARP letters. Okay, I got a bunch of us to send the CFS ones through WITH the letters. Management was NOT happy with that one. They INSISTED they go in with the flats. I was like, " Well, you just counted them as letters ! " I got the typical ice cream or yogurt look. Paper or plastic. Oh so confused they were / are.

 

[mail1000]

People are getting so hung up on these scans and "scan credit" but the scans themselves aren't that important, it's the "event" (for lack of a better word) that they trigger that's important. I scan a parcel delivered at the door not so much to get the few seconds of scanning time, but to get the amount of time that's associated with that footage to the door.

I've had multiple conversations with carriers already about whether or not it's "worth it" to perform these new scans. It comes from this lingering hangover from the old mail counts and how we did things then. Is the "scan credit" worth it? The "scan credit" may not be worth it, but the trip to door is. In another thread on this board, someone said the few seconds (the "scan credit") of 8127 time we're being paid for these new scans makes it pointless to perform them. Right now we're only earning the "scan credit"--next month we'll be earning all those trips to door (ETA: and before some corrects me, I realize they've been collecting the data on our parcel deliveries/trips to door since 2020 and they're using that data to figure out our pay w/r/t parcel deliveries).

Yesterday, I delivered a college diploma without a barcode to the door. I stood at the door wondering if I should use UNSCANPARCEL or DOORMISC. I used UNSCANPARCEL (delivered to door) which I believe is technically correct, but I think hitting DOORMISC would have been easier and amounted to the same "credit" for my route (to tie this post to the question @FrozenToes asked above).

To bring this post back to my original thought about how we're all suffering from Mail Count Hangover-- I've been thinking about UNSCANPARCEL a lot and about how @Worve posted that in their office, the PM told them to treat everything that the clerks toss in with parcels as a parcel. I thought this was crazy, because in my office we see a bunch of flats tossed with parcels (but good on @Worve for getting these "extra" credits). I'm sure we all know the type of flats I'm talking about that wind up with our SPRs. During mail counts, these flats would have been pulled out (and argued over) and added to our flat totals for the day.

My question is, how are these flats (they're legitimately flats, per the definition from mail count instructions) being accounted for under this new system? In @Worve 's office, they're getting parcel credit. But am I delivering these flats for free?

they are going back to 2020?i thought just 52 weeks?

 

[Rt2mailman]

some are saying we automatically get extra credit for manual input?idk...so confused-i had 4 amazons today alone that i had to manually input-it does take more time.??

If the printer on the label skips in a vertical direct you can look at the bottom line and note where the “Skip” is and take a black pen and color in the skipped spot. You don’t have to be very accurate with your filled in lines the scanner will pick it up most of the time.
If any of you are wondering what is a parcel, take the piece up to the clerks at the counter and ask them how this would “sell” to a customer. If it is a parcel with their criteria, it’s a parcel to us.
Today, a “letter” with a piece of candy in it was being sent “postage due” for $4.12 more needed, due it now being a PARCEL. A parcel there is a parcel to us.

 

[TheDude]

The engineers came up with the delivery time standard for scanned parcels. Large, medium and small.
The engineers included "extra time" in the delivery standard to include manual entries.

Was that time calculated with the new scanners with a touchscreen?

 

[oi veh.]

Was that time calculated with the new scanners with a touchscreen?

that has to be woke up every single stupid time you use it?

 

[mail1000]

what happens if on rural area road and the driveway is bad shape-per customers request you leave large pkgs in plastic bag beside mailbox-is this just a scan of delivered at mailbox credit?bc you actually have to dismount get out of vehicle and get plastic bag and put it in -it takes alot more time then just in at mailbox??

 

[fred]

what happens if on rural area road and the driveway is bad shape-per customers request you leave large pkgs in plastic bag beside mailbox-is this just a scan of delivered at mailbox credit?bc you actually have to dismount get out of vehicle and get plastic bag and put it in -it takes alot more time then just in at mailbox??

As I understand you are correct. Just in/at mailbox credit.

 

[ponyexpress2022]

We are not clear as to when we should be using the ‘Unscanned parcel’ option. When you have have photos with no scan that need to be taken to the door, it’s obvious you would select this option.

We have been defining a ‘parcel’ as it was defined in previous mail counts, and as such, have used this option for checks customers have ordered, for example, the ones that come in flat, blue packs with no barcode. Is this correct? They are scanned as being delivered ‘to the mailbox.’

But what about other small items that come pre-sort standard, like socks or flags from the VA that come in those semi-rigid envelopes that are sometimes awkward to handle. We were only given credit for a ‘flat’ for many of these items during previous counts.

Should we be recording these items by using the ‘unscanned parcel’ option, and then entering that we’ve delivered them ‘to the mailbox?’

my understanding is if it's too rigid or bulky to case, then it's a parcel.

 

[RDruckus]

my understanding is if it's too rigid or bulky to case, then it's a parcel.

But under RRECS its not about the case fit anymore. An item that you describe would be charged at the front counter as a parcel. It will still be a parcel under RRECS.

 

[Rt2mailman]

what happens if on rural area road and the driveway is bad shape-per customers request you leave large pkgs in plastic bag beside mailbox-is this just a scan of delivered at mailbox credit?bc you actually have to dismount get out of vehicle and get plastic bag and put it in -it takes alot more time then just in at mailbox??

The main thing we receive time for in delivering parcels under Rrecs is dismounting. If a parcel doesn’t fit into a mailbox NEVER scan as left in/at mail box. All parcels left in tubs that the customer has for that reason or because of their wishes you wrap in a plastic bag and leave at the base of their box are “Left at garage OR OTHER LOCATION”. Now even though you don’t get walking footage you get the dismount time, which is the major part of the Rrecs time for parcels.

 

[Rt2mailman]

As you have quoted the actual text in the Tentative, that is exactly how the language reads.
Regardless of All language under Article 9 being removed pertaining to Mail Counts, the qualifiers for a parcel are not in the Contract. The definition of parcel for Rural Craft have not been redefined other than a mail piece containing a Delivery Scan will be considered a Parcel. If it does not contain a Scanbar, the letter-flat-parcel measurements come into play for determining classification.

Yes you are right, but where is a letter and flat defined? Not in any reference to count anymore, but at the clerk’s counter. When the clerks take those thick letters that won’t slide through their plastic slot gauge as charge as a “Parcel” it NOW remains a parcel to rural carriers. Also anything you can not case (With other mail) and/or carry on the side is a parcel. To get credit for these items Rural carriers MUST ENTER AS UNSCANNED PARCEL. Do not bends (non-profit or NOT) former “letters” with a chunk of thicker candy inside, all must be scanned as unscanned parcels. If you have a slot mailbox and they don’t fit into it, you get even more time when you enter the unscanned piece as delivered to the door.

 

[TheDude]

that has to be woke up every single stupid time you use it?

Exactly. I hate that. I wish we could change the screen timeout length. It has to be less than 30 seconds and then it takes like 10 clicks to get it scanning.

 

[Casca]

Exactly. I hate that. I wish we could change the screen timeout length. It has to be less than 30 seconds and then it takes like 10 clicks to get it scanning.

I tap the scan button before I get to the box, or as I’m walking up to the porch. Generally don’t have a problem with waiting for it to wake up. What I do have a problem with though is if your fingers are touching any other button on the side while you try to scan, it won’t.

 

[gotstamps]

Yes you are right, but where is a letter and flat defined? Not in any reference to count anymore, but at the clerk’s counter. When the clerks take those thick letters that won’t slide through their plastic slot gauge as charge as a “Parcel” it NOW remains a parcel to rural carriers. Also anything you can not case (With other mail) and/or carry on the side is a parcel. To get credit for these items Rural carriers MUST ENTER AS UNSCANNED PARCEL. Do not bends (non-profit or NOT) former “letters” with a chunk of thicker candy inside, all must be scanned as unscanned parcels. If you have a slot mailbox and they don’t fit into it, you get even more time when you enter the unscanned piece as delivered to the door.

I’m sure that the previous definition using the blue measuring tool will still prevail where ”Unscannable“ & Boxholders are concerned. Even then, previous mail count rules for those items that could qualify on multiple levels depending on casing & handling will also play a part as it did before.
I don’t see where the Union has said that Everything pertaining to mail counts is gone although it was noted only under Article 9 leading me to believe that Step 2s & such will still be valid.

 

[TheDude]

I tap the scan button before I get to the box, or as I’m walking up to the porch. Generally don’t have a problem with waiting for it to wake up. What I do have a problem with though is if your fingers are touching any other button on the side while you try to scan, it won’t.

I try to do the same but when you are in town and have DPS you are trying to sort through, grab flats, and maybe a boxholder.....if you don't get to the scanner in time you are stuck waiting.

 

[Rt2mailman]

I’m sure that the previous definition using the blue measuring tool will still prevail where ”Unscannable“ & Boxholders are concerned. Even then, previous mail count rules for those items that could qualify on multiple levels depending on casing & handling will also play a part as it did before.
I don’t see where the Union has said that Everything pertaining to mail counts is gone although it was noted only under Article 9 leading me to believe that Step 2s & such will still be valid.

The USPS can NOT have it both ways. They can not charge our customers for a piece saying it qualifies as a parcel and that same piece ceases to be a parcel when it arrives at the work area of a rural carrier.
If it’s a parcel then it stays a parcel throughout the entire system.

 

[gotstamps]

The USPS can NOT have it both ways. They can not charge our customers for a piece saying it qualifies as a parcel and that same piece ceases to be a parcel when it arrives at the work area of a rural carrier.
If it’s a parcel then it stays a parcel throughout the entire system.

Been like this for decades & will probably remain this way. At least if it has a scan, we no longer have to argue it’s category.

 

[Rt2mailman]

Been like this for decades & will probably remain this way. At least if it has a scan, we no longer have to argue it’s category.

Yes it has been like this for decades, and letters in our automated flats have been letters for decades, yet now they are FLATS. There is no probably in Rrecs, it is or it isn’t, engineers rarely leave things to chance.