We now have to take a photo of our package before we mail it!

Just thought I'd mention it, so you don't miss this new requirement.

That was a new requirement as of Tuesday, May17. I wonder what brought that all about AND is it a Client requirement or something the MSC decided to create

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/2016 03:49AM by sojo917.

Last time I did a Dim shop I took a photo ahead of time just in case my box was accepted as the wrong size, Of course, that happened. But I had a photo to back it up.

Yes, it strikes me as odd and because the dimensions of the box are on the receipt (in case they were concerned about size), and as far as I know, the post office won't mail it if it has extra markings/stickers on it. I mean, taking a simple picture certainly isn't the end of the world, but it's just one more step and seems unnecessary IMO.

Definitely good that you posted it in case someone missed the e-mail though!

It will prevent the shoppers from using polymailers, "Because I always have, and it's ok."

The requirement is for the regular box. I don't know if it is for the oversized box too.

@RedRose22 wrote:

Yes, it strikes me as odd and because the dimensions of the box are on the receipt (in case they were concerned about size), and as far as I know, the post office won't mail it if it has extra markings/stickers on it. I mean, taking a simple picture certainly isn't the end of the world, but it's just one more step and seems unnecessary IMO.

Definitely good that you posted it in case someone missed the e-mail though!

The post office definitely mails boxes with extra markings/stickers on them. I have seen horrid looking boxes go through the line. Sometimes they do use a black marker to try and datken them. Also if you use a box that has priority tape already on at the post office may very well just assume you are going to mail it priority. That said I have no idea why they are asking for pictures of the boxes.

If you're not circumspect about it they will then have the address of your recipient too. I won't do post office anymore after a couple of bad experiences with this company.

I've been sending it with a clear picture of the label which leaves me uncomfortable but I thought the email said something about showing the package was ready to be shipped. I find the extra questions on what time you entered the line and arrived at the counter while still having the amount of time question to be annoying. I have to do some extra calculations or used two different measuring tools (not a big deal on short waits but slightly annoying on longer ones).

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/2016 01:47PM by wwin.

This was really frustrating! On Wednesday (the 17th), I was literally on the road on the way to a PO shop when the e-mail arrived in my inbox. The e-mail said the changes were required starting "tomorrow," which would be Thursday, 5/19. It was confusing because the e-mail also said shops that had already been done and entered on Wednesday weren't subject to the new rules. So, what were they planning to do about shops that were still in progress on Wednesday and not completed? That wasn't addressed. I got the e-mail around 2 p.m.; there was still a lot of the shopping day to go, even for the post office.

I start the survey and see the new questions are already there. Although it didn't force uploading of the box pic, I had to answer the new timing questions. Which I didn't record because I figured the report wouldn't be changed until "tomorrow." I was wrong. Fortunately, this shop was incredibly short, and I was able to report the times fairly accurately. But if I'd had to wait in line a long time and/or hadn't looked at my watch when I got in line and when I reached the counter, I'd have been SOL.

These questions were on the old form, weren't they? When the shop was with the other company. In any event, it seems ridiculous and redundant to both ask for these times and the total amount of time in line, too.

But I think that stunk. You don't hit shoppers with a change like this by notifying them on the same day that you change the report! If you say the changes will be required "starting tomorrow," then the report should be the same until "tomorrow." I'm wondering how many other shoppers were on the road that day and didn't even see the e-mail until they got home.

I don't mind taking a box pic, because I make sure that I ship in a box and that the boxes are "clean." But the extra steps and no extra pay makes me think I'll only do these when I have a real need to ship something and it will save me money.

Is the company in another country (somewhere in Europe maybe) where the time is 6 or more hours ahead of us?

Annoying new requirement.
I liked filling out my labels on the counter where the forms are in the post office as my cover for why I was looking around and looking for the items it wants, and noting them on the back of the label.

I agree that the box picture is an extra step which is slightly annoying, but there is probably a reason behind it. Probably a shopper somewhere using padded envelopes, polymailers, or boxes over 12x12x12 and as a result, we all have to bear the brunt of extra work for no additional pay.

I am particularly annoyed by the extra timings as my stopwatch can't be on real time clock and chrono settings at the same time. I'll have to try and come up with an accurate way to capture both times which seems redundant to me.

@wwin wrote:

I've been sending it with a clear picture of the label which leaves me uncomfortable but I thought the email said something about showing the package was ready to be shipped. I find the extra questions on what time you entered the line and arrived at the counter while still having the amount of time question to be annoying. I have to do some extra calculations or used two different measuring tools (not a big deal on short waits but slightly annoying on longer ones).

I use "shopwatch" on my cell; just touching the screen adds a "marker" for the time. I'm so slow at learning this stuff that I never stopped adding a marker when I got in line and another when I reached the counter. Last month I did an out-of-town shop and ran into something I've never, ever seen in any post office -- no line, no other customers, but no clerks, either! For once, I could look at all the forms and displays without feeling like an idiot...then I waited...and waited a little more. I finally noticed a bell on the counter, with a sign "ring bell for service" (the sign was flat on the counter, so I had to walk up to the counter to read the sign; if it had been upright, I could have seen it from across the lobby!). Boy, THAT report was different! LOL!!!! I also sent the scheduler an e-mail explaining the weird timing.

Anyway, I didn't find this "new" timing requirement to be "new" at all, just what I'd been doing all along. Old habits hard to break, I guess -- and the older I get, the harder they are to break, LOL!!!

@tcurione wrote:

Annoying new requirement.
I liked filling out my labels on the counter where the forms are in the post office as my cover for why I was looking around and looking for the items it wants, and noting them on the back of the label.

I thought the guidelines said you need to have the box completely ready to go before entering to perform the shop.

@wwin wrote:

@tcurione wrote:

Annoying new requirement.
I liked filling out my labels on the counter where the forms are in the post office as my cover for why I was looking around and looking for the items it wants, and noting them on the back of the label.

I thought the guidelines said you need to have the box completely ready to go before entering to perform the shop.

It was ready to go, I was just affixing the label while stalling to make a "form" observation. Perhaps my interpretation of "ready to go" was different, in that it was already in a pre-purchased box and sealed up. Doesn't matter now anyway!

I have actually taken photos of my last few packages anyway, just in case I had any problems. I don't mind taking the extra photo, it isn't much work. It will actually take me longer to edit the photo to blur the personal info for me and the recipient's addresses. I will leave the city, state and zip, but they don't need to know names and street address, I presume.

As far as timing goes, I audio record my shops. When I write the report, I view the file creation or saved time (to the second) to index the 0:00 timing on the recording. Then I can get the exact time during any event during the shop. I prefer to do this over clicking my screen with a manual timing app. Plus my recording can serve to prove what they asked me about hazardous materials.

@wwin wrote:

. I find the extra questions on what time you entered the line and arrived at the counter while still having the amount of time question to be annoying.

I agree about this one. They already have the minutes and seconds from when you got in line and the time you exited the work station. Their computer can easily be set up to figure out the exact time as they have all the tools necessary to do that easily. It is a real place for people to miscalculate those timings. Of course this will show if their clock in incorrect so perhaps that is the reason.
As for the box, while I think it is a good idea for them I do not think they will be able to figure out the size of the box by looking at a photo. And I always buy the same box and address it to the same person with the same return address so how would they know I did not just take one or two pics on my kitchen table and then reuse and reuse. Luckily for them I do not knowingly cheat but others certainly can and a few might. We do need to get clarification about the amount of covering up we do now. For regular shops I use boxes I find and have to tear off labels. I sometimes have spots I cover with a blank sticker. And by the way, I really do not think the receipt is proof of what box you sent. I can think of several ways to cheat that system.
On the other hand, the job is so much easier with more pay then from the last company so a few extra steps is ok with me.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/2016 05:31PM by sandyf.

@msimon-2000 wrote:

I am particularly annoyed by the extra timings as my stopwatch can't be on real time clock and chrono settings at the same time. I'll have to try and come up with an accurate way to capture both times which seems redundant to me.

I always use my entry time as an exact minute. Since watches can vary on seconds one from another (and even by minutes) and certainly can vary by minutes from the register time stamp it just makes it easier to calculate timings when you have to add stop watch time from a full minute start point. If you feel uneasy about this just look at your watch and make your entry when it hits an exact minute.

The email implied--->" A picture of what your ready to mail package looked like prior to shipping." This to me does not say "we must see the addresses". Nor would I ever photo the addresses for some third party to see. The requirements already asked for the recipients zipcode, so that to me is all they really need to know.

It is obvious, the picture must be taken before WE enter the USPS. Or are we taking the photo when we place the package on the counter. I don't see a problem if we are taking the before pic.

@msimon-2000 wrote:

I am particularly annoyed by the extra timings as my stopwatch can't be on real time clock and chrono settings at the same time. I'll have to try and come up with an accurate way to capture both times which seems redundant to me.

These timings were required by the old company. An Android app called "aStopwatch" will easily get both the actual times of day on each lap, as well as the E/T for each lap, and the running total times. The entire time log can also be copied and pasted (into Memo Pad for example) and emailed to yourself. sStopwatch is not interrupted by airplane mode, phone calls, video recordings, or sound recordings. aStopwatch works simultaneously and continuously while these other apps are active.

I used to use my stopwatch app to get the timings, but now that they have added the extra timings, that won't work. So, I have a 'digital clock' app that gives hour, minutes, and seconds eg. 02:04:34 as my start time in line and then 02:06:24 as when I approached the clerk. I then calculate the minutes and seconds from those two times.

Here is an actual time log from the app that I use for all my timing shops. All the times are right there; no calculation necessary. 1st column is running time, 2nd column is E/T for each lap, 3rd column is actual time of day. The 4th column is notes that I added. It shows for example, I was called to the counter 10 minutes 18 seconds after I joined the line (2nd column). The 3rd column shows that I was called to the counter at 11:52:55.

Start: 2015-04-03 11:42:09.052 entered
1: 00:00:28.664 00:00:28.664 2015-04-03 11:42:37.716 joined line behind 7; male
2: 00:10:46.205 00:10:17.541 2015-04-03 11:52:55.257 called to counter
3: 00:13:18.917 00:02:32.712 2015-04-03 11:55:27.969 exited
Stop: 2015-04-03 11:55:27.969 exited

@AZwolfman wrote:

Here is an actual time log from the app that I use for all my timing shops. All the times are right there; no calculation necessary. 1st column is running time, 2nd column is E/T for each lap, 3rd column is actual time of day. The 4th column is notes that I added. It shows for example, I was called to the counter 10 minutes 18 seconds after I joined the line (2nd column). The 3rd column shows that I was called to the counter at 11:52:55.

Start: 2015-04-03 11:42:09.052 entered
1: 00:00:28.664 00:00:28.664 2015-04-03 11:42:37.716 joined line behind 7; male
2: 00:10:46.205 00:10:17.541 2015-04-03 11:52:55.257 called to counter
3: 00:13:18.917 00:02:32.712 2015-04-03 11:55:27.969 exited
Stop: 2015-04-03 11:55:27.969 exited

Which app are you using?

@AZwolfman wrote:

An Android app called "aStopwatch" will easily get both the actual times of day on each lap, as well as the E/T for each lap, and the running total times. The entire time log can also be copied and pasted (into Memo Pad for example) and emailed to yourself. sStopwatch is not interrupted by airplane mode, phone calls, video recordings, or sound recordings. aStopwatch works simultaneously and continuously while these other apps are active.

Prob. this one. It looks great. Thanks AZwolfman for sharing, I've got 18 shops to do next week.

I don't use apps or a stopwatch but I often wondered how people keep track of which timings are which. I can understand at the post office where the timings are for just a few things that always happen in order but for something like a restaurant shop where you need to time many, many things that do not always happen in the same order such as the drink is brought after or at the same time as the appetizer or some jobs need to know when the check was picked up, placed down, returned and some not all of those. I just note them all so I do not need to remember each time what this job wants. How do you get it all straight. Do you also rely on your verbal or written notes to straighten them all out in your head?

I use "shopwatch", a free app made for mystery shopping. On shops with lots of "markers", when I go to check the restroom, I make notes (in an actual notebook, with a pen; I'm a dinosaur!). I update them in my car - usually at the nearest mall or whatever, so I'm not making notes in the restaurant parking lot. To tell you just how out-of-date I am, I take my notes in actual shorthand -- yep, good old Gregg shorthand! LOL!!!!

I text stuff to my husband or to myself with a note including what the timing was for.

The timing requirements are now similar to what the former MSC required. I personally think that they provide a better picture of what went on. As far as the photograph is required, I had begun to take some anyway, particularly for the DimWt shops where they had a tendency to measure the box incorrectly. The dimensions do not appear on the Reg or HazMat shops receipts, but may appear on the receipt for the box, depending upon where you bought it. When I ship boxes back and forth, I often do not have to buy a box ==>> no receipt for the box and no documented dimensions. Some people have reported getting boxes which are severely damaged. This has happened to some boxes that I have shipped and to some that I have sent. Maybe the client is trying to address the "quality" of the service provided. Getting a delivery on time when the box is destroyed is IMHO not quality service.

They can get the time, date, and other embedded EXIF data from your digital photo.